Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks

Juicy, tender pan fried chicken drumsticks, wrapped in sweet tomato sauce. This simple yet impressive chicken recipe will level up your weekly cooking routine. Simple, fast, and incredibly tasty! I will show you how to cook chicken drumsticks on the stove. Let's do it.

Pan Fried Chicken Drumsticks

These delicious chicken drumsticks are cooked in the pan, on the stovetop. No oven, deep fryer, or air fryer is required. In my opinion, this is one of the best chicken recipes I have created so far and I am very excited to share it with you. This is one of those simple recipes that makes a perfect family dinner.

What to love about this recipe:

• One-pan wonder. Not much cleaning up is required.
• Kid-friendly
• Family-friendly
• Budget-friendly
• Only simple ingredients
• Great with any side dish, rice, pasta, potatoes, or salads.
• Gluten-free

Now we have spoken about why you should try this recipe, let's have a look at what we will need. As promised, only simple ingredients that you already have in your fridge and a couple of pantry staples.

Ingredients for pan fried chicken drumsticks:

• Chicken legs (drumsticks). If your budget allows, opt for organic or free-range chicken.
• Large onion, diced. Just a brown onion is perfect.
• Garlic cloves, minced.
• Organic raw sugar. You can opt-out, but just a little bit of sugar will help the chicken to caramelize and will balance the acidity of the tomato sauce.
• Tomato sauce. I used passata, please don't use tomato ketchup, it will make the dish too sweet.
• Extra virgin olive oil. I never use vegetable oil in my cooking.
• Lemon, juiced. As always fresh is the best.
• Sweet paprika
• Garlic powder
• Sea salt and black pepper to season
• Water, vegetable, or chicken stock.
• Fresh parsley to serve (optional)

Equipment you might find helpful:

• Cast iron skillet with a lid
• Chopping board
• Sharp knife

How to pan fry chicken legs

Start by making the chicken marinade.

• Chop onions, crush garlic and add them to a large bowl.
• Add tomato sauce, freshly squeezed lemon juice, sweet paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until everything is well combined.
• Transfer chicken drumsticks into the mixing bowl and mix so all chicken pieces are properly covered in marinade. Use your hands to massage the marinade into the chicken.
• If you have time, leave the drumsticks to marinate for a couple of hours, but it is also fine to start cooking straight away. (Pic 1)
• In a large frying pan heat some extra virgin olive oil on medium heat, add sugar and stir until sugar melts. Watch it very closely, you don't want the sugar to burn. (Pic 2)
• Once the sugar has just started to caramelize, add the chicken legs and stir them, so they get the oil-sugar mix. Let the chicken cook for 3-4 minutes without mixing on low-medium heat. (Pic 3)
• Turn the drumsticks around and let them cook on the other side. The chicken pieces should be golden brown all over.
• Now add stock or water and once the liquid is boiling (it will only take a minute or two) mix everything well and cover the pan with a lid. (Pic 4)
• Lower the heat down to low and cook for 30 minutes without opening the lid.

Note: If you are worried that the chicken might burn, feel free to open the lid and add some more liquid if needed.

Once the time is over, your chicken is ready to be served. What a delicious meal, that your entire family will enjoy!!

How to tell if chicken legs are fully cooked

While some people like using a meat thermometer when cooking, you won't need one this time. Just follow the recipe and I promise, your chicken will be fully cooked. It will simply flake from the bone, sooo good!!

FAQs and tips:

What to serve with pan fried chicken drumsticks?

This recipe is so versatile that you literally can serve it with any side dish. Serve it with rice, gluten-free pasta, buckwheat, lentils, green beans, or your favourite salad. Here are a couple of ideas you might like to try out:

How to cook perfect basmati rice on the stove

Spiced Rice & Lentils (Mejadra)

How to cook buckwheat groats (easiest way)

Spiced chickpea salad recipe

Variations:

• Chicken thighs. You can use chicken thighs instead. Just increase the cooking time to 40 minutes.
• Chicken breasts. I personally think that dark chicken meat works the best in this recipe, but if you prefer lean chicken breast meat, go ahead and reduce the cooking time to 20 minutes.
• Add some red pepper flakes or chili powder to the marinade if you would like your chicken spicy.

How to store fried chicken drumsticks:

Allow the chicken to cool down to room temperature and transfer it into an airtight container. Refrigerate for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a little bit of water if needed.

How to freeze:

This chicken dish can be frozen for up to three months in an airtight container or in a freezer Ziploc bag. To defrost take the frozen drumsticks out of the freezer in the morning and let them defrost in the fridge until dinner time. To reheat see the instruction above.

Pan-Fried Chicken Drumsticks

Pan-Fried Chicken Drumsticks

Elena Elliott

These delicious chicken drumsticks are cooked in the pan, on the stove top. No oven, deep fryer, or air fryer is required. In my opinion, this is one of the best chicken recipes I have created so far and I am very excited to share it with you. This is one of those simple recipes that makes a perfect family dinner. 

Print Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 40 mins

Total Time 50 mins

Course dinner

Cuisine European

Servings 4 serves

Ingredients

  

• 8 chicken drumsticks
• 1 large onion diced
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1.5 teaspoon organic raw sugar
• ¼ to mato sauce
• 3 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ½ lemon juiced
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ cup water or chicken stock

Instructions

 

Marinade:

• Chop onions, crush garlic, and add them to a large bowl.
• Add tomato sauce, freshly squeezed lemon juice, sweet paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until everything is well combined.

Chicken:

• Transfer chicken drumsticks into the mixing bowl and mix so all chicken pieces are properly covered in marinade. Use your hands to massage the marinade into the chicken.
• Leave the drumsticks to marinate for a couple of hours, but if you don't have time, it is fine to start cooking straight away. 
• In a large frying pan heat some extra virgin olive oil on medium heat, add sugar, and stir until sugar melts. Watch it very closely, you don't want the sugar to burn. 
• Once the sugar has just started to caramelize, add the chicken legs and stir them, so they get the oil sugar mix. Let the chicken cook for 3-4 minutes without mixing on low-medium heat. 
• Turn the drumsticks around and let them cook on the other side. The chicken pieces should be golden brown all over.
• Now add stock or water and once the liquid is boiling (it will only take a minute or two) mix everything well and cover the pan with a lid. 
• Lower the heat down to low and cook for 30 minutes without opening the lid.
• Once the time is over, your chicken is ready to be served. What a delicious meal, that your entire family will enjoy!!

Notes

Note: If you are worried that the chicken might burn, feel free to open the lid and add some more liquid if needed.

Keyword pan-fried drumsticks

More chicken drumsticks recipes:

How To Boil Chicken Legs – Quick Recipe

Mandarin chicken recipe

Tried this recipe? If you have a minute, please leave a comment & star rating below and tell me how it was! I truly love hearing from you! Thank you!

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