Boiled chicken drumsticks recipe! You get tender, packed full of flavor, juicy chicken legs that you can then serve with side dishes, bake, grill, or fry after. This is an easy, quick recipe that is ready in under 30 minutes. Let me show you how to boil chicken drumsticks in easy, quick steps.
Drumstick is one of my favorite chicken parts and there are many ways one can cook it. I have shared my recipes for air fryer chicken drumsticks, and instant pot chicken drumsticks which you all love so it's time to share with you my boiled chicken drumsticks recipe.
Boiled Chicken Drumsticks
You will love this boiled chicken drumsticks recipe because it's easy, quick, simple and you can't go wrong with it.
This recipe works for fresh or frozen drumsticks although it takes longer to boil frozen chicken legs. I have included a cooking time guide.
You can boil chicken drumsticks to use in other recipes, to serve with side dishes, or as precooking before frying, baking in the oven, or grilling.
The outcome of this boiled chicken legs is tender, juicy, flavorful chicken that your tastebuds will thank you for.
Related: Boiled chicken recipe
Ingredients
Chicken - drumsticks or leg quarters
Onion
Pepper - I used black pepper but you can use cayenne pepper or any other one.
Thyme
Bay leaf
Parsley
Salt
Bouillon (Optional)
How To Boil Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)
Clean and pat the chicken dry then add them to a pot.
Add in chopped onion, thyme, pepper, curry powder, bayleaf and salt.
Add water to cover the chicken. Let it be an inch above the chicken.
Season the water with salt well so the chicken doesn't taste bland. The water should taste salty.
Cover the pot, put on the stove, and boil drumsticks on medium heat for 20 minutes.
After this time, check if the chicken is cooked through.
You can use an instant thermometer to check. The temperature should be at least over 165F/75C as that is when it is safe to eat.
If it is, remove the chicken legs from the broth.
Serve or proceed to fry, grill, broil or bake in the oven.
To Bake or Fry after Boiling
To bake after boiling, preheat the oven at a temperature of 220C.
Put the boiled chicken drumsticks on a baking paper-lined baking tray then put the baking tray in the oven and bake each side for 6 minutes making a total baking time of 12 minutes or till it's golden and crispy.
Serve and enjoy.
How Long To Boil Chicken Legs
Cooking time depends on factors such as the size of the chicken legs, whether you are cooking them from fresh or frozen. Follow the cooking time guide below for perfectly cooked chicken drumsticks.
Because sizes varies, cooking time will also change slightly so ensure you check on the chicken after the first 15 minutes.
If boiling chicken drumsticks from fresh: For medium size chicken legs, the cooking time will be between 18 - 20 minutes.
To boil frozen chicken drumsticks: The cooking time will be between 25 - 30 minutes.
For chicken leg quarters: Boil for 20-25 minutes.
To boil frozen chicken leg quarters: It will take between 25- 35 minutes.
Ensure that chicken is cooked through before. Use an instant thermometer to check the internal temperature. It should be at least 165F/75C as that is when it is safe to eat.
What to Serve with
Some suggestions of delicious side dishes to serve with are:
Potatoes: Parmentier potatoes, mashed potatoes or boiled potatoes.
Grains : Long grain rice, bulghur, spicy rice or curry rice.
Vegetables side dishes like sauteed vegetables, air fryer vegetables, boiled broccoli, and boiled carrots.
How To Store Cooked Chicken Drumsticks
When it's completely cooled, pack in a ziploc bag or an airtight container, label and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
In the freezer: It will last up to 4 months in the freezer.
Reheat in the microwave or stovetop.
Use leftovers in salads, sandwiches, wraps, soup, stews and more.
Tips
- Properly clean the tools used to clean the raw chicken to avoid contamination and food poisoning.
- Cover the chicken with water at least half an inch or an inch above the drumsticks.
- Don't forget to check on the chicken so they don't overcook.
- Use a big enough pot so the drumsticks are not overcrowded in the pot.
- Let the chicken rest in its broth for few minutes after cooking so it soaks up more flavor.
- Thicken the broth with cornflour to make gravy or save it and use to cook rice, or recipes that require broth.
More Chicken Recipes
Orange baked chicken
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Boiled Chicken Drumsticks Recipe (Chicken Legs)
Equipment
- Pot
- Stove
Ingredients
- 6 pieces Chicken drumsticks or leg quarters
- 1 medium Onion
- 1 tablespoon Dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon Pepper black pepper or cayenne pepper
- 1-2 Bay leaves
- 1 Bouillion optional
- Salt to taste
- 1 tablespoon curry powder optional
Instructions
- Clean and pat the chicken dry then add them to a pot.Add in chopped onion, thyme, pepper, curry powder, bayleaf and salt.
- Add water to cover the chicken. Let it be an inch above the chicken.Season the water with salt well so the chicken doesn't taste bland. The water should taste salty.
- Cover the pot, put on the stove, and boil drumsticks on medium heat for 20 minutes.
- After this time, check if the chicken is cooked through.You can use an instant thermometer to check. The temperature should be at least over 165F/75C as that is when it is safe to eat.
- If it is, remove the chicken legs from the broth.Serve or proceed to fry, grill, broil or bake in the oven.
To Bake After Boiling
- To bake after boiling, preheat the oven at a temperature of 220C.
- Put the boiled chicken drumsticks on a baking paper-lined baking tray then put the baking tray in the oven and bake each side for 6 minutes making a total baking time of 12 minutes or till it's golden and crispy. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- Properly clean the tools used to clean the raw chicken to avoid contamination and food poisoning.
- Cover the chicken with water at least half an inch or an inch above the drumsticks.
- Don't forget to check on the chicken so they don't overcook.
- Use a big enough pot so the drumsticks are not overcrowded in the pot.
- Let the chicken rest in its broth for few minutes after cooking so it soaks up more flavor.
- Thicken the broth with cornflour to make gravy or save it and use to cook rice, or recipes that require broth.
Why are we needing to pat the chicken legs dry when they go STRAIGHT in the water? Lol Makes no sense
I am used to patting chicken dry before seasoning but I get your point.
I think it helps a lot with the seasoning. I typically rub in the seasoning & let it sit on the chicken after I pat it dry, and it seems to absorb more flavor. Lol.
Made it following the great detailed recipe instructions using all options and baked as directed. Only thing I did a little different, because I wanted BBQ, I added BBQ on the second turn. It was delicious! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe!
Thank you for the feedback.
It was delicious. Remind me of my Mom.
Aww... Thank you for the feedback 🙂
Hi Kemi! You're beautiful! I'm making your recipe now! Living single, I like simple! Thank you!
Thank you Ray. Enjoy the recipes 🙂