Oven baked crunchy crumbed chicken drumsticks. Great seasoning, great crispy exterior, juicy flesh. Tastes like KFC – minus all the calories and grease!
Crunchy crumbed chicken drumsticks
I have a soft spot for chicken legs. Juicier and more flavourful than lean chicken breast, and more economical at that. With the bonus that there’s something extra enjoyable about food that has to be eaten with your hands.
Nobody eats drumsticks with a fork and knife, do they?? Surely not! Way too civilised and way too much meat wastage. There’s no way you can pick the bone clean of every scrap of meat with cutlery!!!
Hands all the way. GRAB and DEVOUR!
Today’s drumsticks are fabulously crunchy all over, and very well seasoned so there’s no need to marinate it overnight. You can make it right now, for dinner tonight. And yours will be as gorgeously golden as you see in the photos as long as you’re generous with the oil spray. Spray, spray, spray!
Ingredients in crunchy crumbed chicken drumsticks
The seasoning
The key to this recipe is a bold flavoured seasoning so there’s plenty of flavour in every bite even though we haven’t marinated the chicken. Here’s what you need – all pantry staples!
The spiciness comes from the chilli / cayenne pepper and a good amount of black pepper. There are adjustments in the recipe to make this kid friendly by either completely eliminating the spiciness or reducing it.
The crumbing
And here’s what you need for the crumb coating.
Chicken drumsticks aka chicken legs. If yours were frozen, thaw thoroughly and pat dry extra well else you will end up with soggy patches.
Egg and flour – the glue for the breadcrumbs. (PS I thought 2 eggs was enough but actually, we need 3.)
Panko breadcrumbs – A Japanese breadcrumb favoured for the extra-crispy coating it gives crumbed foods. You can buy it at most big supermarkets (AUS – Coles, Woolworths, Harris) in the Asian foods section and Asian stores (cheaper!). Substitute with regular breadcrumbs.
How to make crunchy crumbed drumsticks
I like to split the seasoning between the flour and the panko, for maximum flavour effect!
Seasoning – Mix the seasoning in a small bowl.
Season flour and breadcrumbs – Use 1 tablespoon of the seasoning for the flour, then mix the rest in with the panko.
Crumbing (without making a mess!)- Use one hand to coat a drumstick in the flour then shake off excess. Use the same hand to coat the drumstick in egg, then allow the excess to drip off. Still using the same hand, place the drumstick in the panko, then use your other hand to sprinkle with panko. Press to adhere, rotate and coat all over with panko. Place on rack. Marvel at clean(ish) hands!!
Repeat with remaining drumsticks, lining them up so they are evenly spaced.
Spray generously with canola or other oil. I like to use canola oil because it comes out like a foam so I can see where I’ve sprayed. (PS The more you spray, the more golden and crunchy the coating. So don’t hold back!)
Bake for 25 minutes at 200°C/400°F (180°C fan). Flip drumsticks, spray again, then bake for a further 20 minutes or until gorgeously golden and crunchy. Let them cool for 5 minutes – which also gives the crumb a chance to “set” – then dive in!
What to serve with crunchy drumsticks
Gosh, there’s really no rules here. I had them with leftover Supreme Soy Noodles and Smashed Cucumbers on the day I made the recipe video. Certainly not obviously choices but it was still enjoyable! 😂
To keep your life easy, try serving this with what I call two-in-one-side dishes. These are sides that combine plenty of vegetables with starch in one dish so you can just serve that as the side rather than making a side salad plus a starch to fill out a meal.
Some personal two-in-one favourites include:
Purple Rice – made with red cabbage in it (imagine how colourful your dinner plate will be!)
Garlic Butter Rice with Kale – the best way I know to convert kale haters!!
Enjoy! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Crunchy crumbed chicken drumsticks
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 1/2 cup flour , plain/all purpose
- 3 large eggs , beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (Note 1)
- Canola oil spray (or other oil)
Seasoning:
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp dried basil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper or pure chilli powder – Note 2 (omit for kid-friendly)
- 1 1/2 tsp cooking salt
- 2 tsp black pepper (reduce to 1/2 tsp for kid-friendly)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F (180°C fan). Place a rack on a foil lined tray. Spray rack with oil.
- Crumbing bowls – Place the flour, whisked eggs and panko in 3 separate medium bowls (bear in mind shape to fit the drumsticks!).
- Mix Seasoning in a small bowl. Put 1 tablespoon into the flour and the rest in the panko, then mix.
- Crumb – Pat drumsticks dry with paper towels. Coat in flour (shake off excess), then egg (let excess drip off). Place in panko and rotate, pressing to adhere all over, including the handle. (Note 3 for mess-free hands technique!)
- Spray – Place drumstick on the rack. Repeat with remaining chicken. Spray very generously with oil.
- Bake 25 minutes. Turn drumsticks, spray again with oil. Bake a further 20 minutes until golden brown and super crunchy!
- Serve Eat and enjoy the CRUNCH!
Recipe Notes:
- Honey mustard sauce: Mix together 1/3 cup whole-egg mayonnaise, 2 tbsp dijon mustard, 2 tbsp honey, 1 – 2 tsp lemon juice (sub vinegar), salt and pepper.
- Pink sauce – 1/2 cup (100g) sour cream + 3 tbsp ketchup
- Ketchup, BBQ sauce or other store bought sauce of choice
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
Dozer on move day. He was delighted to have so many new targets for treats – and he was rather successful, actually!
If you put your pan in the sink or on the top rack of your dishwasher dishwasher before spraying the oil the mess will be contained!
Saw the email with this recipe just as I was trying to figure out dinner. Had all the ingredients and they were so easy to prepare. Hubby and the kids gave them a big thumbs up! The flavour was awesome and they really were crunchy. I made the honey mustard sauce too and it was delicious. I can see this becoming a regular. Thanks Nagi!
Can you remove the skin from the chicken legs? It would be a healthier version if allowed
This looked good until I read, “Tasts like KFC”.
What a put down!
No thanks
No, she meant the TEXTURE of the skin is like KFC original nothing to do with the flavor which is different.
My bad. Just saw she did say that. I agree with the skin texture being similar. It was still finger licking good!
Hi,
I would love to make this recipe but as I can’t eat eggs is there a substitute in the coating
Thanks
I’ve done it with vegan mayo or a flax seed egg replacement with great success!
I have used plain greek yoghurt or buttermilk instead of eggs but I don’t know if it might compromise the crunch in this recipe.
Will definitely try this recipe. Whenever I plan to get my hands into food, be it hand mixing or crumbing, I use the skin tight surgical-style gloves from the supermarket. it’s a game-changer.
Ah yes!!! We use them at our food bank for handling food – I tend to reserve them for massive hand mixing jobs at home!! N xx
These look great Nagi! Two questions. What’s the key to keeping the chicken juicy and do they crisp us as well in an Air Fryer. If so, do you know the temp & times?
These will no doubt be as popular as your oven baked tenders from the book! I think this could be our new fave Friday night fakeaway!
Question though…….with the tenders you recommend a quick bake of the panko breadcrumbs for extra cruchiness. Would this also work for these? In addition to spraying with oil before baking? Thanks
Sharon, i don’t see why it wouldn’t work, although i have not tried..
Would this work in an Airfryer?
This would be amazing in an air fryer. Might need to check and calculate some time alternatives for an airfryer basket
Hi Nagi, I love all your recipes. You are my absolute favorite food blog. I have done at least a dozen of your recipes. I have one question, regarding taking the fat element out of this recipe. Could I skin the drumsticks and still have a tasty recipe, or does the actual skin need to stay on for ultimate juiciness? I am asking because both my son and hubs have high cholesterol levels. Thank you so much for everything.