• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
Kitrusy
Clean Eat, Entrées, Gluten-Free, Keto, Sides

Incredibly Easy Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks

Jump to Recipe              Print Recipe

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

An overhead image of a plate of pan fried chicken drumsticks

Crispy skin and a juicy meaty inside, these simple pan-fried chicken drumsticks are a hassle-free meal option that can be made in under 30-minutes. Delicious has never been so simple.


Post Contents:

Toggle
    • 💕 Let me tell you all the reasons you’re going to love this recipe:
    • In terms of ingredients, the main ones you’ll need are:
    • Here’s how to make these easy drumsticks:
    • In need of side inspiration? Try one of the following recipes as a side dish:
  • Incredibly Easy Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Notes
    • Nutrition

💕 Let me tell you all the reasons you’re going to love this recipe:

  • These drumsticks are made from minimal and wholesome ingredients for a great hassle-free weeknight meal option.
  • The skin gets a wonderfully crispy texture while the inside is moist and juicy.
  • You can customize this recipe by using any assortment or combination of spices that you like.
  • This recipe is clean eating, gluten-free and keto and paleo friendly!
  • It pairs well with most sides or can be enjoyed by itself (I’ve listed some pairing ideas at the end of the post)
  • Leftovers (if there are any) can be enjoyed hot or cold.
  • If you have an airfryer or toaster oven, re-crisping the skin during reheating  becomes a cinch!
  • As far as “fried chicken” goes, this is honestly one of the healthiest options!

In terms of ingredients, the main ones you’ll need are:

An overhead image of ingredients for pan fried chicken drumsticks including raw chicken drumsticks, oil and spices.

  • Chicken Drumsticks: I’m using drumsticks that have the bone and skin on them. 6 drumsticks which is just about 2lbs total weight. < This is important to keep in mind so you can compare and adjust your cook time.
  • Oil: I’m using an Extra Light Olive Oil but you can use any clean eating oil of your choosing.
  • Salt: A pink Himalayan or Sea Salt works great.
  • Pepper: Fresh cracked or previously ground black (or even white pepper) adds a nice spice profile to our drumsticks.

Taking our seasoning one step further, I’ve opted to use Garlic Powder, Smoked Paprika, and Italian Herbs. You can use any other spices you like from oregano to cumin. The options and spice combinations are honestly endless.


Here’s how to make these easy drumsticks:

A composite image of a bowl of seasoned chicken drumsticks.

After patting our drumsticks dry using a paper towel, we’ll combine our spices together and evenly sprinkle them over the drumsticks before rubbing the spices into the chicken. If you like you can take it one step further and rub the seasoning under the skin, using your fingers to create a pocket and working around the drumstick, being careful to not pull the skin off or tear it.

A composite image of chicken drumsticks frying in a cast iron skillet

To a hot pan (I highly recommend using a cast iron skillet if you have one) we’ll add our oil, swish it around to evenly coat the bottom of the pan and once the oil is hot, we’ll add our seasoned drumsticks and let them cook undisturbed for 6-7 minutes before we rotate them 1/3 of the way and allow them to cook for another 6-7 minutes. Finally one last 1/3 rotation and a 6-7 minute cook and our drumsticks are done! Remove them from the pan and (optional) tent them with foil and allow them to rest for 5-10 minutes. For an extra bit of decadence, you can add a tbsp of butter to the pan to finish your chicken in.

Now, the length of cook time your drumsticks will need are dependant on the size of them. My 6 drumsticks weighed in at about 2 lbs. For extra large drumsticks I highly recommend finishing in the oven at 400F for about 10-15 minutes (once you’ve cooked them in the skillet and browned all sides and crisped up the skin) and then tenting them with foil and allowing them to rest a further 10 minutes.

If in doubt as to the doneness of your chicken, you can either measure it’s internal temperature which should be 165F or simply cut into your leg and check the inside to ensure doneness.

A composite image of plated pan fried chicken drumsticks served with a creamy butternut rice.

With your chicken done, remove them from the skillet. Plate and serve with your favorite side. Tonight for dinner I’m serving it with a creamy butternut brown rice that is similar to a veggie packed risotto!


In need of side inspiration? Try one of the following recipes as a side dish:

  • Easy Baked Brown Rice Risotto
  • Ten Minute Sesame Noodles
  • Blistered Skillet Green Beans
  • Sour Cream and Chive Cheddar Biscuits (gluten free)
  • Jalapeno Cornbread
  • Roasted Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes (or this low-carb Mashed Cauliflower)
  • Oven Roasted Cheesy Bacon Butternut Squash
  • Ultra Easy Smoked Gouda Mac and Cheese
  • Quinoa and Lentil Pilaf
  • Simple Coconut Saffron Rice
  • Twice Baked Potatoes with Leeks
  • Creamed Spinach

What do you like to serve and enjoy your chicken with? What sort of spice or flavor combinations do you prefer? Let us know in the comment section below!

A close up image of a plate of pan fried chicken drumsticks
Print Recipe
4 from 58 votes

Incredibly Easy Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks

Crispy skin and a juicy meaty inside, these simple pan-fried chicken drumsticks are a hassle-free meal option. Delicious has never been so simple.
Prep Time5 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time25 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 184kcal
Author: Kitrusy

Ingredients

  • 2 lb chicken drumsticks bone in, skin on
  • 1 tbsp extra light olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt (to taste)
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper (to taste)
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika (to taste) (optional)
  • ½ tsp garlic powder (to taste) (optional)
  • ¼ tsp Italian herbs (to taste) (optional)

Instructions

  • Ensure that your drumsticks are fully defrosted (if frozen) and bring them to room temperature before patting them dry with a paper towel.
  • Mix all herbs and spices together, sprinkle them evenly over the drumsticks and rub them into the drumsticks.
  • Heat a cast iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan until hot but not smoking and add the oil to the skillet. Then, add the drumsticks in one by one. Your chicken should sizzle as soon as it touches the pan.
  • Cook for 7 minutes before rotating each drumstick ⅓ of the way and cook for another 7 minutes before rotating a final ⅓ of the way and cooking for a 7 more minutes.
    Your chicken should have an internal temperature of 165°F to be fully cooked. See notes for larger drumsticks.
  • Remove your chicken from the skillet, rest for 5-10 minutes and enjoy!
  • Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • For larger drumsticks, more cook time might be needed.
  • For extra large drumsticks I recommend finishing your chicken in the oven at 400°F for 10-15 minutes and then removing them and tenting them with foil and letting them rest for an additional 10 minutes.
  • If the skin is browning too quickly on your drumsticks then lower the heat a bit.

Nutrition

Serving: 1drumstick | Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 300mg | Potassium: 226mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 129IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

 

Post navigation

Homemade Apple Pie (Clean Eating, Gluten-Free, Paleo)
Incredibly Easy Homemade BBQ Sauce

ABOUT KITRUSY

Hi there! Welcome to Kitrusy where we devise and share our clean-eating culinary creations. We aim to keep things clean and simple, so feel free to look around and I'm sure you'll discover something just for you!

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • RSS
  • Pinterest
  • Elara Pro by LyraThemes.com
  • Kitrusy © 2023

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required
We use cookies on our site and continuing to use our site in anyway way constitutes consent to our use of cookies. At any time you may withdraw consent. If you want to know why we use cookies or how you can withdraw consent please visit the cookies section in our privacy policy.