If you’re unsure how long to fry chicken legs, you can use the exact cooking times for drumsticks and thighs. The best way to cook a drumstick or thigh is to reheat them in a hot oven for 10 minutes. In addition to the recommended cooking time, you can also season the meat with your favorite spices.
There are many recipes for fried chicken legs, but not all are created equal. The length of time needed to cook chicken legs depends on the size of the pieces and the type of oil you’re using. To cook the chicken to perfection, you should choose an oil with a smoke point of at least 400 degrees F and add it only when it’s needed. Most deep fryers have a minimum and maximum level of oil to ensure the best results.
Chicken Legs Nutrition Facts
Chicken Legs
A chicken leg is made up of the entire leg of the chicken, from the claw to the animal’s hip. It comes in two parts: the drumstick and the thigh, which can be joined or cut apart (a leg quarter). This region of the bird, like the wing, gets a lot of exercises compared to other muscles, which is why the meat on chicken legs is darker. This also means a little more fat, which enhances the flavor and juiciness of the leg.
The drumsticks are attached to the thigh and are part of the leg. The bone-in and skin-on versions of this cut are available. Drumsticks, like thighs, are a fattier, rougher cut of chicken than lean chicken breasts, but they also have a lot more flavor.
Fortunately, home cooks are rediscovering chicken legs, which are quick to prepare and flavorful. The thigh—the part above the knee joint—and the drumstick make up the chicken legs. Both sections are made of dark meat, which keeps them moist in the oven and makes them difficult to overcook.
How Long To Fry Chicken Legs?
This recipe for deep-fried chicken legs is simple, quick, and straightforward. Crispy exterior, well-seasoned flesh, juicy, tender, and flavorful to the bone characterize these fried chicken drumsticks. Learn how to fry chicken legs deep, either breaded or not (buttermilk and flour).
This recipe for deep-fried chicken legs is one you’ll want to make again and again. It’s simple, quick, and delicious to make. Even without breading, the fried chicken drumsticks are tasty, juicy on the inside, and have crispy skin. A few pantry components are used to season the chicken before being deep-fried in oil in this dish. It’s quick and easy to prepare when you only have 30 minutes to spare.
The keto diet is ideal for these deep-fried chicken drumsticks. They have a low carbohydrate content and a high protein content. To create these deep-fried chicken legs, you can use a deep fryer, a chip pan, or just a deep pan and a slotted spoon.
Ingredients
- Chicken Drumsticks
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Flour – If breading
- Buttermilk – If breading
How To Deep Fry Chicken Legs
- Clean the drumsticks/legs with a paper towel and pat dry. Combine the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt in a small bowl.
- Mix the spice mixture into the chicken legs until everything is thoroughly mixed. On medium heat, place a deep saucepan on the burner.
- Fill the pan with oil to a depth of at least 3 inches and heat to 350F/175C.
- Fry the seasoned chicken drumsticks until golden brown on the outside and cook through on the inside.
- Check with a probe (instant-read thermometer) to know if the chicken is cooked. If the internal temperature at the thickest part is at least 165F or 75C, then it is safe to eat.
- Remove the cooked drumsticks from the hot oil and place them on a plate.
Fried Chicken Legs (With Buttermilk and Flour)
If you prefer to fry chicken drumsticks with breading (flour), here’s how to go about it:
- Clean the chicken with a paper towel and pat dry.
- Combine the flour, half of the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt in a mixing bowl.
- Combine the buttermilk, the remaining half of the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and salt in a separate bowl.
- Dip each drumstick in the buttermilk mixture, then in the flour mixture, making sure all areas are covered before placing the dredging legs on a flat dish.
- Place a deep pan over medium heat on the stove. When the oil is hot, gently place the chicken legs in the pan.
- Fry until golden brown and cooked through on the interior (No blood around the bone or in the middle).
What To Serve With
Potatoes: Roast potatoes, fried potatoes, or air fryer potatoes.
Rice: long grain, basmati, brown rice, jasmine rice.
Salads
Vegetables – Boiled, sauteed, grilled, roasted
Pasta – Mac and cheese, spaghetti, linguine.
Tips For Fried Chicken Legs
Here are some tips for frying chicken legs:
- For extra-crispy chicken, try dipping them in a mixture of cornstarch and egg. It would be best to use 50 percent cornstarch and 50 percent all-purpose flour, which will ensure an evenly-browned exterior and a golden color.
- Once you’ve finished dipping the drumsticks in dry ingredients, you’re ready to begin frying the chicken. To get extra-crispy chicken, re-dip the legs in the egg-milk mixture and seasoned flour. Keep in mind that the oil in the frying pan should be 350°F for optimal crisping.
- Once the chicken is frying, turn it over halfway through to ensure even cooking. Then, turn it over and continue frying until it’s crispy and golden. The drumstick should take around twelve to fifteen minutes to brown entirely, depending on its size.
- The chicken should not be pink or have any liquid on the inside, and you should see clear juice in the middle and an internal temperature of 75C/165F. Regardless of the recipe you choose, you should be able to cook the chicken at a temperature you’re comfortable with.
- To ensure that the chicken is perfectly cooked, you should thoroughly coat it with seasoning before frying it. When frying chicken legs, don’t forget to sprinkle salt and pepper over them. To make them crispy, add more seasoning to the chicken. A chicken leg will take between 12-15 minutes to cook in most cases. When it’s tender and crispy, the meat will be juicy. If you’re preparing them the night before, leaving them in the fridge overnight is best.
How To Store Chicken Legs?
Fried chicken legs can be stored in the refrigerator, and they will keep well if stored at the right temperature.
To store in the fridge – Put in a Ziploc or airtight container, then put it in the fridge to keep well for up to 5 days.
In the freezer: When it’s well packaged, It can be frozen for several months. Put in an airtight container or Ziploc bag, label with name and dates, then store in the freezer where it will last for up to 6 months.
To Reheat: You can reheat fried chicken legs in the deep fryer, in a pan on the stovetop, in the oven, air fryer, or microwave.
How to reheat on the stove in a pan: Place a pan on medium heat, add oil and heat, and then add the chicken. Fry till the chicken legs are warmed through.
To reheat in the air fryer: Arrange the drumsticks in the air fryer basket and air fry at a temperature of 180C for 3-4 minutes or till they are warmed through.
Reheating in the microwave: Put the drumsticks on a microwave-safe plate, cover it with a microwave lid, then use the high settings function of the microwave for 2 minutes or till it’s warmed through.
How Are Healthy Eating Chicken Legs?
Here are some health benefits of eating chicken legs:
- Many critical nutrients may be found in chicken legs and thighs, and dark meat contains far more iron and zinc than white meat, which are essential for a robust immune system.
- Because of their nutritional content, chicken legs also have some advantages. They provide enough vitamin B-12, which is vital for nerve cell health and gene activity regulation, and pantothenic acid, which promotes healthy cell metabolism.
- Taurine, a vitamin found in turkey and chicken dark meat, may protect women with high cholesterol against coronary heart disease. Drumsticks aren’t typically thought of as healthier meal options, and the fat and calorie content of dark meat is higher than that of white meat.
- Chicken might be an excellent choice for people with diabetes. The chicken comes in various cuts, all of which are strong in protein and low in fat. Chicken may be a terrific item in a healthy diabetic diet plan when appropriately prepared.
- The chicken leg has 30% more calories than chicken breast for macronutrient ratios, and chicken breast is much heavier in protein, much lighter in fat and similar to chicken leg for carbs.
Conclusion
When frying chicken legs, don’t forget to check them for pinkness. They should have clear juice throughout the meat to ensure that they’re done. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 75C/165F. If the drumsticks are smaller, you may need to add them to the oil in the morning. Then, let them thaw overnight. Then, could you place them in the oil? You can also season the chicken legs with other spices, like garlic and onion. You can use pre-made seasoning or you can use seasoned flour. The chicken should be coated with the seasoning thoroughly. You can let the chicken sit overnight or cook it the following morning. Once you’ve prepared the chicken, it’s time to fry the legs. It should take anywhere from 12 to 15 minutes, while the drumsticks should be cooked for twelve to fifteen minutes.
