Description
A quick and easy 30-minute recipe for crispy, juicy oven-fried chicken drumsticks marinated in buttermilk and coated with a seasoned flour and panko crust. Perfect for a hands-off, healthier alternative to deep frying.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 chicken drumsticks (about 2 pounds / 900g)
- 1 cup buttermilk (240ml) or 1 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice/vinegar
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (190g), sifted
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (100g)
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Cooking spray or vegetable oil for coating
- Optional: ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Optional: Fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary, finely chopped
Instructions
- Place the drumsticks in a large bowl and pour the buttermilk over them, coating each piece. Cover and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes or up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). In one shallow bowl, mix flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne if using. In another bowl, place the panko breadcrumbs.
- Remove drumsticks from buttermilk one at a time, letting excess drip off. Coat each piece evenly in the seasoned flour mixture, dip briefly back in buttermilk to moisten, then roll in panko breadcrumbs until fully covered.
- Place coated drumsticks on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Lightly spray or brush each piece with cooking spray or oil.
- Bake for 7-9 minutes, then flip each drumstick and spray the other side. Bake another 7-9 minutes until golden brown, crispy, and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Let the drumsticks rest for a few minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
Notes
Use a wire rack to ensure even crisping. Double dredge with flour and panko for a thicker crust. Fresh spices improve flavor. Spray or brush lightly with oil before baking for best crispiness. Rest chicken before serving. For gluten-free, substitute flour and panko with gluten-free alternatives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-18 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 drumsticks
- Calories: 320
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 28
Keywords: oven-fried chicken, crispy chicken drumsticks, buttermilk chicken, healthy fried chicken, easy chicken recipe, weeknight dinner