Healthy Chicken Legs Recipes

Find healthy, delicious chicken legs recipes, from the food and nutrition experts at EatingWell.

Most Popular

Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks with Potatoes

Rating: 3 stars 2
Use your favorite dried herb blend to season both the drumsticks and the sauce in this healthy sheet-pan dinner. A garlic-and-herb mix is crowd-pleasing, but something with a little more heat, like Cajun seasoning, would be delicious too. Whichever way you go, opt for a salt-free version to keep the sodium down in this quick and easy chicken recipe.
By Adam Dolge

Sheet-Pan Orange-Apricot Drumsticks

Rating: 5 stars 7
In this easy sheet-pan dinner, a sweet-and-savory glaze and a colorful medley of vegetables transform ordinary drumsticks into a satisfying meal.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Slow-Cooker Honey-Orange Chicken Drumsticks

Rating: 4.5 stars 15
This slow-cooker chicken recipe makes a perfect alternative to standard tomato-based barbecued chicken. Both kids and adults will devour these drumsticks, doused in a honey-sweetened sauce spiked with orange, ginger and garlic.
By Carolyn Malcoun

Filipino Chicken Adobo

Rating: 4 stars 1
Perhaps the most famous dish in the Filipino repertoire, chicken adobo has as many versions as there are cooks in the Philippines. Some recipes omit garlic, others add coconut milk, some feature brothy sauce, and others reduce that liquid to an intense glaze. Try this healthy recipe first (with plenty of white rice), then the next time around, go wild.
By JJ Goode

Air-Fryer Drumsticks

These simple air-fryer drumsticks are sweet and savory with a subtly smoky flavor from smoked paprika. Lime zest adds bright flavor. These drumsticks pair well with just about anything, from a simple green salad to roasted sweet potatoes.
By Adam Dolge

Oven-Fried Parmesan Chicken Drumsticks

Rating: 5 stars 1
These chicken drumsticks are coated in breadcrumbs with oregano, paprika, and pepper and are oven cooked rather than deep-fried. This recipe is incredibly easy to prepare, making it a perfect party appetizer for any occasion.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Slow-Cooker Spanish Chickpea Soup

Rating: 4.5 stars 2
This easy soup recipe is inspired by cocido, the hearty stew of assorted meats, chickpeas and vegetables considered a national dish of Spain. Each region, family and restaurant has its own variation, but this slow-cooker soup has enough meat to satisfy the carnivores and enough vegetables to make it healthy. Ask for a 4-ounce slab of Serrano ham or prosciutto at your deli counter instead of buying slices. If you don't have a 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker, opt for the stovetop variation instead.
Bruce Aidells
By Bruce Aidells

Arroz con Pollo

Rating: 4 stars 12
Arroz con pollo, or chicken cooked with rice, is a common dish in Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean. We use quick-cooking brown rice here to help you get this on the table in just 40 minutes. Serve with a mixed green salad tossed with cilantro-lime vinaigrette.
Eating Well Bio Page
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Baked Chicken with Onions & Leeks

Rating: 4.5 stars 11
Baking pieces of chicken is one of the easiest ways to put a meal on the table for your family. This mustard-glazed chicken is roasted on a bed of sliced onions, leeks and garlic that you can serve alongside it.
Bruce Aidells
By Bruce Aidells

Braised Paprika Chicken

Rating: 4.5 stars 40
Sweet Hungarian paprika gives this creamy braised chicken the best flavor. This is a good “pantry dish” since you should have the basics on hand and only need to purchase the chicken. You may vary the recipe by using cubed veal shoulder instead of chicken and mushrooms instead of peppers. Serve with whole-wheat orzo flavored with minced parsley or dill.
By Perla Meyers

Easy Jerk-Marinated Chicken Drumsticks with Cabbage Slaw

A complex marinade including ginger, lime, cinnamon and habaneros makes these oven-baked drumsticks delightfully savory with a spicy kick. A simple cabbage slaw, which comes together in minutes, is the perfect accompaniment.
By Mila Clarke

Slow-Cooker Chicken & Honey-Glazed Root Vegetables

This beautiful slow-cooker chicken dish should be a standby for day-of decisions to host dinner. In the spring, substitute baby white turnips and baby carrots for the regular varieties. To reduce prep time, cut the vegetables the night before; refrigerate. Place in the slow cooker with the browned chicken the next day.
By Cooking Light
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Inspiration and Ideas

5+ Healthy Dinners with Chicken Drumsticks That Are on the Table in Under an Hour
Chicken is a great source of protein and can be paired with an array of flavors and spices.
17 Easy Chicken Leg Recipes with 5 Steps or Less
Whether you use the thigh, the drumstick or keep the leg together, chicken is easily adapted to whatever spices or sauces you want to use.
Crispy Ranch Drumsticks
Rating: 2 stars 1

This easy kid-friendly dinner pairs healthier oven-fried chicken with crisp, raw vegetables and a homemade ranch dressing for dipping.