These Easy Crispy Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks are golden, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned with zesty lemon and cracked black pepper. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, they’re ideal for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep.
These Easy Crispy Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks are the ultimate weeknight dinner solution—juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and packed with bright, zesty lemon flavor.
With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can have a flavorful, fuss-free meal ready in under an hour. Perfect for family dinners, meal prep, or anytime you want a comforting, protein-packed dish that everyone will love.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Crispy Perfection: Golden, crunchy skin without deep frying.
- Juicy Inside: Tender, flavorful chicken that stays moist.
- Simple Ingredients: Pantry staples create big, zesty flavor.
- Quick and Easy: Ready in under an hour with minimal prep.
- Family-Friendly: A dinner the whole family will devour.
Ingredients Needed
- Chicken drumsticks, skin-on, fresh or thawed, ready to bake
- Olive oil, to coat chicken and crisp skin evenly
- Lemon pepper seasoning, zesty and flavorful for crisp chicken
- Garlic powder, adds savory depth and aroma to chicken
- Salt, enhances flavor and balances the seasoning on drumsticks
- Black pepper, freshly cracked for a subtle spicy kick
- Lemon zest, optional, adds fresh citrus brightness to chicken
How To Make Easy Crispy Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks (Legs)
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
Step 2: Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. This helps the skin get crispy.
Step 3: Place the drumsticks in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss with lemon pepper seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
Step 4: Place the drumsticks on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them apart to ensure even cooking. Bake in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is golden brown, crispy, and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Easy Chicken Drumsticks Lemon Pepper Recipe Tips
- Dry the Chicken: Patting the drumsticks dry before seasoning ensures extra-crispy skin.
- Even Coating: Toss the chicken thoroughly in oil and seasoning for consistent flavor.
- Space Them Out: Avoid overcrowding on the baking sheet so the heat circulates evenly.
- Check Internal Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) for safe eating.
- Optional Citrus Boost: Add fresh lemon zest or a squeeze of lemon juice just before serving for extra brightness.
- Make Ahead: Drumsticks can be seasoned ahead of time and stored in the fridge for a few hours before baking.
- Extra Crispy: For even crispier skin, broil for 1–2 minutes at the end of baking—but watch closely to avoid burning.
Storing, Freezing & Reheating
- Storing: Place leftover drumsticks in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 3–4 days.
- Freezing: Wrap cooked drumsticks individually in foil or plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag. Freeze for up to 2–3 months for best quality.
- Reheating: Reheat refrigerated drumsticks in a 350°F oven for 10–15 minutes until warmed through. For frozen drumsticks, thaw overnight in the fridge and then reheat the same way for best results.
Easy Chicken Drumsticks Lemon Pepper Recipe Faqs
Can I use chicken thighs instead of drumsticks? Yes! Chicken thighs work well and will cook in roughly the same time, though adjust for size.
How long should I marinate the drumsticks? For best flavor, marinate at least 1 hour, but overnight in the fridge gives the most flavorful results.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free? Absolutely! Ensure your seasonings, like lemon pepper, do not contain any gluten additives.
Can I bake this without oil? You can, but a light coating of oil helps the skin crisp up and enhances flavor.
How do I keep the drumsticks juicy? Patting the chicken dry before seasoning, not overbaking, and checking the internal temperature ensures moist, tender meat.
Can I use fresh lemon instead of lemon pepper seasoning? Yes! Combine fresh lemon zest and freshly cracked black pepper to replicate the classic lemon pepper flavor.
More Easy Chicken Leg Recipes
Air Fryer Honey Mustard Chicken Legs
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Legs
Golden Corral Fried Chicken Recipe
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Easy Crispy Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks (Legs)
Description
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks, about 2 pounds, skin-on
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest, or a squeeze of fresh lemon for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and place a wire rack on top.
- Pat 8 chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. In a large bowl, toss the drumsticks with 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder until evenly coated.
- Place the drumsticks on the prepared wire rack, spacing them apart for even cooking.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35–40 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin is golden and crispy.
- For an extra-crispy finish, broil the drumsticks for 1–2 minutes at the end of baking. Watch closely to prevent burning.
- Garnish with fresh 1 teaspoon lemon zest or a squeeze of lemon juice if desired. Serve hot.
Equipment
- Baking Sheet
- Cooking Spray
Nutrition
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manoj
The simplest and yet the best air fried chicken recipe I have tried.This is the best chicken! I did take the suggestion of yours and cooked them as u said on each side. They are juicy, crispy and flavorful! Thank you for the recipe!
naomi
Do you put parchment or aluminum foil under the basket in your air fryer?
Benny from Brooklyn
Always use parchment paper.
It makes clean up a snap, and you won’t damage the coating in your basket from scrubbing it clean.
Jennifer Fraunfelder
Great recipe….Its definitely going to be a go to in our home from now on. The only thing I chose to do differently was after cooking for 6 minutes at 300 dgrees F, I did step 1 of cooking at 390 for 10 minutes allover again as my chicken was not crispy enough as I used larger organic drumsticks that we managed to come across on sale for $2.33 for 5 puece at our lical neighborhood wal-mart grocery.
cj
Same thing here. The walmart drumsticks we had in the 4lb bag are huge. Temp was only 137F so put in another 8 mins on 390F. Tasted great