Sweet, tangy, and smoky, these juicy Maple Mustard Chicken Legs are a quick, easy dinner with just a handful of ingredients. Perfect for oven or air fryer!

Close up of maple mustard chicken legs on a plate.

If you’re looking for a chicken recipe that’s easy, flavorful, and versatile, these Maple Mustard Chicken Legs might just be your new go-to.

The combination of sweet maple syrup, tangy mustard, and smoky paprika creates a bold glaze that clings perfectly to juicy drumsticks.

Whether you bake them in the oven or crisp them up in an air fryer, they deliver a satisfying bite every time.

I love making this dish for weeknight dinners because it’s low-effort but feels special enough to serve to guests.

The glaze caramelizes beautifully, coating the chicken in a sticky, golden sheen, and the taste? Imagine a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, smoky, and savory.

I love making a big ol' batch and bringing them to a potluck or game day party. They're so tasty, everyone loves the flavors and they're even good cold the next day at a picnic!

Enjoy them for dinner along with 4 Ingredient Pasta Salad and Melted Leeks for a full meal.

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Why This Recipe Works
Ingredients
Instructions
Serving Suggestions
Variations
Storage
Recipe Tips
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Why This Recipe Works

Big flavors, little effort: Sweet, smoky, and tangy, this recipe delivers bold tastes with minimal prep time.
Versatile cooking methods: Bake them in the oven or crisp them up in an air fryer—it’s up to you!
Crowd-pleaser: These drumsticks are a hit with kids and adults alike.
Easy ingredients: Everything you need is likely already in your pantry.
Make-ahead friendly: Marinate ahead of time to save yourself work on busy days.

Ingredients

Chicken Legs: also known as drumsticks. If using frozen, thaw them safely first in a container in the fridge overnight. You can find chicken legs fresh or frozen in the meat or frozen section of the grocery store.
Oil: Use olive oil, canola oil, or your favorite cooking oil.
Maple Syrup: This adds sweetness to balance the marinade and caramelizes on the chicken legs.
Mustard: I used whole grain, but Dijon, yellow, English and German all work too.
Smoked Paprika: Adds a rich, smokey flavor.
Dried Italian Herbs: For even more great flavor on your chicken legs.
Salt: To season the chicken and bring out all the flavors.

See the recipe card for the full method and quantities.

Instructions

If you're wondering how to make this maple mustard chicken legs recipe, don't worry, it's easy!

Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.

Marinated maple mustard chicken legs in a bowl.

Pat the drumsticks dry with a paper towel and add the legs to a large bowl. Add the oil, maple syrup, mustard, paprika, herbs and salt.

Toss the chicken legs in the marinade to coat them. You can then cook them right away, or marinate the chicken by covering the bowl and refrigerating for 30 minutes or up to overnight.

To oven bake:

Preheat the oven to 400F.
Add the seasoned chicken legs to a large rimmed baking dish in a single layer.
Place the tray in the oven and bake for 40 minutes or until the chicken legs are cooked through and the skin is lightly browned and golden.

TIP: To check your chicken legs are done with a meat thermometer, the internal temperature should read 165 degrees F).

Drumsticks in the air fryer ready to cook.

To air fry:

Place the chicken legs into the basket of the air fryer (cook in batches if the basket is small).
Cook at 380F (190C) for 10 minutes, then use tongs to flip the drumsticks and cook for 7-8 more minutes or until they are cooked through.

Maple Mustard Chicken Legs cooked in an air fryer.

Serving Suggestions

Classic sides: Serve with roasted potatoes and Arkansas green beans.
Salad pairing: Pair with a crisp side salad with a tangy strawberry vinaigrette.
Rice bowls: Shred the chicken and serve over rice with your favorite veggies.
Wraps: Wrap in flatbreads with lettuce and a dollop of garlic yogurt.
Party platters: Arrange on a platter with dipping sauces for a crowd-pleasing appetizer.

Variations

Switch up the type of mustard you use for a totally different flavor. I used whole grain mustard, but you could use yellow, Dijon, German mustard etc...
Try swapping the maple syrup for honey.
If you like things spicy, add a dash of hot sauce to the marinade.
If you have time, try marinading the chicken legs in a covered bowl in the fridge overnight.

Storage

Refrigeration: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Freeze cooked chicken legs for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating tips: Warm in a 350°F oven or air fryer to restore crispness.

Recipe Tips

If you want to make this chicken leg recipe ahead of time, you can marinate the chicken in the seasonings up to a day in advance. Store covered in the fridge until you're ready to cook.

If you want extra crispy skin on your chicken, broil on high for a minute or two at the end of cooking. It will brown quickly so keep an eye on it.

Use a meat thermometer to check if the chicken is cooked through. The safe internal temperature for chicken legs is 165F.

Chicken safety: Wash hands, surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after handling raw chicken. Before serving, ensure the chicken is piping hot and thoroughly cooked, juices run clear and no pink color remains.

Looking down at a table with a plate of maple mustard chicken drumsticks.

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