Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks
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These Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks are about to become a new favorite dish! With tender, moist chicken and perfectly crispy skin, you’ll love this recipe for drumsticks cooked in a skillet.
Stove Top Chicken Drumsticks
These drumsticks turn out so delicious! With golden brown, seasoned skin and tender meat, you’ll want to make these all the time. And it’s such an easy process. Just season and then fry up on each side for perfectly cooked drumsticks.
This recipe includes salt, pepper, and garlic powder, but you can add any seasonings that you love on chicken. You can even change up the flavor of the dish by using different types of herbs and spices. A few of our favorites: paprika, chili powder, cumin, rosemary, onion powder, and grill seasoning. Try whichever spices sound good to you!
If you enjoy cooking chicken on the stovetop, check out these other pan fried chicken recipes: Pan Fried Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs – Easy and Simple! and Easy Crispy Pan-Fried Breaded Chicken Breast Recipe – Best Ever!.
How To Make Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks
Place a nonstick pan on the stovetop and drizzle in some olive oil or add a pat of butter. Turn heat to high.
Next, season your drumsticks. Turn drumsticks and continue seasoning to coat entirely. Add drumsticks to skillet in an even layer.
Once oil starts sizzling, turn heat down to medium high. Continue cooking until the side of the drumstick on the skillet is browned (about 3 minutes).
Turn each drumstick about a 1/3 to brown up the next side. Cook for another 4 minutes.
Turn to remaining side and cook for another 4 minutes or until golden brown.
Once the drumsticks have been browned, it’s time to cook them all the way through. Cover the skillet and turn the heat down to medium. Cook for 9 minutes, flip, then cook for an additional 9 minutes until meat is done.
Check the drumsticks with a meat thermometer. If the internal temperature is at least 180 degrees, then remove the drumsticks with a pair of tongs or a fork.
Cooking Tips
- Cooking with olive oil or butter is completely optional if you use a nonstick skillet, although it does add flavor to the chicken
- Once the skillet has heated up, if the chicken starts to burn before it is fully cooked, turn the heat down
- If, after the full cooking time, the drumsticks are not done, add another 5 minutes or so and check the temperature again
What To Serve With Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks
We like to serve these traditional drumsticks as a complete meal with favorites like Instant Pot Great Northern Beans, Instant Pot Frozen Brussels Sprouts, and Air Fryer Cornbread Muffins From Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix.
And for dessert, these easy recipes will hit the spot: Fried Oreos With Crescent Rolls, Air Fryer Chocolate Muffins Made With Boxed Brownie Mix, or Yellow Cake From Box Mix.
More Delicious Chicken Recipes To Try
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast In The Air Fryer
- Easy Fried Chicken
- Baked Spicy Chicken Legs
- Bone-In Chicken Breast Roasted
- Chicken Tortilla Soup In The Instant Pot
Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken drumsticks
- 1 tsp olive oil optional
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Place a nonstick pan on the stovetop and drizzle in some olive oil or add a pat of butter. Turn the heat up to high.
- Next, season the drumsticks. Turn drumsticks and continue seasoning to coat entirely.
- Add drumsticks to skillet in an even layer. Once oil starts sizzling, turn heat down to medium high. Continue cooking until the side of the drumstick on the skillet is browned (about 3 minutes).
- Turn each drumstick about a 1/3 to brown up the next side. Cook for another 4 minutes.
- Turn to remaining side and cook for another 4 minutes or until golden brown.
- Once the drumsticks have been browned, it's time to cook them all the way through. Cover the skillet and turn the heat down to medium. Cook for 9 minutes, flip, then cook for an additional 9 minutes until meat is done.
- Check the drumsticks with a meat thermometer. If the internal temperature is at least 180 degrees, then remove the drumsticks with a pair of tongs or a fork.
Notes
- Cooking with olive oil or butter is completely optional if you use a nonstick skillet, although it does add flavor to the chicken
- Once the skillet has heated up, if the chicken starts to burn before it is fully cooked, turn the heat down
- If, after the full cooking time, the drumsticks are not done, add another 5 minutes or so and check the temperature again
Nutrition
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