Golden & Juicy Crispy Baked Chicken Legs and Rice Recipe

Tender chicken legs with a golden crispy baked chicken legs crunch have been a weekend comfort staple in kitchens across America.

These juicy drumsticks promise a delightful meal that requires minimal effort and delivers maximum flavor.

Salt, pepper, and simple seasonings work magic on poultry, creating an irresistible dish.

Each bite offers a perfect blend of crisp exterior and succulent meat that melts in your mouth.

The accompanying rice adds a hearty foundation to this classic protein-packed meal.

Simple ingredients and straightforward techniques make this recipe accessible for home cooks of all skill levels.

You’ll want to savor every morsel of this satisfying and easy dinner.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Calories: 540 kcal

Servings: 4

What You’ll Need for Baked Chicken Legs and Rice

• Uncooked Rice: Provides hearty base for the dish, absorbs flavors and creates creamy texture.
• Chicken Broth: Infuses rice with rich, savory taste and ensures perfectly cooked grains.

• Chicken Legs: Juicy, flavorful protein with crispy skin potential.
• Olive Oil: Helps seasonings adhere and promotes golden brown exterior.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor profile of chicken and rice.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle warmth and depth to seasoning blend.
• Paprika: Delivers mild smoky notes and beautiful reddish color.
• Garlic Powder: Provides concentrated, aromatic garlic essence.
• Onion Powder: Contributes sweet, savory undertones.
• Thyme: Introduces earthy, herbal complexity.
• Chili Powder: Offers gentle background heat.

• Onion: Adds subtle sweetness and aromatic base.
• Garlic: Brings intense, pungent flavor.
• Butter: Creates rich, silky texture in rice.
• Optional Vegetables: Enhance nutritional value and add colorful variety.

Kitchen Tools for Perfect Chicken Legs and Rice

• Baking dish (9×13-inch): Essential for preparing and baking the entire meal.
• Mixing bowl: Perfect for combining chicken seasonings and stirring rice ingredients.
• Measuring spoons: Key for accurately portioning spices and seasonings.
• Measuring cup: Needed for precise liquid measurements.
• Paper towels: Great for drying chicken legs before seasoning.
• Aluminum foil: Critical for covering the dish during initial baking.
• Fork: Useful for fluffing rice after cooking.

How to Bake Chicken Legs Over Flavorful Rice

• Fire Up The Oven

Crank the oven to a toasty 375F and give a quick spray of cooking oil to a 9×13-inch baking dish.

• Create Rice Foundation

Toss uncooked rice, broth, onion, garlic, butter, and seasonings into the baking dish. Mix everything until well combined. Feel free to add veggies for extra flavor.

• Prepare Chicken Magic

Gently pat chicken legs dry. Whip up a zesty seasoning blend with olive oil and spices. Massage the mixture generously over each chicken leg, making sure every inch gets coated.

• Layer and Cover

Nestle the seasoned chicken legs right on top of the rice mixture. Wrap the entire dish snugly with aluminum foil.

• Initial Baking Cycle

Slide the covered dish into the oven and let it bake for 45 minutes, allowing the rice to soak up all those delicious flavors.

• Crisp and Golden Finish

Remove the foil and return the dish to the oven. Bake for another 20-25 minutes until the chicken turns a beautiful golden brown and the rice becomes perfectly tender. For extra crunch, hit the broiler for a quick 3-5 minute blast.

• Rest and Serve

Let the dish sit for a few minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork and serve piping hot. Dinner is served!

Tips for Juicy Chicken and Fluffy Rice

• Make-Ahead Magic: Prep the entire dish up to step 4 and refrigerate overnight, allowing flavors to intensify and saving precious cooking time.
• Crispy Skin Technique: Pat chicken legs completely dry before seasoning and use high-quality paprika for deeper color and enhanced crispiness.
• Diet-Friendly Swaps: Replace chicken legs with skinless chicken breasts for lower fat content, or use cauliflower rice for a low-carb version. Vegetarians can substitute chicken with firm tofu or tempeh.
• Flavor Boosters: Experiment with different herb combinations like rosemary and sage, or add a splash of white wine to the rice mixture for extra depth. Smoked paprika can introduce a subtle smoky flavor that elevates the entire dish.
• Leftover Love: Store remaining chicken and rice in airtight containers for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently in the oven to maintain moisture and prevent rice from becoming dry.

Serving Baked Chicken Legs and Rice with Style

• Zesty Meal Companions: Fresh green salad with crisp cucumber and tangy vinaigrette adds brightness to the hearty chicken and rice.
• Creamy Cool Contrast: Dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream provides a smooth, refreshing counterpoint to the spiced chicken.
• Herb Garden Garnish: Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley, chives, or green onions on top for a vibrant pop of color and extra flavor burst.
• Quick Sidekick: Steamed seasonal vegetables like broccoli or roasted asparagus complete the nutritious one-pan meal wonderfully.

How to Store and Reheat Baked Chicken and Rice

• Meal Planning & Storage Advice
• Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover chicken and rice in airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking. Keeps fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator, maintaining optimal taste and texture.
• Freezing Technique: Separate chicken and rice before freezing. Package in freezer-safe containers, removing excess air. Stays delicious for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Quick Reheating Method: Warm in the oven at 350F for best results. Add a splash of chicken broth to prevent dryness. Cover with foil to retain moisture and prevent chicken from becoming tough. Stir rice halfway through heating.
• Portion Control Hack: Divide meal into individual servings before storing. This makes grab-and-go lunches easier and helps manage meal prep for busy weeks. Label containers with date and contents for easy tracking.

Crispy Baked Chicken Legs And Rice Recipe

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4.9 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Greek-inspired baked chicken legs with rice brings Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table. Simple ingredients create a comforting meal that connects home cooks with traditional Greek culinary traditions.

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Ingredients

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• 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken legs (drumsticks)
• 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice (uncooked)
• 3 cups chicken broth (or water with bouillon)
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter or olive oil
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, or bell peppers) (optional)
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp dried thyme
• ½ tsp dried thyme or oregano
• ½ tsp chili powder (optional, for heat)

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Instructions

1. Dish Preparation: Position oven rack at medium height and warm to 375F (190C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent ingredient adherence.
2. Rice Foundation: Combine uncooked rice, chicken broth, onion, garlic, butter, salt, pepper, paprika, and thyme in the baking dish. Gently integrate these elements, ensuring uniform seasoning distribution. Incorporate optional vegetables like carrots or peas into the rice mixture.
3. Chicken Seasoning: Pat chicken legs thoroughly with paper towels to maximize spice absorption. Craft a dynamic spice blend using olive oil, salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and chili powder. Massage seasoning comprehensively across each chicken leg, guaranteeing total coverage.
4. Assembly and Initial Cooking: Position seasoned chicken legs uniformly over rice mixture. Hermetically seal baking dish with aluminum foil to preserve moisture and promote even heat circulation. Bake for 45 minutes, allowing rice to absorb rich broth and develop tender consistency.
5. Finishing Technique: Remove foil and return dish to oven. Continue baking 20-25 minutes until chicken achieves golden-brown exterior and rice reaches optimal tenderness. For enhanced crispiness, activate broiler for a rapid 3-5 minute finale.
6. Serving Presentation: Allow dish to rest 5 minutes, enabling juice redistribution. Delicately fluff rice with fork, creating light, aerated texture. Serve immediately while temperature and flavor remain at peak intensity.

Notes

• Moisture Management: Blot chicken legs thoroughly with paper towels to ensure dry surfaces, allowing seasonings to adhere better and promoting crispy skin during baking.
• Seasoning Strategy: Massage spice blend comprehensively into chicken legs, creating complete flavor coverage and preventing bland spots in the meat.
• Rice Texture Technique: Choose long-grain rice for optimal absorption and prevent mushy consistency by maintaining precise liquid-to-rice ratio and avoiding stirring during cooking.
• Crispiness Customization: Broil chicken legs for 3-5 minutes at the end of cooking to achieve golden-brown, extra-crispy skin without drying out the meat.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 490
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 700 mg
• Fat: 19 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 56 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg