Chicken legs are one of my favorite meats. This Balsamic Chicken Recipe includes the rich flavors of balsamic vinegar and soy sauce to bring a delicious tastiness to simple baked chicken legs. You can add a bit of sugar, if you like, but we like this savory version best.
I bought a family-sized package of chicken drumsticks on sale, and wanted to make them tasty and yet easy. Right now, I am homeschooling three kids, I have a 3 year old, and an infant! I don't have much time to peruse cookbooks or experiment. I wanted a new fun flavor, though, so I came up with this simple marinade, and it was an instant hit!
Making Balsamic Chicken Legs
First, stir together the marinade and place the chicken legs into the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for an hour or more.
Next, preheat the oven to 325*. While the oven is preheating, drain and discard the marinade, then place the chicken legs into a glass baking dish. I use a 9x13 pan, but you may use any two quart baking dish. You can squish the chicken together tightly, or even overlap the pieces if necessary, to make them all fit. The pieces will shrink while baking, so it will be fine!
Finally, bake for two hours at 325. The chicken should be falling off the bones by this time. For the last 5 minutes of baking time, move the chicken to a higher rack and turn on the broiler to crisp the skin. Watch it carefully while under the broiler. Serve with mashed potatoes or pasta, spoon the broth over the potatoes for a savory flavor.
Balsamic Chicken Freezer meal
This makes a great freezer meal! Place raw chicken and marinade in a gallon freezer bag, and squish to coat all the chicken pieces. Label and freeze. To cook; thaw and cook as directed.
Crockpot version: Cook on low for 5-6 hours, or on high for 4 hours.
We loved this balsamic chicken recipe - so easy and yummy. Let me know if you liked it!
Balsamic Chicken
Ingredients
- 6 lb drumsticks Or a full 9X13 pan of preferred chicken pieces
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Pinch ground red pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Place chicken in a baking pan. I used a 9X13 cake pan. Chicken shrinks when baked, so squish it in there tight!
- Mix sauces and spices together and pour over chicken.
- Bake, covered, at 325 for 2 hours.
- Optional: broil the last 10 minutes to brown the skin.
Nutrition
Post updated Feb, 2021.
This stuff, we love it!!! I like doing a whole chicken. Although, I don't use soy sauce, and add brown sugar, or honey.