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Home » chicken » Baked Buffalo Chicken Legs

Baked Buffalo Chicken Legs

Published: Jan 29, 2016 · Modified: Mar 25, 2020 by Louisa Clements · This post may contain affiliate links

This post may contain affiliate links

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45 minutes 39 Comments

Forget about buffalo wings, these crispy baked buffalo chicken legs are the perfect crowd-pleasing game day food for football season. 

Forget about buffalo wings, these crispy baked buffalo chicken legs are the perfect crowd-pleasing, game day food for football season. | livinglou.com

If you know me this probably won’t come as a surprise, but Buffalo chicken wings are one of my favourite, guilty-pleasure foods. Everyone knows that they are my go-to order when we go for wings or trivia night. I mean, it’s pretty hard to resist the combination of chicken, a vinegar-based hot sauce (like Frank’s hot sauce) and butter.

So, why not try using chicken drumsticks with the same flavours? These crispy baked buffalo chicken legs are 100% irresistible and perfect for watching the big football game.

Are you busy planning your Superbowl party? I mean, it’s coming up pretty quickly and I’ve noticed that people are looking for all sorts of game day food. My healthier cheesy broccoli dip is a great vegetarian option for a party. Keeping dietary restrictions in mind when entertaining is really important, that way everyone has something they can eat.

How do you make crispy drumsticks in the oven?

To get a crispy skin, toss the chicken drumsticks in olive oil and roast at 475F for 40 minutes. I’ve used the method to roast chicken legs for a couple of years, and it never fails to perfectly crisp up the skin that mirrors the crunch you get from frying, but without all of the mess.

Forget about buffalo wings, these crispy baked buffalo chicken legs are the perfect crowd-pleasing, game day food for football season. | livinglou.com

How do you make a homemade Buffalo sauce for chicken drumsticks?

Honestly, Buffalo sauce couldn’t be easier! For this recipe, you use a ratio of 1 part butter to two parts hot sauce. For Buffalo sauce, you want to use a vinegar-based hot sauce like Frank’s.

Just before the drumsticks are done, I’ll melt some butter on the stovetop and toss the hot chicken drumettes in the sauce just before servings. This helps to preserve that irresistible crispy skin.

This recipe makes 12 chicken legs, but for feeding a crowd it can easily be doubled or even tripled. The buffalo wing flavours fall more on the medium side than the hot and spicy side, but if you’re a fan of extra hot, just switch up the ratios of hot sauce to butter and add a little more hot sauce. That’s one of the ways restaurants make mild, medium and hot wings — it’s all in the ratios of butter to hot sauce.

How to make spicy Buffalo chicken legs?

To make this Buffalo chicken more on the spicier side, toss the drumsticks with about ¼ tsp of cayenne pepper along with the olive oil and garlic powder before roasting them.

Baked Buffalo Chicken Legs

Author: Louisa Clements
4.10 from 76 votes
Crispy baked buffalo chicken legs are roasted in the oven at 475F and then tossed in a homemade Buffalo sauce for an easy game day recipe.
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Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
servings icon
Servings: 12

Ingredients

  • 12 chicken legs, excess fat trimmed
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • For sauce:
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • ¼ cup vinegar-based hot sauce, I use Frank's

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 475F.
  • In a large bowl, toss chicken with garlic powder, salt and olive oil.
  • Place on a baking sheet and roast for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  • In a small pot, melt butter with hot sauce.
  • In a large bowl, toss cooked chicken with buffalo sauce and serve.
Did you try this recipe?Leave a comment + rating and let me know what you think!
Filed Under: chicken, Dinner Recipes, easy, gluten free, meat

If you want to change it up and try some more exotic flavours, I have a recipe for Indian-spiced chicken legs which will also become a favourite, but for something more tradition you really can’t go wrong with my baked buffalo chicken legs.

 Let me know if you give this recipe for baked buffalo chicken legs a try in the comments below.

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Comments

  1. Pranay

    January 23, 2023 at 12:54 am

    It looks so good. Thanks for sharing this.

    5 stars

    Reply
  2. Rach

    October 24, 2022 at 8:07 pm

    These are amazing chicken legs. I added spicy Cajun spices and Sweet Baby Rays buffalo sauce!

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      October 27, 2022 at 9:54 pm

      I'm so glad you enjoyed, Rach!
      Reply
  3. Lisa

    October 09, 2022 at 8:55 pm

    These are terrific! Quick and no mess. Try them!
    ★★★★★

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      October 20, 2022 at 9:57 pm

      So glad you enjoyed these, Lisa! Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
      Reply
  4. Lisa

    October 09, 2022 at 8:49 pm

    They were great. I made wings and legs. Just took the wings out of the oven sonner.

    5 stars

    Reply
  5. Amy

    October 03, 2022 at 6:38 pm

    We love this recipe. Tonight I am throwing a couple of thighs in the mix as well. I am sure they will be great. You can find chicken leg quarters on sale for about $.65 a pound so I that is really a reasonably price treat!
    ★★★★★
    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      October 08, 2022 at 11:05 pm

      Hi Amy, I am so glad you enjoy this recipe! Great idea to add thighs as well. Happy cooking!
      Reply
  6. Marcia

    August 14, 2022 at 7:36 pm

    Such a great recipe and affordable now that wings are five dollars a pound! Thank you!
    ★★★★★

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      August 19, 2022 at 10:33 pm

      So glad you enjoy this, Marcia!
      Reply
  7. Gloria Peterson

    April 09, 2022 at 1:19 am

    Very good
    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      May 08, 2022 at 8:16 pm

      So glad you enjoyed, thanks for letting me know Gloria!
      Reply
  8. Shelle

    March 06, 2022 at 4:12 pm

    Very delicious.

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      March 20, 2022 at 6:00 pm

      So glad you enjoy these, Shelle!
      Reply
  9. Rachelle

    February 13, 2022 at 8:02 pm

    Delicious recipe for Super Bowl! Served it with oven roasted potatoes and asparagus! Big hit!

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Louisa Clements

      February 27, 2022 at 10:14 pm

      So glad you enjoyed these Rachelle! Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
      Reply
  10. Lou

    February 02, 2022 at 10:09 am

    I have enjoyed these a number of times and they are simple to make!
    ★★★★★

    5 stars

    Reply
  11. Ashinka Arts

    June 04, 2021 at 6:25 pm

    Recipe is great, but don't use Olive Oil unless keeping it below 400F. Smoke point for Olive Oil is 405F and beyond this the oil is not healthy even if small amount. - https://www.google.com/search?q=olive+oil+smoke+point
    ★★★★☆
    Reply
  12. LC

    September 09, 2018 at 7:01 pm

    Delicious! I also added a few tablespoons of hot pepper jelly to the franks/butter!
    ★★★★★

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Lou

      October 05, 2018 at 10:59 am

      So glad that you enjoyed them, love the idea of adding hot pepper jelly!
      Reply
  13. Jessica

    August 21, 2018 at 3:16 pm

    SO YUMMY. Cooking time in my oven varied slightly but I just kept an eye on them and ended up lowing the temp just a bit halfway through. I also put a little bit of cajun seasoning on the drumsticks before cooking them. Me and my husband were so sad I didn't make more. Definitely going to use this recipe again. Thanks!!
    ★★★★★

    5 stars

    Reply
    • Lou

      August 26, 2018 at 4:09 pm

      So glad you and your husband enjoyed these Jessica, love the addition of the Cajun seasoning!
      Reply
  14. Shirley Clements

    May 29, 2018 at 11:55 am

    I am picking up some chicken wings for my dinner tonight & I will be making this recipe as it sounds soooo tasty!!!
    Reply
    • Lou

      June 20, 2018 at 7:40 pm

      Mmmm! I hope you enjoyed, xo!
      Reply
  15. Cathy

    April 26, 2017 at 8:26 am

    Definitely trying this! I also like that it's simply no hassle meal Thanks shared it on Pinterest (easy access ofc) ♥
    Reply
    • Lou

      April 26, 2017 at 12:46 pm

      Thanks Cathy! Let me know how it goes. :)
      Reply
  16. Trinity

    April 22, 2017 at 6:27 pm

    I just made them and they are really good thank you for sharing the recipe!!!!!!!!
    Reply
    • Lou

      April 26, 2017 at 12:46 pm

      Thanks Trinity, so glad that you liked them!
      Reply
  17. Meagan

    December 15, 2016 at 6:44 am

    Making these tonight, hope there as good as everyone says! I'll write a post after dinner tonight! Wish me luck. Lol
    Reply
    • Lou

      December 21, 2016 at 8:59 pm

      Hope you enjoyed them Meagan!
      Reply
  18. Anne

    November 27, 2016 at 9:42 pm

    Made these tonight! They were absolutely delicious! Will definitely make them again!
    Reply
    • Lou

      November 28, 2016 at 10:03 am

      Thanks Anne, glad you liked them!
      Reply
  19. Valerie

    October 10, 2016 at 2:19 pm

    Thanks for posting this! I tried it with chicken thighs and it turned out well. The chicken thighs I had were extra large so I had to cook longer. The pan drippings did smoke at the end - probably because I took some of the drippings out partway through so that they wouldn't spill out when I was moving the pan. Next time I'll use a pan with higher edges so I can leave the pan drippings in and then it won't burn in the empty pan spots. The recipe flavors were delicious! Thanks again!
    Reply
    • Lou

      October 16, 2016 at 10:03 am

      Hi Valerie, I'm so glad that you liked this recipe and that it worked with chicken thighs! :)
      Reply
  20. zelma mallory

    September 20, 2016 at 8:43 pm

    Hi Lou....Tried this recipe, turned out grest!. Ill try this for e wings as well. Thanks
    Reply
    • Lou

      September 20, 2016 at 10:11 pm

      Hi Zelma, I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks for letting me know! Let me know if you try it out on wings as well.
      Reply
  21. Shelby

    August 10, 2016 at 12:13 am

    Don't know if I just have a super oven or what but even the first 20 minutes at 475 was way too much. They were burned slightly and my fire alarms were having a party. Would love to try again, maybe a lower heat + longer time!
    Reply
    • Lou

      August 14, 2016 at 9:27 am

      Hi Shelby, it sounds like your oven is really hot! I would try at a lower temperature next time, maybe 425? There's a chance you also had drumsticks with a lot of fat on them which could lead to the burning and smoking - you can try trimming this excess fat as well. Another thought, have you cleaned your oven recently? Sometimes the leftover matter in the oven can also burn and smoke. I hope that helps, let me know how they go next time. :)
      Reply

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Hi, I'm Louisa Clements & welcome to Living Lou. I've been creating simple, fresh & flavorful recipes for the modern kitchen for 12 years.
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