How To Boil Chicken Legs (drumsticks)

Let me show you how to boil chicken drumsticks. Because boiled chicken legs are tender, flavoursome and juicy and you can use them in so many different ways.

Jump to:

• Boiled chicken drumsticks
• Ingredients for boiled chicken legs
• How to boil chicken legs
• How do you know when drumsticks are done boiling?
• How To Store Cooked Chicken Drumsticks
• More chicken recipes
• What to do with the liquid the chicken legs were cooked in?
• How to serve boiled chicken legs
• Recipe FAQ
• How to boil chicken legs (drumsticks)

Boiled chicken drumsticks

Chicken legs are my favorite parts of the chicken and I use them in my cooking a lot. They are delicious, kid-friendly and much cheaper than chicken thighs or chicken breast.

You can enjoy the boiled drumsticks freshly cooked or use them in many other recipes. Let’s have a look at what we will need to make them.

Ingredients for boiled chicken legs

Chicken drumsticks. Always opt for a free-range, or if you can afford, organic chicken. Chicken legs are usually very cheap, so that shouldn’t break the budget.

Onion. I prefer a simple brown onion. Do not cut it, just take off the first layer of skin and put it in a pot. The outer skins of onions provide an excellent source of vitamins A, C, E, and numerous antioxidants, they are also a rich source of flavonoids, particularly quercetin, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory (source). Since we don’t usually consume onion skin, it is a great way to get the benefits out of it by boiling it in soup.

Carrot. I always add a carrot when cooking chicken. It adds a little sweetness to the chicken stock.

Bay leaves. Bay leaves are very flavoursome so only one or two small leaves will be enough.

Peppercorns. 3-4 black peppercorns are a great way to add those immune-boosting compounds and level up the flavour.

Garlic. If you are a fan of garlic, add one or two garlic cloves. This is however totally optional.

Herbs (optional). You can add fresh herbs such as parsley or rosemary if you like the flavour.

How to boil chicken legs

Cooking chicken drumsticks is easy and very straightforward.

• Place clean chicken legs in a saucepan.
• Add onion, carrot, peppercorn, bay leaves and salt.
• Add enough cold water so that the chicken and vegetables are covered, about 2-3 cm (1 inch) above the meat.

• Bring liquid to a boil over medium-high heat and immediately lower the heat to very low. If you cook chicken on high heat, it will become tough and rubbery. It is no need to rush when boiling chicken.
• Let the chicken simmer for about 20 to 30 minutes. The cooking time will depend on the size of the chicken legs. Smaller legs will need less time to cook than large ones.

How do you know when drumsticks are done boiling?

How long to boil chicken legs will vary depending on the size of the drumsticks and whether you are using fresh or frozen drumsticks.

• Fresh drumsticks will take about 20-30 minutes to cook.
• Frozen drumsticks will need 30-40 minutes.

There are a couple of ways you can tell if the chicken legs are done boiling.

• Once the cooking time is over, using a fork or a sharp knife, poke the chicken. If the meat comes from the bone easily, the legs are cooked.
• Or use an instant meat thermometer to check if the chicken is cooked. Chicken is done cooking when its internal temperature reaches 165ºF (75ºC).

How To Store Cooked Chicken Drumsticks

I like to store cooked chicken legs in the stock they were cooked in. Put the drumsticks in an airtight container, and add enough stock to cover the meat. This way you can keep the chicken in the fridge for up to three days and the meat will stay tender and juicy and won't dry out.

Freezing

If you want to freeze the cooked legs, put them in freezer-safe containers or bags, and freeze them for up to 3 months.

How to defrost cooked chicken legs

The best way to defrost the cooked chicken meat is to let it defrost naturally in the fridge overnight. Reheat on the stovetop and enjoy.

More chicken recipes

What to do with the liquid the chicken legs were cooked in?

Do not through it away! This is perfect chicken broth and you can use it in many recipes. A chicken soup cooked with this broth will be delicious. It is also much cheaper and healthier than the store-bought variety. My kids like to have a cup of chicken stock with a teaspoon of soy sauce.

How to serve boiled chicken legs

Cooked chicken leg meat is very versatile and can be used in many different ways. Try my chinese chicken salad or use shredded chicken for tacos and sandwiches. I like adding cooked chicken to soups for some extra protein.

Check out this Mandarin Chicken Recipe using chicken legs.