Instant Pot Chicken Legs Recipe

Instant pot chicken drumsticks ! So juicy, tender, delicious with crisp skin. This pressure cooker chicken drumsticks recipe is well seasoned and cooked to perfection. Let me show you how to make the best instant pot chicken drumstick recipe.

Instant pot chicken drumsticks served on white plate

INSTANT POT CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS RECIPE

This instant pot chicken drumsticks recipe is about to be your favourite. Like my Instant Pot Chicken Wings recipe, It's ready in 30 minutes which makes it quicker than stovetop or oven method. For oven method chicken drumsticks and chicken legs recipe check my orange baked chicken and easy baked chicken legs.

I also have the best Air fryer chicken drumsticks recipe on the blog. Do check it out.

For this chicken drumsticks recipe, you can use fresh or frozen chicken drumsticks, skinless or skin on chicken drumsticks. I have also included variation such as instant pot buffalo chicken drumsticks and barbeque chicken drumsticks in instant pot. You can use just the instant pot for cooking the chicken or finish it off by broiling in the oven for few minutes to get crispy skin. Whichever method you use, i promise you perfect chicken drumsticks.

One of the beauty of instant pot pressure cooker is that you don't have to wait around while it's doing the cooking, you can go about the house doing other things and when chicken is cooked, the pressure cooker beeps to alert you. Cooking chicken legs in instant pot pressure cooker is easy and simple. It also produce flavourful, moist and tender meat.

For this recipe, I used my instant pot duo 7 in 1 6 quart. You can make this recipe in any of the instant pot pressure cooker or other electric pressure cookers like Pressure king pro and ninja foodie.

Let me show you in easy steps how to make Instant pot chicken drumsticks.

Instant Pot Chicken drumsticks ingredients

The ingredients for this well seasoned easy instant pot chicken drumsticks or pressure cooker chicken drumsticks are simple (Detailed ingredient list, measurement, recipe and video in recipe card at the end of this post). You will need:

Chicken - You can use fresh or frozen. The cooking time varies but i have noted the cooking times for both in this post.

Paprika

Onion powder

Garlic powder or granules

Parsley

Oregano

Black pepper

Salt

Oil - Vegetable, sunflower, coconut or olive oil.

Barbeque sauce or buffalo sauce - Optional

ingredients for instant pot chicken drumsticks set out

HOW TO COOK CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS IN INSTANT POT

1) Prep, clean and pat chicken dry with kitchen towel.

2) Make the dry spice rub by mixing paprika, onion powder, parsley, garlic powder, oregano, black pepper and salt together. Add spice rub to the chicken and mix well.

Leave chicken to marinate for 30 minutes - 12 hours (Optional)

3) Set instant pot to sautee then add vegetable oil in the inner pot of the instant pot.

4) When oil is heated, add marinated chicken drumsticks in single layer and brown the sides. This takes about 2-3 minutes on each side.

7 pieces of chicken in instant pot to be browned

5) When the sides are browned, take the drumsticks out of the Instant pot and put them in a plate. Switch off IP saute mode.

6) Add water or chicken broth to the inner pot and place trivet in the pot. Arrange chicken drumsticks on trivet then close the Instant pot with it's lid.

7) Set to manual pressure cook 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes, do 5 minutes natural pressure release.

browned chicken placed on trivet ready to be pressure cooked

8) Once the instant pot is depressurised, open the lid and take out chicken drumsticks.

For crispy skin, broil in the oven on each side for 5 minutes each

9) Serve and enjoy.

Instant pot chicken drumsticks served on plate and placed in front of the instant pot

VARIATION

INSTANT POT BUFFALO CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

Add some buffalo sauce to chicken after step 8 then broil. Add some more buffalo sauce after broiling, mix with the chicken and serve. Buffalo sauce recipe in my instant pot chicken wings recipe.

Instant pot Bbq chicken drumsticks

Toss drumsticks in barbeque sauce after step 8 before broiling in the oven. Broil chicken in the oven on each side for 5 minutes each. Add more bbq sauce after broiling. Serve and enjoy.

How long does it take to cook chicken drumsticks

It takes 10 minutes to pressure cook and 5 minutes natural release. It's good to note that the instant pot takes about 10 minutes to come to pressure. If you are new to instant pot check out my post on How to use instant pot.

Cooking Chicken drumsticks from frozen

If cooking from frozen, seperate the chicken and season with dry spice rub. You won't be able to saute to brown the sides so start from step 6 and add water or chicken broth to the inner pot and place trivet in the pot. Arrange chicken drumsticks on trivet then close the Instant pot with it's lid. Set instant pot to manual pressure cook for 15 minutes and afterwards do 5 minutes natural pressure release. Broil in the oven for 10 minutes (5 minutes on each side).

TIPS FOR COOKING CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS

Pat drumsticks dry with kitchen towel so the spice rub is not watered down.

If broiling, line oven tray with baking sheet for easy clean up.

Broiling the chicken is not a must. If you'd rather not have crispy drumsticks then omit the broiling process.

What to serve with chicken drumsticks

Serve chicken drumsticks with

Instant Pot Jollof rice

Coleslaw

Instant Pot roast potatoes

Gravy

Instant Pot Basmati rice

Instant pot pressure cooker chicken drumsticks

How to store chicken drumsticks

Leave to cool completely then put in freezer bags, label and keep in the fridge for up to 3- 4 days. It can also be frozen for up to 4 months.

More Instant Pot pressure cooker recipes you'll love

Instant Pot Chicken Curry

Instant pot Lo mein

IP Spanish rice

Instant pot Tomato soup

Instant pot Chicken Drumsticks

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 10 mins

natural pressure release 5 mins

Total Time 20 mins

Course: Chicken, Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Instant pot chicken drumsticks, instant pot chicken drumsticks recipe, pressure cooker chicken drumsticks

Servings: 7

Calories: 110 kcal

Author: Kemi

Cost: $5

Instant pot pressure cooker

7 pieces Chicken drumsticks
1 tablespoon Paprika
1 teaspoon Parsley
1 teaspoon Coriander
¼ teaspoon Black pepper
1 teaspoon Onion powder
¼ teaspoon Garlic powder
¼ teaspoon Oregano
Salt to taste
1 cup Water or Broth

Prep, clean and pat chicken dry with kitchen towel.
Make the dry spice rub by mixing paprika, onion powder, parsley, garlic powder, oregano, black pepper and salt together. Add spice rub to the chicken and mix well.
Set instant pot to sautee then add vegetable oil in the inner pot of the instant pot.
When oil is heated, add marinated chicken drumsticks in single layer and brown the sides. Browning takes about 2-3 minutes for each side.
When the sides are browned, take the drumsticks out of the Instant pot and put them in a plate. Switch off IP saute mode.
Add water or chicken broth to the inner pot and place trivet in the pot. Arrange chicken drumsticks on trivet then close the Instant pot with it's lid.
Set to manual pressure cook 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes, do 5 minutes natural pressure release.
Once the instant pot is depressurised, open the lid and take out chicken drumsticks.

For crispy skin, broil or grill in the oven on each side.
Serve and enjoy.

*Important notes in the post. If you havent read the post before jumping to recipe, do go back and read so you don't miss out the details

Cooking Chicken drumsticks from frozen

If cooking from frozen, seperate the chicken and season with dry spice rub. You won't be able to saute to brown the sides so start from step 6 and add water or chicken broth to the inner pot and place trivet in the pot. Arrange chicken drumsticks on trivet then close the instant pot with it's lid. Set instant pot to manual pressure cook for 15 minutes and afterwards do 5 minutes natural pressure release.

Instant pot buffalo chicken drumsticks - Check notes in post

Instant pot bbq chicken - Check notes in post

Calories: 110 kcal

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