07/26/2026
There’s nothing like a simple, golden roasted chicken dinner to make the whole kitchen feel warm and loved. This Herb Roasted Chicken Leg with fluffy rice and a crisp garden salad is hearty, comforting, and just right for a family table. 🍗
INGREDIENTS
For the chicken:
• 4 whole chicken legs, or leg quarters
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tbsp butter, softened
For the rice:
• 1 cup long-grain white rice
• 2 cups chicken broth or water
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley, optional
For the garden salad:
• 4 cups chopped lettuce or mixed greens
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/2 cucumber, sliced
• 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp honey or sugar
• Salt and pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels and place them in a baking dish or on a lined sheet pan.
2. In a small bowl, mix olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, rosemary, paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, and softened butter.
3. Rub the herb mixture all over the chicken, making sure to get some under the skin if you can. Let it rest for 10 minutes while the oven finishes heating.
4. Roast chicken for 40–50 minutes, or until the skin is golden and crisp and the thickest part reaches 165°F. Let rest for 5–10 minutes before serving.
5. While the chicken roasts, rinse rice until the water runs mostly clear. Add rice, broth, butter, salt, and pepper to a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 15–18 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and stir in parsley if using.
6. For the salad, combine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, and carrot in a bowl. Whisk olive oil, vinegar or lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper, then toss gently with the salad.
7. Serve each chicken leg with a scoop of warm rice and a fresh helping of garden salad.
TIP: Spoon a little of the roasted chicken pan juices over the rice for that cozy Sunday-supper flavor.