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Simple Skillet Chicken Drumsticks

Chicken drumsticks are super affordable — and cooking them up in a cast iron skillet is super easy! Simple Skillet Chicken Drumsticks are wonderfully browned and juicy, a kid pleasing weeknight dinner recipe.

How about an easy cast iron skillet recipe for Simple Skillet Chicken Drumsticks in this May 7, 2017 edition of Sunday Scratchups: Your weekly recipe from scratch around ingredients that are either on sale or generally affordable? It’s so easy to work from this basic recipe template and just change up the seasonings as desired when you cook up your next batch of (always-affordable-somewhere!) chicken drumsticks.

plate of chicken drumsticks and veggies

I had a couple of pounds of chicken drumsticks that needed cooking up or freezing this week, so thought I’d share this basic recipe with you. Pan-searing the chicken before moving it to the oven helps keep it juicy and ensures that the skin browns, and if you use a cast iron skillet it can move easily from stove top to oven. (If you don’t yet own a cast iron skillet, it’s well worth the investment! But, you can instead sear the chicken in a non-stick pan and then transfer it to a rimmed baking sheet drizzled with olive oil to finish baking.)

Simple Skillet Chicken Drumsticks

skillet chicken drumsticks ingredients

Ingredients

2-3 lbs chicken drumsticks (5-7 drumsticks, depending on size)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp seasoned salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp smoked paprika
Black pepper, to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Rinse drumsticks and pat dry with paper towel. Mix spices in a small bowl and then season chicken on all sides. Melt butter & olive oil in a 12.5″” cast iron skillet over medium heat until butter is melted and oil is shimmering, then add chicken.

browned drumsticks in the skillet

Brown drumsticks on both sides (about 3 minutes a side). Move the skillet to your preheated 400 degree oven and bake for 20 minutes, flip chicken, and cook for another 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

chicken drumsticks on a plate

Note: If your drumsticks are on the smaller side, you may wish to reduce the cooking time a bit or start checking for done-ness earlier. As with most chicken, letting these drumsticks sit for a few minutes before serving will help lock in the juices and flavor.

See? Chicken is simple!

finished chicken drumsticks

Simple Skillet Chicken Drumsticks are nicely browned, yet perfectly juicy on the inside. These flavorful chicken drumsticks pair equally well with a simple green salad (continuing our simple theme, right?), a lemony rice pilaf or garlicky oven potatoes, and/or a hearty green vegetable. Enjoy!

Simple Skillet Chicken Drumsticks, printable recipe

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5 from 1 vote

Simple Skillet Chicken Drumsticks

It’s so easy to work from this basic recipe template and just change up the seasonings as desired when you cook up your next batch of (always-affordable-somewhere!) chicken drumsticks.
Course dinner
Cuisine Chicken
Keyword chicken, chicken dinner, chicken drumsticks, easy recipe
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 2-3 lbs chicken drumsticks 5-8 drumsticks, depending on size
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1 tsp seasoned salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp rosemary
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • Black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Rinse drumsticks and pat dry with paper towel.
  • Mix spices in a small bowl and then season chicken on all sides.
  • Melt butter & olive oil in a 12.5″” cast iron skillet over medium heat until butter is melted and oil is shimmering, then add chicken.
  • Brown drumsticks on both sides (about 3 minutes a side).
  • Move the skillet to your preheated 400 degree oven and bake for 20 minutes, flip chicken, and cook for another 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Note: If your drumsticks are on the smaller side, you may wish to reduce the cooking time a bit or start checking for done-ness earlier.
  • As with most chicken, letting these drumsticks sit for a few minutes before serving will help lock in the juices and flavor.

Notes

If your drumsticks are on the smaller side, you may wish to reduce the cooking time a bit or start checking for done-ness earlier. As with most chicken, letting these drumsticks sit for a few minutes before serving will help lock in the juices and flavor.

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Recipe Rating




Madi

Wednesday 17th of June 2020

Made these last night with au gratin potatoes and mixed veggies! Great meal. Chicken was delicious! Thanks for recipe.

Juleszam

Wednesday 5th of February 2020

I made it for my grandsons and they loved it. Really good flavor

Justin

Tuesday 10th of December 2019

*WARNING*

Washing raw chicken before cooking it can increase your risk of food poisoning from campylobacter bacteria.

Kim

Friday 12th of May 2017

I made this last night and the seasoning was great! I seasoned the thighs I had on hand in the morning. Very tasty.

Rennae Lucero

Wednesday 25th of April 2018

I was wondering about using thighs. Did you have to adjust the time and if so do you mind sharing please?

rachel

Friday 12th of May 2017

Awesome, glad you enjoyed it!

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