This Simple Skillet Chicken Drumsticks Recipe is perfect for busy weeknights! With just a few ingredients and minimal prep, you’ll enjoy juicy, flavorful chicken with crispy skin, all made in a cast iron skillet. Easy, quick, and delicious!

chicken drumstics in a cast iron skillet

If there’s one dish that makes me think of my granny’s house, it’s fried chicken. (Well, that and livermush but I digress.) I can see her standing by the stove with chicken sizzling. While I can’t complain about the taste of her cooking, I now see how unhealthy the oil was that she was using. This simple recipe is a healthier spin on Granny’s fried chicken using extra virgen olive oil and real butter.

Why You’ll Love Skillet Chicken Drumsticks

This simple skillet chicken drumsticks recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you need something quick and easy. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep, you can have a delicious meal ready in no time. The seasoning adds so much flavor, and cooking in a cast iron skillet ensures the chicken stays juicy and evenly cooked, with a perfectly crispy skin. The best part? This dish pairs with pretty much anything—vegetables, potatoes, rice—you name it! It’s one of those meals that’s both simple and so satisfying for the entire family.

Ingredients

Chicken Drumsticks: Fresh or thawed drumsticks. You can also use chicken thighs or even chicken breasts but you’ll need to adjust your cooking time.
Seasoning: Simple seasoning options like salt, chili powder, garlic powder, oregano, and smoked paprika.
Oil and Butter: For searing the chicken in the skillet. Our family steers clear of seed oils. We prefer to use olive oil or even avocado oil when cooking.
Optional: Fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary for extra flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: Bring the chicken to room temperature. I take mine out of the fridge about an hour before I want to seaon them. Pat the drumsticks dry with a paper towel to ensure crispy skin.
Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Combine the Seasonings: Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika to a small bowl and combine.
Season the Drumsticks: Coat the chicken with the seasoning mix and let it rest for a few minutes to absorb the flavors.
Heat the Skillet: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it’s hot.
Sear the Drumsticks: Add the chicken and sear each side for 1-2 minutes. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan. I usually cook 4 chicken legs at a time.
Finish Cooking: Drop in the butter and then carefully transfer the hot skillet to the oven and let the chicken cook for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the drumsticks are golden brown.
Rest the Chicken: Remove the skillet from the oven and let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving to keep it juicy.

Tips for Perfect Skillet Chicken Drumsticks

Ensure the bone-in chicken cooks evenly by turning it a few times while frying.
Use a meat thermometer when checking the internal temperature of the chicken. You want to make sure it reaches 165°F but you don’t want to overcook it.
For crispy pan-fried chicken, be sure you dry the drumsticks before adding the spice blend. Don’t skip this step!

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close up of skillet fried chicken drumsticks

Easy Clean-Up for Cast Iron

After cooking, the best way to clean your cast iron is to let the skillet cool slightly, then wipe it down with a paper towel to remove any excess grease or food. If needed, you can deglaze the pan by reheating it on the stove and adding a little water once the pan is hot. This will loosen any bits stuck on the bottom of the pan so that you can wipe it out. Once it’s clean be sure to dry it well and add just a little oil on the surface.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Any leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator.

Reheating pan-fried chicken drumsticks is easy and can be done in a few different ways, depending on what you have available. Here are some methods to make sure your leftover drumsticks stay delicious:

Oven Method (Best for Crispy Skin):
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Place the drumsticks on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for about 10-15 minutes. or a wire rack to This method will help maintain the crispy skin and juicy drumsticks.
Air fryer Method: Place the drumsticks in the air fryer and cook for 3-5 minutes at 375°.You may want to flip them halfway through. Although it’s a little messy, my kids love it when I add a little bbq sauce before reheating.
Microwave Method (Quick but Less Crispy):
If you’re in a hurry, you can microwave the drumsticks, but this isn’t my favorite method because the chicken skin will lose its crispiness. Place the drumsticks on a microwave-safe plate and cover them with a damp paper towel. Heat for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.

No matter which method you choose, make sure the chicken is reheated thoroughly for safety, and enjoy your delicious leftovers!

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Skillet Chicken Drumsticks

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 25

Total Time 35

Serving Size 6 people

Ingredients

2 lb chicken drumstics bone in
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp salt
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp chili powder
2 tsp oregano
2 tbsp butter optional but delicious

Instructions

Ensure your drumstics are fully defrosted if frozen and bring them close to room temperature before patting them dry with a paper towel.
Preheat oven to 375°F
Mix all herbs and spices together, sprinkle them evenly over the drumstics and rub them into the drumsticks.
Heat the cast iron skillet until hot but not smoking and add the drumsticks one at at time. Your chicken should sizzle when it touches the pan.
Sear each side for 1-2 minutes.
Drop the butter into the pan and carefully transfer the hot skillet tot the oven.
Cook for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.