Crunchy Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs

Crunchy Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs are moist and flavorful. Pack them in your summertime picnic basket and everyone will be happy!

This is my updated riff on the old favorite of Shake ‘n Bake chicken from when I was growing up.

This recipe for Baked Italian Chicken Legs actually has nothing at all to do with the flavors of  Shake ‘n Bake (which was far too salty for my taste). It’s only the preparation method that is the same. The ingredients are put into a bag, the chicken is added, and then it’s time to shake…and bake. What could be easier?

**Please Note – The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs is available near the end of this post. 

The ingredient list;

• Chicken legs (about 4 pounds)
• seasoned breadcrumbs
• Parmesan cheese
• dried basil
• dried oregano
• garlic powder
• salt and pepper
• olive oil spray

I’ll be honest with you, sometimes trying to take mouthwatering “beauty shots” of the food I make for the blog is harder for me than the making of the food itself. Some foods just don’t want to cooperate with the camera, and these Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs are one of those non-cooperative foods.

These Breaded Italian Chicken Legs are so moist and tasty, and the recipe is so easy to follow. The fact that the pictures aren’t exactly mouthwatering isn’t bothering me all that much. Well, maybe just a tiny bit, but I’ll get over it because the chicken is just so darned finger licking’ good!

The easy instructions;

• Add all of the ingredients (except for the chicken legs and olive oil spray) into a large zip-top bag.
• Shake well to combine.

• Gently rinse the chicken legs under slowly running water (to avoid splashing) and add them to the zip-top bag with the dry ingredients.
• Close the bag and shake the legs gently to coat all sides.

• Remove the coated legs to a baking sheet lined with a rack (for better heat circulation and to crisp the legs on all sides).

• Lightly spray each coated leg with a touch of olive oil spray.

• Bake the legs in a preheated 350-degree oven for 45 minutes or until the juices run clear.
• Remove the legs from the oven and cool completely and refrigerate, OR serve the legs hot or at room temperature. *Caution – Do NOT allow the legs to sit for more than 1½ – 2 hours at room temperature. If it’s extremely hot outside, make sure the chicken won’t sit out for longer than 45 minutes before being consumed.

For a few recipe suggestions to serve alongside these Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs, please click on the following titles for;

• Italian Shell Pasta Salad
• Pink Lemonade Cookies
• Cream Cheese Salami Spread with Dill Pickles

Below is the printable recipe card for today’s Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs. If you’ve enjoyed this recipe and look forward to making it (or have already made it), I’d appreciate if you’d take a moment to give it some feedback by way of stars near the comment section at the end of this post. Thank you so much!

5 from 2 votes

Print

Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

Total Time

50 mins

 

Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs are crispy and moist. They're the perfect picnic food because they can be served hot or cold and everyone loves them!

Course: baked chicken, Easy Main Course

Cuisine: Comfort Food

Keyword: baked Italian Chicken legs

Servings: 12 pieces

Calories: 78 kcal

Renee - Kudos Kitchen: Renée

Ingredients

• 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1½ teaspoons coarse salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 12 each chicken legs skin on
• olive oil spray

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees.

2. Place the first 7 ingredients into a gallon sized zip-top bag and shake well to combine.

3. Rinse the chicken legs under slowly running water (to avoid splashing) and add them (3 or 4 legs at a time) to the bag with the breadcrumb mixture. Shake well to coat the chicken legs on all sides.

4. Remove the coated legs from the bag and place the chicken legs on to baking sheet fitted with a rack.

5. Continue the same process with the remaining legs and breadcrumb mixture.

6. Spray each leg with a light coating of olive oil spray.

7. Place the chicken legs into the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the juices run clear. *Note - you can test this by perching a leg with a knife or skewer in the thickest part of the leg.

Recipe Notes

Once cooked through you can serve the legs hot or allow them to cool slightly and serve them warm. If you're planning on serving them cold, cool them completely before wrapping them well and refrigerating until ready to eat.

Never allow the chicken to sit at room temperature for more than 1½ - 2 hours.

If serving the chicken on a very hot day, don't allow the chicken to sit for more than 45 - 60 minutes before consuming, and then refrigerate any leftovers immediately.

Wrapped well, this chicken will last in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts

Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs

Amount Per Serving (1 g)

Calories 78 Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 3g 5%

Saturated Fat 1g 5%

Cholesterol 8mg 3%

Sodium 552mg 23%

Potassium 37mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 7g 2%

Protein 4g 8%

Vitamin A 1.8%

Vitamin C 0.3%

Calcium 11.5%

Iron 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed today’s recipe for Baked Italian Chicken Legs as much as I’ve enjoyed bringing it to you!