Easy Chicken Drumstick Recipes To Make Tonight

Skip gallery slides

Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Delicious chicken dinners your whole family will love, coming right up! If you want to change up your weeknight supper routine from boneless chicken, give these easy chicken drumstick recipes a try. Whether you want to prepare them grilled, baked, or fried, this budget-friendly cut of chicken is perfect for weeknight meals or weekend entertaining. They'll quickly become your new favorite piece of the bird.

Start Slideshow

1 of 15

How To Make Mama's Fried Chicken

Recipe: Mama's Fried Chicken

Our most shared fried chicken recipe of all time, this Southern classic is perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. This recipe will take you back to the days when your mother used to fry her famous chicken. Soak your chicken in buttermilk at least two hours before frying. We promise – it'll be nothing short of finger-lickin'-good, sheer Southern comfort.

Enjoying a heaping helping of Mama’s Fried Chicken will be reminiscent of your childhood when Mama would tell you to play in the yard with your siblings after Sunday church while she prepared the meal. No doubt, it would be complete with mashed potatoes, collard greens, and mac & cheese. There isn’t any other dish as quintessentially Southern.

Are you curious about the secret to this decadent recipe? It’s the buttermilk. Soaking the chicken in buttermilk for at least two hour before frying will insure the dish is perfectly golden on the outside and tender on the inside. Of course, don’t forget to make chicken and waffles with the leftovers on Monday morning!

Advertisement

Advertisement

2 of 15

Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken Drumsticks with Squash

Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Chicken Drumsticks with Squash

This easy one-dish dinner is still packed with plenty of flavor.

3 of 15

Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Oven-Baked Chicken Drumsticks

You can substitute the fresh herbs you have on hand for the rosemary.

Advertisement

4 of 15

Crispy Oven-fried Drumsticks

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Crispy Oven-fried Drumsticks

Crushed cornflakes and Parmesan cheese create a satisfying crunch without deep-frying.

5 of 15

Oven-Baked Barbecue Chicken

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Oven-Baked Barbecue Chicken

Homemade BBQ sauce comes together in just 10 minutes.

6 of 15

Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes

Credit: Becky Luigart Stayner

Recipe: Lemon-Rosemary-Garlic Chicken and Potatoes

This one-dish meal is flavorful and filling. Serve with crusty French bread to soak up the sauce.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

7 of 15

Sweet Tea-Brined Fried Chicken

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Sweet Tea-Brined Fried Chicken

The only thing that could make fried chicken better is a sweet tea brine.

8 of 15

Simple Whole Chicken with Roasted Broccoli-Mushroom Rice

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Simple Whole Chicken with Roasted Broccoli-Mushroom Rice

Aluminum foil makes cleanup for this one-pan dinner even easier.

9 of 15

Beer Can Chicken Drumsticks

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Beer Can Chicken Drumsticks

Marinate chicken for up to 24 hourse to ensure maximum flavor.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

10 of 15

"Man Catching" Fried Chicken with Honey-Pecan Glaze

Credit: Photo by Erin Adams

Recipe: "Man Catching” Fried Chicken with Honey-Pecan Glaze

If you're frying a large batch, keep the cooked drumsticks warm in the oven at 200° until you're ready to serve.

11 of 15

Baked Curry-Glazed Chicken

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Baked Curry-Glazed Chicken

If you’re new to cooking with curry, this five-ingredient recipe is a great place to start.

12 of 15

Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Soaking the chicken in buttermilk ensures that is reamains tender and juicy.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

13 of 15

Spicy Oven-Fried Chicken

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Spicy Oven-Fried Chicken

This recipes calls for drumsticks and thighs, but will still work if you only have drumsticks on hand.

14 of 15

Peanut-Baked Chicken

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Peanut-Baked Chicken

You can make these drumsticks ahead of time and freeze them for up to three months.

15 of 15

Spicy Honey-Lime Grilled Drumsticks

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spicy Honey-Lime Grilled Drumsticks

Make the sauce ahead of time for easier prep.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Up Next