Roasted Spiced Chicken Legs

Roasted Spiced Chicken Legs are a perfect alternative to the usual chicken breasts. The leg meat is soft, delicate and perfectly flavoured with the spice mixture. Adding a little butter half way through guarantees a crispy chicken skin and a simple method to baste the flesh.

Roasted Spiced Chicken Legs are one of those dishes that strike the perfect balance between simplicity and flavour. With their rich, aromatic coating and juicy, tender meat, these chicken legs are proof that great food doesn’t have to be complicated.

This dish begins with a simple but punchy spice blend. A mixture of garlic, turmeric, thyme, oregano, sweet paprika, and a hint of cayenne pepper forms the backbone of the flavour. Each spice plays a role: turmeric lends its warm earthiness and beautiful golden colour; thyme and oregano bring a subtle herbiness; paprika gives a mild sweetness, while cayenne adds just enough heat to wake up the palate. The blend is rounded off with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, which not only brightens the flavours but also helps tenderise the chicken during marination.

Once the marinade is prepared — a fragrant, zesty paste made with olive oil and spices — it’s time to give the chicken legs some love. Massaging the paste all over ensures every crevice is coated, allowing the flavours to seep deep into the meat. A night in the fridge does wonders here. The marinade infuses the chicken with its aroma, transforming it into something irresistible before it even reaches the oven.

When roasting day arrives, the process couldn’t be simpler. Chopped onions are scattered in the baking dish, serving as a bed for the chicken legs. As the chicken roasts, the onions soak up the juices, caramelising beautifully and creating a naturally sweet base. The addition of vine or plum tomatoes brings both freshness and richness. As they roast, they blister and burst, releasing their juices into the pan and mingling with the spiced oils and melted butter — forming an instant sauce that clings lovingly to the chicken.

The butter is an understated but crucial touch. Added partway through cooking, it melts over the hot chicken skin, adding a glossy finish and a touch of indulgence. It mingles with the spices, creating a mouth-watering aroma that fills the kitchen. The high roasting temperature ensures that the outside crisps up beautifully while locking in the juices, giving you that perfect combination of golden, crispy skin and succulent, fall-off-the-bone meat.

The result is a dish that looks as good as it tastes — glistening, golden chicken legs nestled among roasted onions and tomatoes, all coated in a deep, spiced glaze. When you take that first bite, you’re greeted with layers of flavour: the tang of lemon, the warmth of the spices, the sweetness of roasted vegetables, and the savoury richness of perfectly cooked chicken.

Roasted Spiced Chicken Legs are versatile enough to suit any occasion. They’re ideal for a cosy family dinner, a relaxed weekend meal, or even as the centrepiece for a casual gathering. Serve them with buttery couscous, fluffy rice, or roasted potatoes to soak up the juices. A crisp green salad or a bowl of steamed vegetables makes the perfect fresh contrast to the deep, spiced flavours of the chicken.

It’s a dish that celebrates the magic of marination and the joy of roasting — where simple ingredients, when treated with care and patience, turn into something extraordinary. Every forkful brings warmth, richness, and a touch of spice that lingers just long enough to make you crave another bite.

In the end, Roasted Spiced Chicken Legs remind us that home cooking doesn’t need to be fancy to be memorable. A handful of everyday ingredients, a bit of time, and the right blend of spices are all it takes to create a meal that’s hearty, wholesome, and full of character — a dish that’s sure to be a favourite on the dinner table time and time again.

Roasted Spiced Chicken Legs

If your looking for a budget friendly filling and warming dish then you have to try Roasted Spiced Chicken Legs. It's jam packed with flavour and the a family favourite.

4.83 from 223 votes

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Course: Main Dish, Marinade

Cuisine: French, Italian

Keyword: Chicken, Dairy, Herbs, Marinade, Roast, Roasted Spiced Chicken Legs, Spice, Vegetables

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 People

Calories: 606kcal

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Ingredients

 

MetricImperial

• ▢ 6 large chicken legs
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic peel/mince
• ▢ 8 medium tomatoes vine/plim
• ▢ 28 g unsalted butter
• ▢ 2 tbsp olive oil
• ▢ 2 medium onions peel/chop
• ▢ ½ tsp turmeric
• ▢ ½ tsp thyme
• ▢ ½ tsp oregano
• ▢ 1 tsp sweet paprika
• ▢ ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• ▢ 1 large lemon juice only
• ▢ 1 tsp salt
• ▢ ½ tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

• Using a mixing bowl add the minced garlic, turmeric, thyme, oregano, paprika, cayenne, lemon juice, pepper and salt and stir to combine. Add the olive oil and stir to form a paste like mixture.
  2 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp turmeric, ½ tsp thyme, ½ tsp oregano, 1 tsp sweet paprika, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, 1 large lemon
• Pour the spices rub over the chicken legs and massage all over making sure both sides are coated.
  6 large chicken legs
• Cover with clingfilm and pop in the fridge over night to marinade.
• When ready to cook turn on the oven and preheat to 220C/425F/Gas Mark 7.
• Add the chopped onion to the baking dish below the chicken pieces (skin side upwards) on top.
  2 medium onions
• Add the tomatoes to the dish and once the oven has reached temperature place the oven dish in and roast for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and add a small tab of butter over each piece of chicken, scatter the tomatoes and return to the oven.
  28 g unsalted butter, 8 medium tomatoes
• Continue to roast for a further 25 – 30 minutes or until the chicken legs are fully cooked. If you have a meat temperature the internal temp should be 165F. If you don’t have a thermometer then push a skewer into the thickest part of the chicken, if cooked then the juices should be clear. If slightly red, then not cooked fully yet.
• When the Roasted Spiced Chicken Legs is cooked remove from the oven and leave in its juices for a few minutes prior to serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 606kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 195mg | Sodium: 760mg | Potassium: 1129mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 2725IU | Vitamin C: 54mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 3mg