Our Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks recipe is easy, juicy, and flavorful! The best part is that it’s cooked in the Instant Pot, which means it’s quick and easy to make. Once the chicken is cooked, the drumsticks are then broiled to give them a crispy and golden brown finish. This recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or for entertaining guests.
Instant pot drumsticks is the best recipe if looking for fall of the bone chicken that is beyond tender. In under 30 minutes, you will have a meal that can be served as is, with family favorite sides or paired with all the best dipping sauces.
Keep this pressure cooker drumsticks recipe handy along with juicy Pan Fried Chicken Tenders, Chicken Drumsticks in Oven, and zesty Oven Baked Chicken Thighs.
Table of Contents
Can You Cook Frozen Chicken Drumsticks in Instant Pot?
Absolutely and it is one of the reasons we love cooking in an instant pot. You would not want to cook frozen chicken in a slow cooker due to food safety issues, but the instant pot is a different story!
Simply place the frozen chicken straight from the freezer into the slow cooker and increase the cooking time by 5 minutes. If cooking from frozen, the spices may not stick as easy since you won’t be able to paper towel dry the meat prior to cooking. Seasoning after cooking or coating with a sauce are ways to cook from frozen without compromising on flavor.
How Many Drumsticks Can You Cook in an Instant Pot?
You can cook as many that will fit while also leaving space at the top.
Every Instant pot model will vary in size so adjust accordingly. With instant pot cooking, you can stack the drumsticks on top of each other without a concern. If making a double or triple batch, you do not need to worry about adjusting the cooking time.
How Long To Cook Chicken Drumsticks in Instant Pot?
Drumsticks in an instant pot will take 15 minutes to cook. You do need to plan for the time it takes for the instant pot to come up to temperature and the steam release time once the value has been opened, which is roughly another 5-10 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder ✅
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder ✅
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika ✅
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound chicken legs ✅
- 1 cup water
Gluten-Free Guide: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten.
How To Make
In a mixing bowl combine the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt. Pat the chicken dry with the paper toweling then place into the mixing bowl. Using clean hands spread the seasoning evenly onto the chicken legs.
Preheat the oven and cook
Preheat the oven to broil. Place the trivet and water into the instant pot. Place the seasoned chicken onto the trivet and place the cover on. Turn the valve to sealing and set to high pressure for 15 minutes. Do a quick release when the time is up.
Broil
Place the cooked chicken legs onto a baking sheet lined with a wire rack. Broil for 3-4 minutes or until the chicken legs are golden brown.
Serve
Serve hot.
Serving Suggestions for Instapot Chicken Drumsticks
Round out this chicken meal by pairing with a single or multiple side dishes. It is a great way to offer a variety of options on the dinner table and allow everyone to customize their plate.
Here are some low effort side dishes to consider when making drumsticks in an Instant pot!
Vegetable Recipes
- Air Fry Green Beans
- How To Steam Broccoli in Microwave
- Roasted Frozen Cauliflower
- Roasted Broccoli and Carrots
- Roasted Frozen Vegetables
Potato Recipes
- Microwave Mashed Potatoes
- Crockpot Sweet Potatoes
- Easy Sweet Potato Casserole
- Pan Fried Sliced Potatoes
Rice Recipes
- Instant Pot Wild Rice
- Basmati Rice (Instant Pot)
- Gluten Free Spanish Rice
- Jasmine Rice (Instant Pot)
Pairing chicken drumsticks with a soup and salad combo is also a great way to feature this recipe and create a satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy. From a creamy potato soup to a simple vegetable soup or a broccoli salad without mayo to a leafy green salad topped with all the leftover veggies in your produce drawer.
Storing Instructions
In the fridge: Store leftover instant pot chicken drumsticks in the fridge for up to 5 days in a covered container. Make sure the lid is secure to prevent the chicken from drying out.
After the 5th day, you will want to discard the chicken for food safety concerns.
If you want to meal prep chicken or if your plans change mid-week, consider freezing the leftover drumsticks to reduce food waste.
In the freezer: To freeze, place chicken in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag. Ensure you have pressed out all of the air from the Ziploc and it is tightly sealed to prevent freezer burn. Store up to 3 months.
Reheating Instructions
Microwave: Place in a microwave-safe bowl with a splash of water or broth to reheat in 30-second increments. Do not microwave frozen leftovers as it will result in uneven reheating and dried out chicken. We only use the microwave to reheat when short on time as the oven is our preferred reheating method to keep the chicken from drying out.
Oven: Reheating in the oven locks in the moisture to keep the chicken juicy and tender. Drumsticks can be added straight from the fridge to the oven. However, frozen chicken should be thawed overnight in the fridge then reheated. Start by preheating the oven to 325 degrees then place the drumsticks on a baking sheet or dish (spread out so they aren’t touching). Brush oil on top of the chicken then bake for 10-12 minutes or until heated through.
Ways To Use Leftover Chicken
The leftover chicken drumsticks make for a delicious dinner the next day or shredded off the bone to incorporate into another recipe. Toss chilled or reheated chicken on top of a salad, in a wrap, stirred into soup or alongside a pasta dish.
One of our favorite ways to use leftover chicken is shredded on top of gluten-free tortilla chickens smothered with melted cheese and all the nacho toppings we have on hand.
Why Does My Instant Pot Chicken Taste Rubbery?
Even if you frequently cook chicken, chicken can turn out rubbery. Learning how to keep chicken from getting rubbery when cooking can eliminate the frustration from here on out! Here are a few reasons why and easy steps to troubleshoot:
Cooking with high temperatures – high heat can result in overcooked chicken so keep an eye on the drumsticks when they are placed under the broiler. As soon as you see that golden brown finish, remove from the oven.
Chicken needs to rest – whether you are making a lean chicken breast or juicy chicken legs, let the chicken rest after cooking for 3-5 minutes. This will allow the juices to soak into the meat versus spill out all over the plate.
Overcooked– it is possible to overcook chicken, even when using an Instant pot. Overcooked chicken will be rubbery because the meat has lost too much moisture. Make sure you are using a quick release when cooking instant pot chicken. This will prevent the chicken from staying in the pressure cooker for an extended period of time. If the texture is off, simmer the chicken over low heat with liquid for a few minutes to rehydrate the meat.
Undercooked – undercooked chicken will also be rubbery in texture. After cooking, use a meat thermometer to check the temperature. It should be at least 165°F. If under, return to the instant pot and cook for another 2-3 minutes then retemp. Continue this cycle until the chicken is properly cooked and safe to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Chicken drumsticks are naturally gluten-free and when seasoned with gluten-free spices, remain celiac safe. This recipe uses a homemade 4-ingredient seasoning blend with onion powder, paprika, garlic powder and salt. As always, double check the labels on your spices to make sure additional ingredients have not been added. For guidance, check out our resource on Gluten Free Spices.
Yes, you can but it can easily be prevented by following directions as written, ensuring you use a quick release after cooking and keeping a close eye on the broiler when crisping.
The total number will vary depending on the size of appetites. A good rule of thumb is planning on 1 drumstick for kids and 2 drumsticks for adults. However, you can also plan for extra and store the leftovers if any.
How To Make Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
It is extremely easy to turn these into baked bbq chicken drumsticks featuring your barbeque sauce of choice. After pressure cooking, brush each drumstick with bbq sauce then place on the wire or parchment lined sheet pan. Place under the broiler to crisp the skin along with bake on the sauce.
As the chicken broils, the sauce will caramelize to create a flavor that is irresistible.
You can also opt to broil the chicken for the crispy skin then serve the sauce on the side for dipping. This is a great option for kids that love to dip their chicken pieces before taking a bite. Or, if your kids are anything like mine then you will need to coat the chicken and serve with sauce on the side!
Kids In The Kitchen
Cooking tips and suggestions for kids making this recipe.
- Homemade seasoning blends are a great way to make a gluten-free option if your family can’t find one at the store. When measuring spices, you will want to use measuring spoons. Measure each individual spice over the counter, a small bowl or sink then pour into a larger bowl to mix together. This prevents accidentally spilling excess spices into the blend. Take a peek at the measuring spoons before you start and remember that tsp means teaspoon and Tbsp means tablespoon.
- Preheat the oven to broil by turning on as the pressure is releasing from the instant pot. If you have the option for low or high, pick high broil to quickly crisp. With assistance, place the sheet pan near the broiler but the chicken should not be touching the flame. Keep a close eye on the chicken by setting a timer and/or using the oven light to cook just until golden-brown on the top.
- Instant pots have a quick release and a natural release function. A quick lease is when you manually turn the valve from sealing to venting, which will let the pressure go quickly. The natural release lets pressure release slowly. For majority of chicken recipes, you will use the quick release to prevent overcooking the meat.
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you’re new to eating gluten-free we understand it’s overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don’t. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.
The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn’t require a helper.
Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder ✅
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder ✅
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika ✅
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound chicken legs ✅
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Prep the chicken. In a mixing bowl combine the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt. Pat the chicken dry with the paper toweling then place into the mixing bowl. Using clean hands spread the seasoning evenly onto the chicken legs.1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 pound chicken legs
- ⭐️Preheat the oven and cook. Preheat the oven to broil. Place the trivet and water into the instant pot. Place the seasoned chicken onto the trivet and place the cover on. Turn the valve to sealing and set to high pressure for 15 minutes. Do a quick release when the time is up.1 cup water
- ⭐️Broil. Place the cooked chicken legs onto a baking sheet lined with a wire rack. Broil for 3-4 minutes or until the chicken legs are golden brown.
- Serve. Serve hot.
Notes
- Always cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Always insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken when temping.
- Customize the flavor profile of chicken by swapping out any of the spices for your personal favorites or pairing with a dipping sauce such as bbq, honey mustard, ketchup or ranch.
- Add a hint of spice by mixing red pepper flakes into the seasoning blend or sprinkling on the top of individual chicken legs.
- Add sweetness by mixing 1-2 Tablespoons of brown sugar into the seasoning blend.
- Let the chicken rest for 3-5 minutes after cooking to keep the juices from running all over the plate.
Nutrition
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