10 Best Chicken Drumstick Recipes

I didn’t know how much I loved chicken legs till I burnt some last night. Marinated in Thai ginger paste, Jack Daniel’s sticky barbecue sauce and Cajun seasoning - they looked as perfect as a warm blanket on a cold winter night.

Chicken drumsticks or chicken legs are the most perfect part of a chicken - protein-rich, succulent and so juicy, they could bring tears of joy! I eat them as often as thrice a week and each time they taste more wonderful than the last. Pepper, salt, pesto, herbs, yogurt, garlic, ginger, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, mustard - these are just some of the thousand ingredients that work beautifully with chicken drumsticks.There are also so many different ways in which you could cook chicken drumsticks - pan fried, braised, baked or grilled. One of my favourite techniques involves using an oven-friendly bag. Basically, you seal the chicken with some spices in the bag, shake and bake for about 40 minutes. It prevents the chicken from drying out and keeps all the juices in the bag which helps it cook better. You can also drizzle that juice over rice or quinoa.

Another great way to cook with drumsticks is to use its skin. A few months ago I was in London, shopping for a home-made Christmas brunch, when I came across these plump chicken drumsticks which has this gorgeous layer of skin from end to end. Over a boiling pot of water, I melted a butter stick with garlic pods and added some tarragon, parsley, thyme and rosemary. Once it took form, I stuffed the spices in the chicken skin, and then sealed it tightly. I let the chicken cook for about 40 minutes, while the garlic-butter and herbs made their way right to the bone. Then, I wrapped the baking dish in aluminum foil and let the chicken rest in its own juices. Just the smell was hypnotic enough to wake my brother in the next room.

Now, for some great recipes from real chefs, we present our 10 best list -

1.Chicken Legs With Chorizo, Garlicy Cheesy Beans and Wasabi Mayo Dressing
Recipe by Joey Matthew

Chicken legs, garlic, butter, spicy chorrizo, mayonnaise, rosemary, thyme, potatoes - now if that doesn’t spell awesome, we don’t know what does!

chicken chorizo

2. Chicken in Barbecue Sauce
Recipe by Manju Malhi

For those of you who love making everything from scratch, Manju Malhi offer some great insight into how to make the perfect barbecue sauce. There’s red wine (sadly, not in a glass), tomato puree, ginger powder, mustard powder, vinegar, garlic and some Tabassco.

3. Jerk Chicken
Recipe by Courtney Walsh

This recipe brings down the cook time by almost half because it asks you to pan fry the chicken legs for a few minutes before putting them into the oven. Instead of making a marinade at home, you can use store-bought jerk chicken paste which is basically made from garlic, ginger, vinegar, water, brown sugar, scallions and nutmeg.

4. Braised Chicken Legs
Recipe by Vicky Ratnani

Braising is one of the most familiar ways of cooking in India. And probably the most reliable as well. The chicken legs cook in water and a melody of spices that seep right through.

5. Chicken Tangri
Recipe by Aditya Bal

One bite of chicken tangri and you’ll wonder why you’ve never made this at home before. It calls for your regular but essential kitchen spices: coriander, green chilli, ginger-garlic paste, salt, pepper and lime. It’s delicious, simple and as desi as it gets.

6. Lemongrass Chicken
Recipe by Suparna Trikha

You’ll be surprised to see how your everyday spices work with lemongrass water. This chicken is aromatic enough to pull you to the dinner table and delicious enough for you to bookmark this recipe.

7. Raan-e-Murgh
Meraj Ul Haque, Team India

Amongst all the other chicken drumstick recipes, this one stand out by a mile. Cooked with besan, cashew paste, yogurt, cardamom, chilli, saffron and more, Raan-e-murgh is a real winner!

8. Tawa Murg
Recipe by Chef Avneet, Hotel Cecil Oberoi, Shimla

Tawa Murg is an absolute must-have with roti or rice. It’s got this rich tasting hung curd, the twisty zing of lime, the coolness of fresh cream and the pungency of ginger-garlic paste.

9. Bhatti da Murga Pindiwala
Recipe by Zahir Khan

This recipe from ‘Made in Punjab’ will make your heart race and jaw drop to the floor. Chicken drumsticks are smeared with all kinds of spices: cinnamon, coriander powder, cardamom powder, clove powder, mace powder, cumin powder and then cooked on a charcoal grill with desi ghee.

10. Chicken Ularthiyathu
Recipe by Vicky Ratnani

CommentsIf you’re a fan of chicken and coconuts, then this dry roasted chicken in a thick and clunky gravy is just what you need. First, you roast the chicken with cardamom, cloves, aniseed, cumin seeds and fried coconut. Then, you slow cook it n a gravy of onions, curry leaves, ginger, garlic and vinegar.