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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