Baked Herb Chicken

Who doesn’t love hand-held finger foods? It’s probably everyone’s favorite. 

Whether it be a potluck or any occasion, no one can beat hand-held food snacks like One-hour pull-apart garlic rolls, Honey orange chicken meatballs, Baked Teryaki chicken meatballs, Minced chicken puffs, and Puff Pastry Samosa pinwheels, to name a few. 

They are all my go-to recipes for game day and tailgates. Each one of them is insanely delicious and makes a perfect crowd-pleasing hors d’oeuvre!

Coming back to Baked Herb Chicken, these drumsticks packs in a punch of protein and is bursting with flavor – thanks to all the aromatic herbs.  

It’s one of our all-time favorites, and I’m pretty sure this one will be an instant hit in your house too!

The secret lies in the herbs that are added to this recipe. These herbs take the chicken drumsticks to a whole new level. 

» Chicken Drumsticks – I recommend using drumsticks for this recipe, but feel free to use boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken tenders, or chicken thighs. 

» Garlic Powder and Onion powder – for a depth of flavor

» Dried Oregano, Cayenne pepper, Thyme Leaves, and Rosemary leaves – are the super ingredients and make this dish a super delish. 

» Olive Oil

» Salt and Pepper

» Lemon juice – a must-have. It adds a bright, citrusy flavor when sprinkled on top. 

This recipe is truly easy to make and requires no fancy ingredients. Start by:

1. Wash and thoroughly dry the chicken drumsticks. Remove the skin. 

2. In a separate bowl, combine dried oregano, dried thyme, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and dried rosemary.

3. Pour in oil and mix to combine.

4. Pour this mixture over the chicken legs. 

5. Rub the herb marinade in every part of the chicken legs.

6. Spread the chicken legs into a single layer. 

7. Put the Mealthy Crisplid on and bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes or so until the chicken begins to brown, turning halfway during the cooking time. 

8. As the chicken bakes, it will pick up all the flavors of the herbs, and the oil in the marinade will ensure that the chicken drumsticks stay juicy and moist.

PROTIP – For the pearl onions, peel and rinse onions in tap water. Pat them dry. Toss in the oil-herb marinade and arrange in a single layer in the Mealthy CrispLid tray — Bake at 375 degrees F for 6 minutes.

Onions bake quickly; therefore, I have baked them separately.

• Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. 
• Grease a baking tray with grill. Arrange chicken in a single layer.
• Bake in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or so until the chicken begins to brown, turning halfway during the cooking time. 

Remove from the oven. Generously drizzle fresh lemon juice on chicken legs and serve hot garnished with fresh herbs and lemon wedges.

These juicy and delicious chicken legs pair well with so many yummy sides. 

It’s a perfect side dish for rice, baked potatoes, and pasta dishes. I usually serve herb chicken with Instant Pot fiesta rice and focaccia bread for a hearty and wholesome weeknight dinner!

If you are not a rice lover, you can pair it with quinoa for a healthy meal. 

Can you marinate the chicken and refrigerate? Absolutely! Though this recipe does not call for marination, there is no harm in marinating the chicken legs overnight. This way, they will absorb in more flavor.

Can you use fresh herbs instead of dried? Yes, you can! If using fresh herbs, you will need – 

• 1.5 tablespoons of fresh Oregano
• 1 tablespoon of fresh rosemary leaves
• 2 tablespoons of fresh Thyme Leaves. The rest of the ingredients remains the same. 

Can you double up on this recipe? You sure can! This recipe bakes 10 chicken legs, but you can most certainly double up on the ingredients to feed a large crowd.

Can you freeze herb chicken? Of course, you can! The leftover chicken stays well in the refrigerator for 3 days in a sealed container.

But the best part is, if you have leftover chicken drumsticks, you can freeze them in a freezer-friendly bag for later use.

To freeze – Transfer the cooled chicken legs to a freezer-safe bag. Seal it well and store. The chicken stays well for 1 month in the freezer.

To reheat- Remove chicken from the freezer bag. Arrange the chicken legs on a greased baking tray and bake in a preheated (375 degrees F) for 10-12 minutes or until warmed through. Serve hot.

Recipe inspiration- allrecipes.com

Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe. Feel free to contact me with any questions or inquiries, and I would be happy to answer them.

Craving for more game day appetizers, be sure to check these out-