“I think this is the best chicken I’ve ever had.” That was a quote directly from my husband, who has a great pallet. I love this kind of compliment from him, and I love that my kids loved it too. This is such an easy and quick meal to make for the family. Most of the time is spent in the oven, so the prep time is minimal – a must for busy families who still want to make family dinners a priority. 30 minute garlic broiled chicken legs has quickly become a go-to in our family.
I hope this chicken recipe becomes a family favorite. I know that it is officially in our dinner rotation. It is super flavorful and can be paired with a variety of sides.
30 Minute Garlic Broiled Chicken Legs
- 8 Chicken Legs
- 1/2 cup Butter
- 1/4 cup Chopped Garlic
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/2 Tbsp Ground Ginger
- 1/2 Tbsp Basil
- Preheat oven broiler and line a jelly roll pan with foil.
- In a microwave safe bowl, mix the butter, garlic, soy sauce, salt, ginger and basil. Cook 2 minutes on high in the microwave, or until butter is melted.
- Dip chicken in mixture and then arrange on pan. Reserve remaining liquid for basting.
- Broil 20 minutes in preheated oven following this pattern: 5 minutes on top rack, 5 minutes on medium rack, turn & baste, 5 minutes on top rack, 5 minutes on medium rack.
- Alternative Baking Instructions: I had a reader weigh in since she did not have a broiler. Her was what she said, “I did not use the broiler either, because it doesn’t work well in my oven. I followed your advice in the comments (baking at 400˚F for 40 minutes) and it turned out great!”
30 Minute Garlic Broiled Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 8 Chicken Legs
- 1/2 cup Butter
- 1/4 cup Chopped Garlic
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/2 Tbsp Ground Ginger
- 1/2 Tbsp Basil
Instructions
- Preheat oven broiler and line a jelly roll pan with foil.
- In a microwave safe bowl, mix the butter, garlic, soy sauce, pepper, ginger and basil. Cook 2 minutes on high in the microwave, or until butter is melted.
- Dip chicken in mixture and then arrange on pan. Reserve remaining liquid for basting.
- Broil 20 minutes in preheated oven following this pattern: 5 minutes on top rack, 5 minutes on medium rack, turn & baste, 5 minutes on top rack, 5 minutes on medium rack.
Baked Chicken Dijon
my broiler asks if we want high or low. Which one?
You’ll want to do it on high. Let me know what you think!
Do NOT do it on high in your broiler! Doing it on high will cause a grease fire in your oven! All the butter from the sauce caught on fire 🙁
Oh no! So sorry for your experience? Did you end on the top rack or the middle rack? I do believe that would impact it. I hope everything turned out OK.
Everything was alright. I caught it shortly after the fire started. It was on the top when it caught fire. I tried the recipe again on low and kept it on the middle rack longer and the top rack for just two minutes at a time and it turned out wonderfully!
I have a Pot Luck for Sorority in 2 weeks time.. These Garlic chicken legs look amazing… I now know what I will make… Thank you….
Hope all your friends enjoy. Thanks much for letting me know. They’re super tasty!
Is that really 1/4 cup garlic???
Yes. Hope you love garlic. It really is amazing, and I have had dishes where the garlic over-powers. In my opinion, this is not one of them.
What’s a jelly roll pan? I’d love to make this for dinner but not sure which pan I should use
Here’s an affiliate link to a jelly roll pan: http://goo.gl/uclRND. I hope that helps. It’s the size of a cookie sheet but has a ridge around it to catch any juices that might leak. I think you’ll love the recipe. Come back and let me know what you think.
Ingredients say salt, directions say pepper. Which is it?
Oh man. How did I mess that up?! I just fixed it, and I’m sorry for the confusion. Thanks for the catch. It’s salt. 🙂 Enjoy!
Stupid question. Top rack, medium rack? By top rack, do you mean the closest to the broiler? See..told ya it was a silly question. Lol
It’s all good. Yes, I mean the one closer to the broiler. I hope that helps. I’ve been on vacation. Sorry it took so long to write back. Enjoy. Let me know what you think. 🙂
Just made this for dinner tonight! Haven’t tried it yet, but I accidentally used pepper instead of salt–hope it works out!
Let me know what you think. You can always add salt afterward. Enjoy!
You need more detail in your recipe, such as temperature. Temperature is kind of a key element when you are cooking. “High” is very vague.
Hi Mitch, Thanks for asking for clarification. Typically, when you put the oven on bake you will need a specific temperature. However, when broiling the oven will give the option to broil on high or low. You will want to choose the high option. You will also want to make sure to follow the exact pattern, ending on the middle rack. I hope that helps. Enjoy.
My broiler asks for a temp too, just so you know.
Interesting. I have had a few people report the baking instructions work great. I would just use those. 🙂
Trying this tonight! For the basil, is it dried or fresh? TIA ?
Oh man! Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner. It’s dried basil. Let me know what you think!
Thanks! That’s what I used and it was great!!
Yay! Happy for the positive report. Thanks for commenting.
I dont have an in oven broiler, I have an under oven broiler, so no top or middle rack option. Just in the broiler. Do you think I could still do this chicken?
Oh my word. I’m so sorry it took so long to get back to you. This one got buried. I am suggesting that people try 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until it’s no long pink inside. I’d do the center rack. The flavors are fabulous, so I hope you’ll report back to let me know what time worked for you. Thanks!
I know it says broiler, but can it be done by regular roasting? If so what temp and how long? TIA
Here’s my guess based on another article I read: 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink inside. Will you let me know if that works for you and report back? Thanks so much!
Hi, I live in New Zealand and our ovens don’t come with a broil option, so what temperature would I go with..?
I would follow these instructions based on another baked chicken leg recipe I saw: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Bake the chicken, uncovered, for 35 to 40 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink inside. Let me know if this time works! Thanks!
I did not use the broiler either, because it doesn’t work well in my oven. I followed your advice (baking at 400˚F for 40 minutes) and it turned out great!
Yay! That’s a great report. Thank you so much. I’ll add that to my directions. I really appreciate you telling me your experience.
A temperature of 450 degrees for 40-45 mins will not dry the chicken AT ALL, but it will render FAR crispier skin! 🙂
Great tip! I really appreciate you giving your feedback so others can cook it perfectly too. I love the crispier skin.
Out of all the recipes I try after getting them online and are horrible, this was a breath of fresh air. Tried it yesterday and it came out FANTASTIC! I did use the broiler on high and no grease fires. Love love love it!
Yay! Thanks so much for the positive report. We love this recipe too. Thanks for taking the time to weigh in so others can evaluate whether they want to try it too!
I made this tonight. I did it for 40 minutes at 400 degrees. It was amazing. Thank you!
Thanks for the great report. So glad you liked it. I am curious if you just let it bake on one rack or if you moved it up and down like when you broil. I think it would be helpful information for my readers. Thanks!
Sorry but this recipe was horrible! The chicken was goopy and the texture not up to snuff. It had virtually no flavor whatsoever, even though I followed the recipe to the tee. I do not recommend this one, my family hated it too! :,(
Wow! I haven’t had that review from anyone. I’ve gotten a lot of positive reports. I’m so sorry it didn’t work out for you.
Just made this for dinner and L.O.V.E.D. it!! I baked instead of broiled and it was simply amazing! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s so helpful for others wanting to try it. I’m glad it was such a success. We totally love this one too, and I think I might switch to the baking method myself.
If I bake it at 400 for 40-45 minutes, do I turn it half way the time?
I haven’t cooked it this way, so I’m not 100% sure. Maybe some readers will see and respond. My intuition says yes, that I would turn it half way. Enjoy. Report back!
You say to reserve the remaining liquid for basting, but don’t mention basting in the instructions. When do you baste? Do you use all the liquid?
Oh man. It’s kind of buried there in instruction number four. I do use all the liquid, and I do it about half way through the cooking. I hope that helps! Enjoy!
Typically HIGH broil in an oven is @ 500F
Low would be well.. Lower than half of that.
Thanks so much.
Broil for 20 mins at what temperature, full blast? Only the option below to bake then says bake at 400*. Im confused!
My understanding is that broiling is between 500-550 degrees. Most ovens do not have a way to adjust the broil temperature, so you just say broil and go. The switching back and forth between racks and the 5 minute timing is important, starting on the top rack. Here’s an article that may help: https://colonydiner.com/blog/cooking-tips/difference-bake-broil/
I’m a senior citizen on a fixed income and the inflation is killing me. Chicken legs went from $ .99 a pound to $2.99 a pound (this is our government’s 8.1% ?). I can’t afford them anymore. Will this recipe also work with cat paws?
hahahaha