Recipe Roundup

Our 37 Favorite Chicken Leg and Drumstick Recipes

We'll always choose these juicy chicken parts over chicken breasts.

April 3, 2020

Photo of one of our favorite chicken leg recipes sheet pan Honey Mustard chicken legs. One of our favorite easy chicken...

Before you plan your meals for the week, take a peek in your freezer. Need chicken leg recipes? Chicken drumstick recipes? We can help you use up whatever cut you've got. (We've put the chicken thigh recipes over here.) Below, you'll find 37 delicious chicken leg and drumstick ideas, including comforting stews and curries, easy sheetpan dinners, crispy oven-fried chicken, and much more.

Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
1/37
Double-the-Mustard Chicken With Potatoes and Greens
Chicken leg recipes are among our favorite weeknight dinners, especially when they make chicken as flavorful as this tangy dish. Dijon mustard mixed with honey serves as a sweet-tart marinade, while whole-grain mustard adds dynamic pops of flavor to the dressing.
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Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou
2/37
Roast Chicken Legs with Lots of Garlic
If you have the time, season the chicken with salt the night before and chill uncovered so the skin will dry out a bit. Doing this helps the chicken take on a nice golden finish.
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Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
3/37
Grilled Chicken Drumsticks With Savory Caramel
It takes some practice (and a few clever moves) to make great chicken on your grill. Cooking these chicken drumsticks over indirect heat gives them time to render fully and start to crisp so they won't become gluey when glazed.
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Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
4/37
Green Curry Vinegar Chicken
Thai green curry paste packs potent flavor into this one-pan, eight-ingredient, weeknight-friendly chicken dinner. Homemade green curry paste is really special and vibrant, but we also have a recommendation for the best store-bought brand.
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5/37
Gochujang-Braised Chicken and Crispy Rice
This chicken drumstick recipe gets its bold flavor punch from savory-spicy gochujang, fresh ginger, garlic, and mustard powder.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
6/37
Chicken Stew With Potatoes and Radishes
This one-pot stew takes its cues from chicken paprikash. Cooking low and slow is the key to getting deep flavor—and ensuring the potatoes are creamy and the chicken is pull-apart tender.
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Photo by Alex Lau, Prop Styling by Emily Elsen, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
7/37
Chicken and Tomato Stew With Caramelized Lemon
Comforting stew, but make it bright. This recipe amps up chicken legs and canned tomatoes with lemon and turmeric.
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Photo by Alex Lau
8/37
Chicken Escabèche
Spiced with cumin and coriander and sweetened with golden raisins, this hearty, tangy chicken stew couldn’t be simpler to throw together.
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Photo by Alex Lau
9/37
Curried Chicken Drumsticks
Braise chicken legs in a golden, aromatic coconut broth, then toss rice noodles with the warmly spiced braising liquid to serve.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Claire Saffitz
10/37
Yogurt-Braised Chicken Legs With Garlic and Ginger
Chicken legs are seared until golden-brown and then slowly braised in yogurt spiked with garlic, ginger, and lots of spices until falling-off-the-bone tender.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
11/37
One-Pan Chicken Drumsticks with Rice and Beans
Clean out your pantry with this customizable one-pan chicken drumstick dinner, seasoned with whatever spices you happen to have on hand.
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Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
12/37
Za’atar Chicken With Garlicky Yogurt
This one's a keeper: Garlic- and lemon-infused pan dripping are mixed into a citrusy za’atar oil and spooned over tender chicken.
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Photo by Marcus Nilsson, Prop Styling by Amy Wilson, Food Styling by Frances Boswell
13/37
Coconut Milk–Braised Chicken
Chicken leg recipes don't have to be boring to be simple. This one requires no searing, no chopping, and only one baking dish. But it's zingy with lemongrass, earthy from Thai curry paste, and warming from smashed fresh ginger.
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
14/37
Cider-Braised Chicken With Apples and Kale
Mustard-rubbed chicken legs get super-tender when braised in apple cider and white wine for this cozy dinner. Curly kale makes a great side dish for this chicken dinner, but you can use whatever greens you have on hand.
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Photo by Laura Murray, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
15/37
Tangy Vinegar Chicken With Barberries and Orange
Dried barberries are incredibly tart, more so than any other dried fruit you’ll encounter. You can order them online.
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Photo by Alex Lau
16/37
Jerk Spice–Rubbed Chicken Legs
This chicken leg recipe gets a rub inspired by traditional Jamaican jerk spice. Got cinnamon, allspice, peppercorns, and cloves?
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Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell
17/37
Spiced Chicken with Spaghetti Squash, Pomegranate, and Pistachios
Spice-rubbed chicken legs get roasted alongside spaghetti squash and onion for an easy sheet-pan dinner that’s bursting with bright, comforting flavors.
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Photo by Gentl & Hyers, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski
18/37
Coconut Chicken Curry With Turmeric and Lemongrass
This isn’t a super-saucy curry; the aromatics will brown and fry in the pan, yielding lots of yummy crisp bits. Serve with steamed rice.
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Photo by Gentl & Hyers
19/37
Chicken-Leg Confit With Potatoes and Escarole
Crisping chicken legs and potatoes in chicken-infused oil makes for a decadent and powerful dish. Save the extra chicken-infused olive oil for all your roasted vegetable needs or to make this dish a second time.
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Photo by Christina Holmes
20/37
Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Olives
All you need is one single rimmed baking sheet for this easy chicken dinner.
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Photo by Chelsie Craig
21/37
Easiest Chicken Adobo
For adobo that’s sweet, salty, tangy, garlicky, and ready in a fraction of the time, don’t peel and slice each garlic clove: Just cut open a whole head and simmer it in the sauce. This recipe calls for a mix of drumsticks and thighs, but you can cut apart whole chicken legs, or just use all drumsticks if that's what you have around.
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Gina Homolka
22/37
Buttermilk Oven "Fried" Chicken
This baked version of classic fried chicken is not only healthier, it makes less of a mess of your kitchen.
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Photo by Alex Lau
23/37
Roast Chicken With Sorghum and Squash
Sorghum is a gluten-free grain, with a texture similar to wheat berries, barley, and millet—so feel free to substitute those for this chicken recipe instead.
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Danny Kim
24/37
Braised Chicken With Kale
Serve this flavorful braise over plain rice to soak up all of its paprika-laced broth. If you don't have kale on hand, you could substitute spinach, chard, or collards.
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Photo by Gourmet
25/37
Tandoori Chicken
Removing the skin from the chicken legs allows for the tandoori marinade to completely soak into the meat.
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Romulo Yanes
26/37
Sweet and Spicy Chicken Drumsticks
Sriracha brings the heat while red currant jelly provides the sweetness in these sticky chicken legs.
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Photo by Romulo Yanes
27/37
Tortilla Chicken Drumsticks
This crunchy chicken is a great way to make use of the last remaining crumbs of tortilla chips in the bag.
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Photo by Romulo Yanes
28/37
Chili and Honey Chicken Legs
These baked chicken legs rely on ingredients you likely already have in your pantry.
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Romulo Yanes
29/37
Chicken in Garlic-Almond Sauce
Toasted bread and almonds are blitzed with broth and spices to create a thick sauce for this braised chicken leg recipe.
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Photo by Romulo Yanes
30/37
Chicken Legs with Achiote Garlic Sauce
Achiote seeds, also called annatto seeds, impart a pale orange hue and slightly nutty flavor to the chicken.
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Photo by Ditte Isager
31/37
Chicken and Dumplings With Mushrooms
Some nights just call for old-school comfort food. This chicken stew can be cooked up to three days ahead; rewarm and add the dumplings just before serving. They only take 5 minutes to cook!
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Sian Kennedy
32/37
Grilled Lemon-Oregano Chicken Drumsticks
These are equally delicious hot off the grill or cold the next day.
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Weelicious
33/37
BBQ Chicken Legs
These juicy chicken legs are the perfect addition to any backyard barbecue.
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Photo by Brian Leatart
34/37
Chicken and Artichoke Fricassée with Morel Mushrooms
Crème fraîche is the secret ingredient that teases out the sweet richness of artichokes, and it brings this delicious spring braise together.
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Ditte Isager
35/37
Apricot-Glazed Chicken
The overnight marinade means you just have to pop these deliciously sticky drumsticks in the oven when you're ready. It also means that they're packed with classic sweet-and-sour flavors that appeal to younger palates.
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Roland Bello
36/37
Deviled Chicken Drumsticks
Though they're quite irresistible right out of the oven, these moist and juicy drumsticks (with a slight kick) are perfect picnic food, since they're also terrific cold or at room temperature.
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37/37
Oven-Baked Drumsticks
Some old chicken drumstick recipes really still stand up. Breadcrumbs, Parmesan, parsley, and oregano combined with plenty of butter make for a delicious chicken dinner.
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