Rooster legs are sometimes one of many least costly cuts of hen. Coincidentally, they’re additionally my favourite a part of a rotisserie hen as a result of that darkish meat is simply so juicy and tender! Since I loooove roasted hen, I usually make Roasted Rooster Legs which might be shut in texture to the moist and tender rotisserie hen that I so love. How do I accomplish that? Low and sluggish warmth, my buddies. Low and sluggish.
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“Oh. My. Stars. This was the perfect hen I’ve ever made. I’ve all the time thought roasting hen was an advanced, intimidating factor. However three components?! And a kind of components is hen?! A thousand occasions thanks. You took the worry out of roasting hen, and we’re already excited to make this once more.”
Ashley
Straightforward and attractive hen legs within the oven
For this oven-roasted hen leg recipe, I hold issues easy with simply hen legs, butter, and lemon pepper seasoning (although you need to use any seasoning you want!) Nonetheless, don’t let the brief ingredient record idiot you. Because the hen roasts, the butter melts and mingles with the lemony seasoning and hen juices, making probably the most unimaginable sauce ever. Certain, you need to use olive oil or coconut oil as an alternative, however butter…yeah, butter is simply particular.
- For moist hen legs, cook dinner them slowly at a low temperature to remain juicy and tender. The connective tissues soften and break down right into a tasty gelatin. The entire course of is meat magic. You’ll additionally wish to cowl the meat tightly to stop moisture from evaporating (both with foil or a lid), and baste as soon as whereas the hen legs roast.
- The tactic I take advantage of on this recipe has two phases: a low 300ºF for one hour (that’s the “low and sluggish” half), after which ending off the hen and not using a cowl at 425ºF for about Half-hour to crisp up the pores and skin. If you happen to’ve ever puzzled how lengthy to cook dinner hen legs within the oven for that excellent stability of tender and crispy, this two-phase methodology is the reply. It offers you the perfect of each worlds—tender, juicy insides and superbly browned pores and skin.
- So far as seasonings go, you need to use absolutely anything! I used my favourite mix du jour, lemon pepper seasoning, however you would additionally use poultry seasoning, taco seasoning, Herbs de Provence, Za’atar, cajun seasoning, steak seasoning, or simply salt and pepper!
- Wish to roast greater than two hen legs? Simply use a bigger baking dish and don’t overcrowd the hen. No want to regulate the cook dinner time!
- This low and sluggish roasting methodology is designed for bone-in, skin-on hen legs solely. Boneless, skinless hen breasts cook dinner a lot quicker and can dry out utilizing this methodology. For directions on find out how to cook dinner boneless, skinless hen breasts, see our recipe for baked hen breasts.
Roasted Rooster Legs
Value $3.46 recipe / $1.15 serving
Sluggish and low warmth is the important thing to tender and juicy oven roasted hen legs. This straightforward recipe makes a straightforward foremost dish for any night time of the week.
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Collect and put together all components. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Frivolously coat the within of a casserole dish with non-stick spray.
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Pat the hen dry with a paper towel, then smear butter over the floor of the pores and skin. Sprinkle the lemon pepper seasoning liberally over either side of the hen items. Place the seasoned hen within the casserole dish.
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Cowl the dish with aluminum foil and bake for one hour at 300ºF. After one hour, take away the foil and discard it, baste the hen, and switch the warmth as much as 425ºF.
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Proceed to bake the hen on the greater temperature for 20-Half-hour, or till the pores and skin has achieved the specified stage of brownness. Serve with the juices spooned over high or with bread for dipping.
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Oven-Secure Casserole Dish
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Aluminum foil
This recipe is sufficient to serve 3 individuals, with 2 individuals getting one hen thigh every and the final individual getting two legs. (Rooster leg quarters are made up of the thigh AND leg).
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 327kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 25gFats: 25gSodium: 157mgFiber: 0.3g
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Find out how to Make Oven Roasted Rooster Legs Step-by-Step Images
Collect all your components and preheat the oven to 300ºF. Frivolously coat the within of a casserole dish with cooking spray.
Prep the hen: Now pat 2 skin-on, bone-in hen leg quarters dry with a paper towel.
Smear about 1 Tbsp of room temperature butter over each items (1 Tbsp whole, not per piece).
Season the hen: Then season either side liberally with lemon pepper seasoning (about ½ Tbsp), or your favourite seasoning mix. Place the seasoned hen in a casserole dish coated with non-stick spray.
Roast the hen: Cowl the dish tightly with foil, then bake within the preheated 300ºF oven for one hour.
After an hour, take away the foil and discard it, then baste the meat with the pan juices. The meat must be fairly tender, however the pores and skin shall be tender and blonde, just like the photograph above. To attain that good brown crispy pores and skin, take away the foil and switch the oven temperature as much as 425ºF.
Bake the hen for an extra 20-Half-hour on the greater temperature (you possibly can depart it within the oven because it heats as much as the upper temp), or till it develops the extent of brownness that you simply like on the pores and skin.
The liquid that leads to the underside of the casserole dish is PURE GOLD. It’s like, top-of-the-line issues I’ve ever tasted, so don’t let that go to waste. I wish to spoon it over no matter I’m serving the hen with (if serving with rice or pasta), or serve some bread to sop it up. It’s also possible to pour it right into a skillet, add just a little white wine, and simmer it till it’s decreased to make a scrumptious pan sauce. One thing about that butter, lemon, and pepper is simply per-fect.
Find out how to Serve Roasted Rooster Legs
These oven-roasted hen legs go along with most sides, however I’ve received just a few favourite pairings. Preserve it basic with crispy roasted potatoes or a scoop of fluffy white rice to take in all that buttery lemon sauce (belief me, you’ll need each drop). I additionally love a aspect of crunchy sautéed inexperienced beans! If you happen to’re within the temper for pure consolation meals, I’d go for one thing creamy like our twice baked potato casserole. Or attempt it alongside oven roasted ratatouille for a Mediterranean twist.
Storage & Reheating
Retailer any leftover hen legs in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. To reheat, place them on a baking sheet, cowl loosely with foil, and heat in a 350°F oven for about 15–20 minutes, or till heated by means of. It’s also possible to freeze cooked hen legs for as much as 4 months. Allow them to cool utterly first, then wrap them tightly to stop freezer burn. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating.
Our Roasted Rooster Legs recipe was initially printed 1/27/16. It was retested, reworked, and republished to be higher than ever 11/10/25.
