In the world of meat-eaters and healthy dinners, chicken leg recipes are some of the most popular. And we can understand why. You want it baked in the oven? Done! Grilled? It can be arranged! Roasted, fried, boiled, you name it. Chicken is one of the most versatile meats out there. And let’s not beat around the push: price certainly plays a role in its popularity. Compared to beef or seafood, chicken tends to be on the more affordable side.
When you start cooking, chicken is usually where you ‘dip your toes into the water.’ It’s the taste, the texture and the protein count, sure. But it’s also that you don’t need much experience to get started with cooking chicken – unlike seafood or steak.
Over the years of being your friendly foodie helpers, we’ve picked up a couple of tricks in the kitchen. And in the sea of over ten thousand chicken leg recipes available in the Samsung Food app, we’ve fished out ten of our favorite ones. We’ve got something for everyone. Whether you’re at the beginning of your culinary journey, or you’re a more experienced traveler, we guarantee you’ll find a dish to your liking among these chicken leg recipes.
1. Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Spinach
This recipe is a well-known crowd pleaser. It’s on the easier side, and requires minimal prep time. Just lay the chicken legs on the tray, followed by the veggies. Sprinkle over the herbs and spices, and place it in the oven. Instead of potatoes, you can always use broccoli or brussels sprouts. If you decide to give brussels sprouts a chance, we recommend cutting them lengthwise fist. Pop them in a bowl, drizzle some olive oil, sprinkle a bit of salt and garlic powder if you have it on hand. And toss everything together. When transferring to the tray, make sure you turn the brussels sprouts cut side down. This way the cut side will get caramelized and the top side will become crispy.
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2 pounds red potatoes cut into 1-inch pieces
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1 X 9 ounce fresh spinach package
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1 onion large, cut into 1-inch pieces
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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4 garlic cloves minced
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1 teaspoon salt divided
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1 teaspoon dried thyme
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0.75 teaspoon pepper divided
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6 chicken leg quarters
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0.75 teaspoon paprika
2. One-pot Baked Spanish Chicken with Rice and Chorizo
We are slowly but surely becoming no.1 fans of one-pot dishes. And if they were aaallll half as good as this Spanish Chicken and Chorizo with Paella Rice, we would consider ourselves the luckiest people on Earth. With hot chili flakes and chorizo in the ingredients list, this chicken leg recipe sure does bring the heat. If you’re not thrilled by the idea of spitting fire after every bite, you can always use the mild substitutes. It’s nothing to be ashamed about – you do you!
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1 kg chicken legs or thighs with skin
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225 g Spanish chorizo diced into cubes
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2 peppers any colour sliced
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3 cloves garlic finely chopped
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1 onion finely chopped
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1 tsp paprika
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1 tsp crushed chilli flakes
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2 tbsp olive oil
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300 g paella rice
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850 ml chicken stock
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salt
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pepper
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1 lemon
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handful fresh parsley chopped
3. Chicken Arrabbiata
Another chicken leg recipe with a fiery taste is the gorgeous classic, Chicken Arrabbiata. It’s believed that this Italian dish got its name – Arrabbiata, meaning ‘angry’ – because of the use of hot chili peppers in the sauce. The spicy chicken can be served with pasta. We think it’s the most reasonable choice considering the Italian origins of this dish. If you’re not a big pasta fan then mashed potatoes work well too. Or you can meet in the middle, and boil some gnocchi to accompany this flavorful saucy chicken.
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6 whole chicken legs split into drumsticks and thighs
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salt
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freshly ground black pepper
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3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
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1 red onion large, diced
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6 garlic cloves large, minced
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1.5 teaspoons crushed red pepper
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1 bay leaf
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1 yellow bell pepper large, diced
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1 poblano small, diced
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1 tablespoon tomato paste
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1 cup dry white wine
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1 X 28 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes chopped and juices reserved
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2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
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1 tablespoon marjoram leaves chopped
4. One-pot Chicken Chasseur
One thing you should know about us is that we’re always looking for good family-friendly recipes. And this delicious Chicken Chasseur is certainly one of those. It’s a classic French dish made in one pot – but your family will think it’s a really fancy, difficult dish.
It does require one and a half hours of your time, but it’s totally worth it! Because its a slower cook, might be wise to make it as a weekend dinner, rather than on a busy weekday when you’re starving and want to eat RIGHT NOW. There are numerous versions of this dish, so don’t feel like you have to follow the recipe word by word. Somewhere you’ll find shallots instead of onions, fresh tomatoes in favor of tomato sauce, white wine rather than red wine. That openness should help you drum up some creativity and playfulness in your cooking. Because nothing can go wrong with this chicken leg recipe – get those creative juices flowing! Bon Appétit!
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1 tsp olive oil
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4 chicken legs
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salt
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pepper
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25 g butter
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1 onion chopped
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3 garlic cloves, chopped
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200 g button mushrooms
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1 carrot peeled and sliced
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225 ml red wine
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2 tbsp tomato purée
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2 sprigs fresh thyme
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500 ml chicken stock or beef stock
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1 tsp cornflour optional
5. Rainbow Noodle Salad with Chicken and Edamame
In search of a good chicken leg recipe that’s done in under half an hour? We’ve found a perfect match! Even though this salad doesn’t explicitly call for chicken legs, we prefer to use them because they’re usually juicy and easy to cook. Not only is this dish super healthy and quick to put together, it’s easy on the eyes too. Or maybe that’s just our obsession with colorful foods. Either way, it’ll look great on your Instagram feed!
Nevertheless, the recipe does combine a whole bunch of tasty veggies really well! The tamari and peanut butter connect all the ingredients, and the edamame adds the crunchiness that contrasts with the tenderness of the chicken. Just sprinkle some sesame on top and you’re all set!
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100 g vermicelli noodles
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2 carrots medium, finely julienned
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1 courgette medium, finely julienned
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0.25 red cabbage finely sliced
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0.5 red capsicum finely sliced
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0.5 yellow capsicum finely sliced
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0.5 cup edamame podded
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0.5 bunch fresh coriander roughly chopped
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200 g chicken skinless, cooked, thickly sliced
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2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
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0.5 teaspoon brown sugar
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1 tablespoon white miso
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1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
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1 tablespoon tamari
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1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
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2 tablespoons toasted cashews
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lime wedges
6. Chicken Tinola
Soup is like a warm hug in a bowl. It’s one of those dishes that always brings comfort. If you’re feeling under the weather, a little bit down, or just in need of some extra warmth and love, soup is always a top choice. So naturally, we went looking for an amazing chicken soup recipe which ticks all the boxes.
Chicken Tinola is an easy chicken soup dish which comes to your kitchen straight from the Philippines! Okay, we admit – this dish might be a little extra, since it involves chayote squash. But papaya and zucchini are great substitutes! You can serve Chicken Tinola with white rice, or let her shine on her own!
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1 tablespoon cooking oil
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1 onion medium, chopped
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2 cloves garlic minced
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1 piece fresh ginger 1 1/2 inch, peeled and thinly sliced
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1 tablespoon fish sauce
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3 pounds chicken legs and thighs rinsed and patted dry
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2 X 14 ounce cans chicken broth
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1 chayote squash peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
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salt
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ground black pepper to taste
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1 head bok choy chopped
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1 X 8 ounce fresh spinach package, chopped
7. Vinegar Chicken With Barberries
Speaking of dishes with a dash of extravagance, we simply couldn’t help but mention this beautiful Vinegar Chicken With Barberries. If you’re someone who likes tangy flavors, then you’re going to be blown away. And don’t worry – if you’re wondering where on earth you’d get barberries, you don’t have to use them. They can easily be replaced with sour cherries or cranberries. For serving, you can use white rice or couscous. It’s also great with crusty bread right out of the oven!
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3 lb chicken legs skin-on, bone-in, thigh and drumstick, or a mix of thighs and drumsticks
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kosher salt
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2 Tbsp vegetable oil or other neutral
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1 onion medium, finely chopped
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4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
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0.5 cup dried barberries or dried tart cherries, rinsed
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0.5 tsp ground turmeric
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0.25 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
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0.33 cup white wine vinegar
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1 orange medium, halved
8. African Peanut Stew
For all the peanut butter fans out there, we have discovered a new chicken leg recipe you’re going to fall in love with! This creamy and flavorful stew is popular all across Africa, particularly in the West. Don’t worry though, all the ingredients are readily available, wherever you are in the world!
It’s also done in less than an hour, which makes it suitable for a weekday family dinner. There are quite a few variations of this stew, so don’t be afraid to experiment. You can use this recipe as general guideline. Feel free to add vegetables such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots or bell peppers – the lot. This stunning stew can be served with rice, potatoes or other vegetables on the side.
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0.25 cup oil
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2 pounds chicken legs or thighs
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1 teaspoon paprika
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2 fresh tomatoes
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1 onion medium, chopped
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4 garlic cloves
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0.5 teaspoon ginger chopped
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3 tablespoons parsley
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0.5 cup Peanut butter or peanut paste
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1 teaspoon chicken bouillon optional
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0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
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salt
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pepper to taste
9. Tandoori Chicken
Talking about chicken recipes and not including Tandoori Chicken would be a sin! This Indian dish is not only popular in its country of origin, but has stolen the hearts of many people all around the globe. And for a good reason. The word Tandoori comes from tandoor – an oval clay oven where the chicken is cooked. The tandoor allows the meat to fully lock all the yogurt and spices from the marinade, giving it a smoky flavor and a slightly charred look. If you’re not in possession of a tandoor, a regular oven will do. While it may not seem like it, this dish is on the healthier side. The meat packs a protein punch, and is low in fat, while the spices are known for their antioxidant properties. Tasty and healthy, that’s a combo we can’t get enough of!
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2 pounds chicken cut into pieces
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1 lemon medium, juiced
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1 teaspoon salt
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1.25 cups plain yogurt
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0.5 onion medium, finely chopped
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1 clove garlic minced
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2 teaspoons garam masala
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1 teaspoon fresh ginger root grated
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1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
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1 teaspoon red food coloring
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1 teaspoon yellow food coloring
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2 teaspoons cilantro finely chopped
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1 lemon medium, cut into wedges
10. Chicken Paprikash
If you’re in dire need of а history reminder, just one bite of the delicious Chicken Paprikash will take you straight to the late 19th century Austro-Hungarian Empire. But like many great dishes, Chicken Paprikash came from the ordinary people, who used what they had. They combined chicken meat, onions, garlic and the star ingredient – the Hungarian paprika. This dish soon became one of the most popular national dishes of the Hungarian cuisine.
Nowadays, it’s enjoyed as a main course in many European countries too. You can add sliced potatoes straight to the pot where the paprikash is cooking, some 15 minutes before you take it all off the heat.
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2 tablespoons pork lard or butter, lard is traditionally used and we strongly recommend it for the best flavor
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3 pounds chicken pieces bone-in and skin-on
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2 yellow onions medium, very finely chopped
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2 cloves garlic finely minced
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2 roma tomatoes seeds removed and very finely diced
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1 hungarian bell pepper diced, optional
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3 tablespoons sweet hungarian paprika quality, genuine imported
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2 cups Aneto chicken broth 100%, all-natural, our most favorite chicken broth
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1.5 teaspoons sea salt
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0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
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0.75 cup full fat sour cream room temperature, important to avoid lumps, be sure also to use full fat
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0.25 cup heavy whipping cream