These fried chicken drumsticks are the perfect choice for a quick and finger-licking meal. I love this recipe because it is incredibly versatile and pairs well with almost any side dish. You can have dinner ready in no time with just a few simple ingredients and a deep frying pan. These drumsticks also freeze well, making them great for meal prep.
🧡 Why You'll Love This Recipe
There is a reason this fried chicken drumsticks recipe is a staple in my kitchen. You get a perfectly crispy skin without needing any flour or breading.
Fried chicken is a great meal choice because it is naturally high in protein and very filling. I often pair it with keto jollof rice or curry cauliflower rice for a complete dinner. This recipe is straightforward and requires no special equipment. It is a reliable go-to for anyone who wants a delicious, crispy result with minimal effort.
🥘 Equipments I Use
For this recipe, you would need a deep frying pan or a deep fryer. You basically just need an appliance that allows the chicken to be completely submerged in oil.
I use a deep cast iron skillet, but you can use any large pan. If you're going to use an open pan, make sure you get one of these splatter screens to avoid oil burns.
🧾 Ingredients I Use
This recipe calls for just a few ingredients.
- Chicken drumsticks: You can easily get them in a pack already cleaned from the grocery store in the US. Or you can cut and clean them yourself.
- Spices: Smoked paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
- Olive oil for frying. You can use avocado oil or your favorite cooking oil instead.
🔪 How To Make Fried Chicken Drumsticks
- Wash and pat dry the chicken pieces with paper towels. Or, if you have the time, put the chicken drumsticks in a colander to drain all the excess water.
- Pour enough oil in your frying pan to cover the chicken parts, and place it on medium heat till it gets hot. Mix the spices together in a small bowl, then coat the chicken drumsticks with spices.
- Deep fry chicken drumsticks in olive oil till crispy.
- Place the chicken legs on a plate covered with paper towels to soak up extra oil as it drips.
♨️ How To Store and Reheat
Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze them for up to two months. To reheat, place the chicken on a lined baking sheet in the oven at 400°F for 5 to 10 minutes until crispy. You can use an air fryer with the same temperature and timing for a similar result.
🍽️ What to Serve With It
This delicious crispy fried chicken drumsticks recipe can be enjoyed alone as a standalone meal. Just pair it with your favorite dip, and you're good to go! You can use BBQ sauce, buffalo sauce, or a hot sauce like this African pepper sauce.
You can also serve it with a side of veggies like roasted cauliflower or air fryer broccoli.
💡 My Expert Tips
- To save time, use my homemade chicken seasoning mix on all your chicken dishes!
- Get that skin as dry as possible before you even touch the spices. I usually use paper towels to pat them down. If the skin is wet, it’s going to steam instead of getting that crunch we’re looking for.
- Don't guess with the oil. Let it get all the way up to 375°F before you drop the chicken in. If the oil is cold, the chicken just sits there soaking up grease, and nobody wants that.
- Resist the urge to crowd the pan. I know it’s tempting to finish fast, but frying in batches keeps the oil hot so the skin sears properly.
- If you’re using a deep fryer, the chicken will actually start to float when it's almost ready. It’s a handy little sign to start checking the temperature.
- I like to pull my chicken out when it hits 160°F. By the time it sits for a few minutes, the internal temp will reach 165°F, and the meat stays much juicier that way.
🔄 Recipe Variations
- Make it spicy: If you like a bit of heat, go ahead and toss in some cayenne pepper or red chili flakes with your spice rub.
- Use the air fryer: You can get a great result at 400°F for about 20 minutes. Just make sure to flip them halfway through so they crisp up evenly.
- Oven-baked version: If you don't want to fry, put them on a wire rack over a baking sheet and bake at 425°F. It takes about 35 to 40 minutes but still gives you a nice crunch.
- Switch up the flavors: Sometimes I swap the paprika for lemon pepper and thyme when I want something a bit brighter.
👩🍳 Questions You Might Have
On average, it takes about 15 to 18 minutes to fry a drumstick till it's a nice golden brown color. If frying in a deep fryer, allow the oil to reach a temperature of 375 degrees Fahrenheit before putting your chicken parts in.
If frying in a deep pan or skillet, about 10 minutes on each side should fry the chicken drumsticks properly.
Use a meat thermometer to make sure it hits 165°F. If you're deep frying, the chicken will also start to float and look golden brown when it's just about ready. It usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes if your oil is hot enough.
No, definitely don't do that. Boiling it first just dries the meat out. Frying from raw is the only way to keep it juicy while the skin crisps up.
I leave it on. The skin keeps the meat from drying out in the oil and it’s where all that good crunch and flavor comes from. It also adds the fat you want if you're eating low carb.
Nope. You really don’t need flour or breading to get a great crunch. Just season it well and make sure your oil is hot. I leave the flour out to keep the carbs as low as possible.
📚 Related Recipes
Enjoy these other delicious chicken recipes!
Crispy Skin Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Air Fryer Chicken Wings (from frozen!)
Originally published in Oct 2021, this post was updated in April 2026 for accuracy and to include more helpful content.
📖 Recipe
Fried Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 chicken drumsticks
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- olive oil for frying
Instructions
- Wash and pat dry the chicken legs.6 chicken drumsticks
- Mix the spices together in a small bowl.2 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt
- Coat the chicken drumsticks with spices.
- Deep fry in olive oil till crispy, flipping after 10 minutes.olive oil for frying
- Drain in a colander or paper towels before serving.
Notes
- To save time, use my homemade chicken seasoning mix on all your chicken dishes!
- You can also prepare the chicken by placing all ingredients in a resealable plastic bag and shaking the bag till the chicken is well coated.
- Let the chicken legs thaw to room temperature to get rid of excess water before frying in hot oil for best results.
- Place the chicken drumsticks on a wire rack if you have one to collect excess liquid as it drains.
Nutrition
Tayo Oredola is the founder of Low Carb Africa, where she shares healthy, low carb dishes with global flavors. She is passionate about teaching people how to cook drool-worthy dishes while losing weight and living their best lives. Tayo’s recipes have been featured on MSN, Women’s Health, Parade, Yahoo News, Pure Wow, Essence, and other online publications.
Great recipe. Chicken was crispy on the outside and juicey on the inside .
I'm so glad you enjoyed it, Tasha!
Can you make these in the oven instead?
Yes you can.
Olive oil has a low smoking point and I've never seen it used for deep frying. Why did you use olive oil for this recipe?
I have used olive oil for deep frying for over 20 years without any issues. Feel free to use your favorite cooking oil of choice.
I love everything about this keto African food!! Thank you for sharing !
You're welcome, Melynda!
Can you use lard for frying instead of olive oil?
Yes you can!