Have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes with the most flavorful Instant Pot chicken drumsticks recipe ever! The chicken is so tender and juicy. You’ll definitely be adding this to your dinner rotation once you try it.
Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
These Cajun pressure cooker chicken drumsticks are so tender that they practically melt in your mouth. The homemade spice blend is so incredibly delicious, and it flavors the meat perfectly.
The best part is that when you cook drumsticks in the Instant Pot, you’ll have the meat from the fridge to your dinner table in under 30 minutes. After that, you pop it under the broiler to get deliciously crispy, golden skin.
Seriously, this dinner is fast, foolproof, easy, and flavorful. It’s such a game changer on busy weeknights, especially since everyone loves it, even kids.
Ingredients
Chicken Drumsticks: I love making chicken drumsticks because they’re tasty, affordable, and forgiving when you cook them thanks to the higher fat content in dark meat. Look for air chilled chicken if you can because it will release less liquid while cooking, meaning you’ll have juicier, more tender cooked chicken.
Salt and Pepper: The salt enhances all of the other flavors in this dish, and the slight heat in pepper helps balance out the savory and rich flavors.
Garlic Powder, Paprika, Onion Powder, Thyme, Oregano, and Cayenne Pepper: This easy and delicious homemade spice blend tastes savory, smoky, and herby. If you want it spicy, you can add more cayenne pepper. Feel free to add a bit of brown sugar if you like a sweet and savory flavor on your meat. You can also swap this spice blend for your favorite premade one. Store bought Cajun seasoning would work great here.
Chicken Broth or Water: You’ll need a bit of liquid in the Instant Pot to create pressure. Chicken broth adds a little bit of extra flavor, but water works just fine if you don’t have chicken broth on hand. You could also use apple juice to infuse the chicken with a sweeter flavor.
How To Cook Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
Season: In a small bowl, mix together the salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, black pepper, thyme, oregano, and cayenne.
Pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels, then arrange them in a single layer and coat on all sides with the spice blend, rubbing it in well so it adheres. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Pressure Cook: Place the trivet in the Instant Pot insert and pour in the chicken broth (or water). Arrange the seasoned drumsticks on top of the trivet, overlapping if needed. Secure the lid, set the valve to seal, and cook on high pressure. Let it have a natural release for a bit, then carefully vent it to release any remaining pressure.
Broil: Transfer the cooked drumsticks, skin side up, to a rimmed baking sheet. Broil until the skin is crisp and lightly browned, watching closely to prevent burning.
Optional Glaze: For a sticky, sweet finish, brush or toss the drumsticks with BBQ sauce before broiling. See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
Pro Tips
- Use A Trivet: If you don’t use a trivet, the bottom layer of chicken will boil instead of steam, which isn’t what we want.
- Don’t Skip Broiling: This is the most important tip. Cooking chicken in the instant makes it juicy, but the skin will be far from crispy when it comes out of the Instant Pot. Broiling the chicken gives the chicken a chance to crisp up to make truly delicious chicken drumsticks.
How Do You Tell If Chicken Drumsticks Are Fully Cooked?
The only way to know for sure is by using an instant read meat thermometer. When inserting it into the thickest point, without touching the bone, it needs to read at least 165F to be safe to eat. I prefer dark meat cooked closer to 185F-195F though because it’s more tender. Additionally, the meat should be opaque and the juices should run clear.
Is It Possible To Overcook Chicken In The Instant Pot?
It is possible, but not likely if you follow a good recipe. Cooking meat in the Instant Pot is generally pretty forgiving because the moisture is trapped inside. On top of that, chicken drumsticks are a pretty forgiving cut of meat. That being said though, it is possible to cook chicken for too long and overcook it in the Instant Pot.
Can You Use Frozen Chicken Drumsticks?
Absolutely! The Instant Pot is a great way to cook frozen chicken drumsticks. You don’t need to adjust the recipe at all. The Instant Pot won’t start the timer until it reaches pressure, which won’t happen until the chicken has pretty much thawed. So, even though cooking frozen chicken does add time to the recipe, it’s not something you have to adjust or calculate yourself.
How To Crisp The Skin In An Air Fryer
After you cook the chicken drumsticks in the Instant Pot, pat them dry, and place them in a single layer in an air fryer basket, leaving room for the air to circulate (you may need to do this in rounds). Air fry it until the skin is golden and crispy.
What To Serve With Chicken Drumsticks
This recipe is on the table so quickly, so I like to serve it with quick and easy side dishes that are perfect on busy nights. My favorites are Mashed Potatoes without Milk, some delicious Seasoned Rice, quick and easy Italian Green Beans, or these Teriyaki Noodles.
I also love serving it with a homemade dipping sauce recipe, like this White Country Gravy From Scratch, some Cilantro Lime Sauce, or even some Instant Pot Tomato Sauce.
Storing, Freezing, And Reheating Leftovers
After the leftover chicken cools, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or the air fryer if you want the skin to crisp up again, or in the microwave if you don’t mind the skin getting soggy.
Keep In Touch
I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime
Chicken Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other chicken recipes. Some reader favorites are:
- Chicken and Stuffing Casserole
- Dry Rub Chicken Wings
- Dutch Oven Chicken Breast
- Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs
- Crispy Panko Chicken
- Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
BEST Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks (Amazing Spice Blend)
Dinner’s on the table in less than 30 minutes with the most flavorful Instant Pot chicken drumsticks recipe! It’s so tender and juicy.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoons oregano leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 1/2 pounds chicken drumsticks (about 10 drumsticks)
- 1 cup chicken broth (or water)
Instructions
- To a small mixing bowl, add the salt, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, pepper, thyme, oregano, and cayenne. Mix together and set aside. Dry the drumsticks with a paper towel.
- On a large rimmed baking sheet, lay the drumsticks in a single layer. Coat the drumsticks on both sides with the spice blend, then rub it in to help the seasonings stick.
- Place the trivet into the stainless steel Instant Pot insert, pour in the chicken broth, then place the seasoned drumsticks on the trivet (it’s OK if the drumsticks overlap).
- Secure the lid on the Instant Pot, and set the valve to SEAL. Turn on the pressure cook mode to HIGH, set the timer for 10 minutes, and turn off the keep warm mode. Once the timer goes off, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release for 7 minutes before carefully switching the valve to the venting position to finish with a quick release. While the pressure is releasing, preheat the oven to broil and clean the large rimmed baking sheet.
- Once the valve drops, carefully remove the lid. Use tongs to remove the drumsticks and transfer them, skin side up, to the rimmed baking sheet.
- Place the baking sheet into the preheated oven and broil until the skin crisps, about 4 minutes. Don’t walk away - it’s important to keep a close eye on them while they’re broiling to make sure they don’t burn.
Notes
If you want a sticky sweet glaze, you can toss the drumsticks in BBQ sauce after they cook in the Instant Pot, but before you broil them.
You can store these in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw them overnight in the fridge before reheating them.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/5Amount Per Serving: Calories: 256Total Fat: 12.1gCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0.6gSugar: 0.1gProtein: 33.1g
Nutrition information isn't always accurate.
This quick and easy Instant Pot chicken drumsticks recipe is the best way to make fall off the bone chicken drumsticks. You can even make it using frozen chicken!
