Chicken legs, which include the thighs and drumsticks, are a type of dark meat that’s often sold skin-on and bone-in. Compared to chicken breast, chicken legs have a more robust flavor, with its dark fatty meat delivering more tender and juicy dishes.
Not only are chicken legs highly versatile to cook with, but they’re also low-carb and wonderfully suited for the ketogenic diet. So, if you’ve been on the hint for easy-to-prepare keto meals that don’t skimp on flavor, here are our top picks of keto chicken leg recipes that are healthy, flavorful, and will make excellent additions to your diet!
1. Baked Chicken Legs (with Best Marinade)
This recipe calls for marinating chicken legs with a fresh and zesty marinade made with garlic, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, and some fresh parsley. Let it marinate for at least 6 hours (we recommend overnight) to infuse the meat with intense flavors. Bake until the chicken legs develop a crispy skin and serve!
2. BBQ Bacon Wrapped Chicken Legs
In this recipe, chicken legs are wrapped in bacon, brushed with a spicy rub, and coated in BBQ sauce to produce an exquisite dish you can’t resist! Make these sticky and sweet chicken legs on your summer cookout, and they’ll be a hit with everyone who grabs a bite!
3. Creamy Baked Chicken Legs
If you find baked chicken legs dry and bland, try this recipe for a juicer, creamier, and richer dish! It calls for smothering seasoned chicken legs in a sauce flavored with a creamy tomato-ey sauce, producing a dish that will please any crowd. Serve it with salads to enjoy a well-balanced meal.
4. Easy Baked Lemon Chicken
These juicy chicken legs are marinated in a buttery lemon dressing made with Italian seasonings, lemon sea salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and thyme to add a unique depth of flavor. You can also add a dash of cayenne pepper for just a hint of spice without overpowering the dish.
5. Grilled Chicken Legs
If you love Asian cuisine, you’re going to go crazy over this dish! It has an incredible sweet and savory soy-based marinade that gives the legs layers of irresistible flavors and keeps them moist and juicy. Sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds on top and enjoy them with a side of grilled veggies!
6. Grilled Sweet and Sour Chicken Legs
Once you get a taste of these sweet and sour grilled chicken legs, you’ll hesitate to make them any other way! The recipe is brimming with the most amazing flavors from a vibrant marinade that includes tamari, bone broth, garlic, ginger, and orange oil. It’s zesty, bright, and will have you coming back for more!
7. Keto Air Fryer Chicken Legs
At only 1.3 g carbs per chicken leg, this air fryer dish is the ultimate healthy food for a ketogenic diet. The chicken legs are coated with a mouthwatering spicy rub and then air-fried until they develop a nice crispy skin. They’re amazing as-is but also go well with cauliflower broccoli rice and creamed spinach.
8. Keto Chili Lime Chicken Legs
Put together this lip-smacking, zero-carb meal with just eight simple ingredients! From lime juice, salt, and pepper to chili powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper, every ingredient adds a depth of flavor to the recipe. The result is a dish so drool-worthy that it will disappear from your dinner table in mere seconds!
9. Keto Fried Chicken Legs
These keto fried chicken legs are baked to flavorful perfection, and credit must go to the coating used for the chicken legs. Dijon mustard combined with crushed pork rinds and parmesan produces a crisp, crunchy feast for you to indulge in! You can serve it with cauliflower mash for a filling lunch.
10. Keto Jerk Chicken
This jerk chicken is brimming with big, bold flavors. Plus, you can easily adapt the juicy chicken to your taste by mixing in habanero, Scotch bonnet, or even jalapeños to give it a kick of heat. Serve it alongside cilantro lime sauce for dipping to take your taste buds on a flavor ride!
11. Keto Teriyaki Chicken Legs
Learn how to prepare the most fantastic teriyaki chicken legs in three different ways, all producing drool-worthy meals. It’s also easy to make with a simple but delicious marinade of brown sugar, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and xanthan gum. Once the chicken legs are cooked, spoon some of the marinade over them for a deliciously sweet and savory dish.
12. Parmesan Chicken Legs
These parmesan chicken legs come together with as little as five minutes of prep work, making it the perfect dish to try on hectic weeknights. To make, coat chicken legs with a mixture of parmesan and seasonings, then bake them until they’re crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Dig in!
13. Roasted Chicken Legs and Cherry Tomatoes with Garlic Butter
Cook juicy, well-seasoned chicken legs with sweet cherry tomatoes to produce a dish with deliciously contrasting flavors. The crisp-tender dish is exceptional when served with garlic butter and steamed broccoli and will quickly become your go-to for a healthy and tasty keto meal.
14. Smoked Chicken Legs
These smoked chicken legs will make your next summer barbecue a smashing hit! They’re flavored with simple but flavorful seasonings, including oregano, smoked paprika, mustard powder, cumin, and celery seeds, delivering wonderfully savory flavors. Pair them with a fresh salad for a fantastic meal.
