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Platter of Baked Cajun chicken legs for featured image.
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5 from 1 vote

Easy Baked Cajun Chicken Legs

These baked chicken legs with Cajun seasoning are easy to make, loaded with flavor, and incredibly juicy!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
refrigerating time12 hours
Total Time12 hours 50 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Author: James Delmage and Tara

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds chicken drumsticks
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder aluminum free, **not baking soda**
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal Kosher salt
  • vegetable oil or cooking spray for greasing wire rack

Cajun Seasoning

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal Kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

  • Dry the chicken legs off very well with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Toss the legs in the salt and baking powder making sure to coat evenly on all sides. Place the chicken on a wire rack lined baking sheet making sure that the legs are not touching each other. Place the sheet in the fridge overnight or at least for a few hours.
  • Preheat oven to 425f and set the racks to the middle levels.
  • Dry off any excess moisture from the chicken then sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the Cajun spice evenly over the legs. The extra spice can be saved for another purpose. Line the baking sheets with foil and place the wire rack on top. Lightly coat the rack with cooking spray or vegetable oil then place all of the legs onto the rack. Bake for 20 minutes.
  • After 20 minutes flip the chicken legs and continue to bake for another 20-25 minutes or until crisp. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Our Cajun seasoning is lower in sodium than most commercial brands.  If using a store brand check the label before and adjust accordingly. 
  • Baking powder can be omitted but it helps dry them out which results in crisper chicken legs.    
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and should be reheated in the oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 119kcal | Carbohydrates: 6.6g | Protein: 8.3g | Fat: 7.8g | Saturated Fat: 2.9g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 1013mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Calcium: 434mg | Iron: 1mg

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