Name: Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 50 min
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

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

Oval platter full of crunchy Italian baked chicken legs.

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

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 OR use the "jump to recipe" (found above) to be taken directly to the recipe.

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Vertical image of crunchy chicken legs on a cream color platter with text.

The ingredient list:

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.

A picture is worth a thousand words...maybe!

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.

Having said that, I realize that what's more important than how pretty the pictures are is how the food actually tastes, and how easy the recipe is to follow.

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 this chicken is just so darned finger-licking good!

Verticle Image of Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs on a white plate

What is the proper internal temperature for cooked chicken legs?

The proper way to check the internal temperature of cooked chicken legs is with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meaty leg, but without touching the bone.

The temperature should read 165-degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer.

If the chicken doesn't read 165-degrees Fahrenheit (or 75-degrees Celsius), return the chicken to the oven until it reaches the proper temperature.

Is there a way to check the doneness of a chicken leg without a meat thermometer?

While a meat thermometer is always the best bet, another way of checking if the chicken is completely cooked is to pierce a chicken leg (to the bone) with a paring knife or skewer, and if the juices run clear without any pink colorations, the chicken is done.

However, IF the juices still show signs of pink return the legs back to the oven until it is completely cooked and can pass the "clear juices" test.

Title text image for Italian baked chicken legs

Side dishes to accompany Baked Italian Chicken Legs

Here are some side dish recipe recommendations that will go nicely with these Baked Italian Chicken Legs.

Crunchy Creamy Broccoli Cauliflower Vegetable Tots

If your kids are finicky about eating veggies, try serving them these Crunchy Creamy Broccoli Cauliflower Vegetable Tots with their favorite dipping sauce. It could be a game changer!

Copycat Sunflower Crunch Kale Cabbage Salad

Crunchy, healthy, and completely addictive. This Copycat Sunflower Crunch Kale Cabbage Salad has it ALL going on!!

Roasted Baby Potatoes with Garlic & Fresh Herbs

Roasted Baby Potatoes with Garlic & Fresh Herbs are creamy in the center, and brown and crispy on the outside. Pair all that deliciousness with a dipping sauce made of mustard, horseradish, and mayonnaise and you have the perfect side dish, or even a fun and unusual party appetizer!! YUM!!

Zippy Pimento Cheese Mashed Potatoes

It seems like everyone’s favorite side dish is always mashed potatoes. Not that traditional mashed potatoes needed help in the favorites category, but then again why not give them a little update? These Zippy Pimento Cheese Mashed Potatoes are everything!

Pink Lemonade Cookies for #IsabelsBirthdayBash

Pink Lemonade Cookies are perfect for any summer party, or colorful celebration.

Light & Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Almonds Kudos Kitchen Style

These Light & Lemon Ricotta Cookies with Almonds are almost like biting into a cloud. A lemony cloud. And with only one bite, you’ll think you’ve gone to heaven.

The easy instructions for making baked Italian chicken legs:

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 drumsticks 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.

Eight crispy chicken legs on a baking rack.

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Platter of crispy oven baked chicken legs on a textured place mat.

Below is the printable recipe card along with the nutritional information for making today’s easy dinner of Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs.

Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs

Renee Goerger

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!

4.73 from 22 votes

Print Recipe Save recipe

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 45 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course baked chicken

Cuisine Comfort Food

Servings servings

Calories 78 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
Place the first 7 ingredients into a gallon sized zip-top bag and shake well to combine.
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.
Remove the coated legs from the bag and place the chicken legs on to baking sheet fitted with a rack.
Continue the same process with the remaining legs and breadcrumb mixture.
Spray each leg with a light coating of olive oil spray.
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 piercing a leg with a knife or skewer into the thickest part of the leg.

Video

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

Serving: 1servingCalories: 78kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 4gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 552mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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

Vertical title text collage image of Breaded Baked Italian Chicken Legs

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