Today we are going to cook one simple but delicious roasted chicken legs in the oven, with sweet peppers, honey and tomatoes. It is an easy recipe, ideal for dinner and for which we do not have to spend all evening in the kitchen.
The time to prepare the ingredients does not take more than ten minutes, and the rest is the job of the oven.
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This roasted chicken legs in the oven recipe is surprisingly easy to make. It's perfect for weeknights and even beginner cooks can tackle it. The combination of sweet honey, savoury thyme, the richness from the beer braise, and the bright acidity of the tomatoes creates a complex and delicious flavour profile.
This roasted chicken legs in the oven recipe offers a good balance of protein and vegetables, making it a relatively healthy option compared to some other comfort food recipes.
It is a universal recipe, we find it everywhere in different variants. But what makes it more Transylvanian is how I seasoned the meat.
Ingredients
Because I will cook for two people, I will use four chicken legs from which we get four generous portions.
Along with the chicken legs, I'll add about three or four sweet peppers of different colours to the casserole. These will give the dish its wonderful aroma.
For a touch of acidity, I'll include a can of chopped tomatoes. A bit of honey will add a delightful sweet contrast to the other flavours.
Feel free to customize! Depending on your preferences, you can also add onions, leeks, or fruits like apples or candied fruits to the casserole alongside the chicken.
How to Make the Roasted Chicken Legs in the Oven?
Seasoning the Chicken Legs
I place the chicken legs in a bowl to season them. I have added sea salt, freshly ground pepper, onion powder, a dried vegetable mix, and thyme.
Also, I seasoned it with sweet paprika paste, honey, and sunflower oil.
We mix very well by hand because the spices must get into the meat. After that, if you want, you can put them in the refrigerator for an hour so that the legs absorb all the flavours better. But I won't do it; I'll cook them immediately.
Put in the Baking Casserole Dish
I chose a glass casserole dish, poured a little sunflower oil on the bottom, and then placed the chicken legs inside.
Over the chicken legs, put the slices of peppers and sprinkle with a bit of sunflower oil on top. You can also add onion, leek, garlic, or whatever other vegetables you like.
Pour about 1 cup of beer into the dish, cover it with aluminium foil, and put it in the preheated oven at 180 C (356 F) on the fan-assisted setting for half an hour.
Baking the Chicken Legs
After thirty minutes, remove the foil and put the dish back into the oven for ten minutes to allow some of the liquid to evaporate and the sauce to thicken.
Pour the chopped canned tomatoes over the chicken legs, with all the liquid inside, and put the pan back for another twenty-five minutes at the same temperature.
After this time, the liquid will have reduced, and the chicken legs will be almost cooked through. But for a crispy, browned skin, I'll raise the temperature to 200°C (392°F) and leave it for an additional twenty minutes.
And that's it! This was my recipe for roasted chicken legs in the oven. They cooked perfectly, and I can't wait to devour them.
Serving the Roasted Chicken Legs
These delicious roasted chicken legs in the oven can be quickly served only with a wild rocket salad and a glass of cold beer; you will have a perfect dinner. Pair with a fresh green salad or a simple slaw for a lighter, contrasting side.
Creamy mashed potatoes are a perfect pairing with the flavourful chicken legs and sauce or a potato salad, which should be prepared beforehand.
Don't forget to garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or a squeeze of lemon for a bright touch!
Try this roasted chicken legs in the oven recipe, and you're sure to enjoy it! If you're looking for more delicious chicken ideas, check out these recommendations on our blog:
- Chicken and Mushroom Alfredo
- Cosori Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Creamy Chicken Soup With Vegetables
- Best Chicken Casserole Recipe
- Easiest Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
- Baked Stuffed Whole Chicken Recipe
- Best Homemade Chicken Salad Recipe
F.A.Q.
Both 350°F (175°C) and 400°F (200°C) are suitable for baking chicken legs, but the ideal temperature depends on your desired results. If you want the best of both worlds, try this two-step method: start at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes to get the skin nice and crispy, after reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and cook until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken leg reaches 165°F (74°C).
It usually takes about 35-45 minutes to bake chicken legs at 400°F (200°C). However, the exact time depends on a few factors: larger legs will take longer to cook through, and Boneless chicken legs tend to cook a bit faster.
The safe internal temperature for cooked chicken legs is 165°F (74°C). It's important to use a meat thermometer and insert it into the thickest part of the leg to ensure it has reached this temperature.
For storing, allow the roasted chicken legs to cool down to room temperature. Place them in an airtight container or wrap tightly in plastic wrap or aluminium foil, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
For reheating, place the chicken legs in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and heat in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through.
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Roasted Chicken Legs in the Oven-Simple and Tasty Recipe
Equipment
- 1 glass oven tray
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken legs
- 1 teaspoon sea salt kosher
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon thyme fresh
- 1 tablespoon honey flower honey
- 4 pieces sweet peppers different colours
- 3 tablespoon sunflower oil
- 400 g chopped tomatoes canned
- 240 ml beer
- ½ teaspoon vegetable mix
Instructions
- Place the chicken legs in a bowl and season them with sea salt, freshly ground pepper, onion powder, vegetable mix and thyme. Also, I seasoned it with sweet paprika cream, honey and sunflower oil.
- We go to hand massage very well because spices must get into the meat. After that, if you want, you can put them in the refrigerator for an hour so that the legs absorb all the flavours better.
- Take a glass casserole dish, pour a little sunflower oil on the bottom and place the chicken legs. Over them, put the slices of peppers and sprinkle with a bit of sunflower oil on top.
- Pour a glass of beer into the tray, cover it with aluminium foil and put it in the preheated oven at 180 C (356 F) fan for half an hour.
- Remove the foil and put the bowl back for ten minutes to evaporate from the liquid. Pour the chopped canned tomatoes over the chicken legs and return the dish to the oven for another twenty-five minutes at the same temperature.
- Raise the temperature to 200 C (392 F) and leave it for another twenty minutes.
- Serve only with a wild rocket salad and a cold beer, and you will have a perfect dinner.
AV 2001 says
Hey there,
I've really enjoyed reading this Roasted Chicken Legs recipe as it looks amazing. I wanna try it soon but I want to ask something aboout the garlic powder. Is it okay to be replace garlic powder with garlic paste? Will this do the job and make it taste the same?
Thanks in advance for answering my question and for the detailed recipe. Keep up the good work!
Laci says
Hi AV 2001, thanks for comment, I do not use garlic paste because it has an unnatural taste, especially after frying. Better use chopped or pressed garlic you have a more aromatic taste.
Christina says
I just woke up and it's 5am and yet now I'm hungry. Lol. This looks really good! Not only that, but it looks really, really easy. I love that you just mix the chicken with the seasonings and then throw it in the over.
I actually can't wait to go look at that potato salad recipe. It looked like mashed potatoes at first, but potato salad might even be better!
My kids absolutely love anything with chicken. But they're not big fans of tomatoes. Do you think we could leave the tomatoes off? Or, do you not really taste them because you drain the sauce to make the chicken crispy?
Laci says
Hello Christina, thank you for the comment, of course you do not need to put chopped tomatoes on chicken legs, but if you do it, you can not put this on the plate.
mark kabakov says
Timea, Hello!
First questions: it seems to me that you can use fresh garlic, cucumbers in salt instead of pickled? Immediately I praise you for the recipe for cooking chicken legs with vegetables in the oven. This is really a very tasty and healthy dish.
My wife often cooks and I learned too. Now your advice will be useful to us, since many of the ingredients are familiar.
Thank you very much. I will often study your tasty website. Mark
Laci says
Hi Mark, thanks for the comment, the cucumbers are dusted in brine not in vinegar. We always have make at home,from winter, pickled cucumbers.