How to Cook Drumsticks on Stove? (Incl. Video + Recipe)


How to Cook Drumsticks on Stove

Chicken drumsticks are really easy to cook and make delicious snacks. If you’re looking for a quick meal that involves little effort, chicken drumsticks are a no-brainer!

So, how to cook drumsticks on a stove? Cooking drumsticks on a stove is easy and straightforward. The drumsticks are seasoned, placed on a cast-iron pan, and cooked for about 20 minutes on medium heat. During the cooking process, they need to be flipped over and rearranged several times to ensure even cooking.

Read on to find out more about cooking drumsticks on a stove from start to finish. Happy reading!

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How to cook drumsticks on a stove (Steps)

Once you have the ingredients and equipment you need to make delicious chicken drumsticks, here are the steps you need to follow to get started:

  1. Start by seasoning the drumsticks with pepper, salt, and parsley. Leave the drumsticks alone at room temperature for about half an hour and then pat them dry with some paper towels before going to the next step.
  2. Set the heat on the stove to medium and put the pan on it to heat it up.
  3. Next, add the butter and oil to the pan and brown the drumsticks evenly and then take them out.
  4. Reduce the heat slightly and transfer the drumsticks back into the pan. Cover the pan with its lid and let the drumsticks cook for about 20 minutes.
  5. Make sure you flip over and rearrange the drumsticks every 7 minutes or so to ensure even cooking. You can use the digital meat thermometer to keep track of the drumsticks’ internal temperature.
  6. Once the drumsticks are done, take them out and sprinkle some lemon juice and parsley on top.
  7. Let the drumsticks soak in the flavors for a couple of minutes and then serve them hot.

How to know when drumsticks are done

During the cooking process, it is important to know when to take out the drumsticks to ensure they’re not undercooked or overcooked. But how do you know when the drumsticks are done?

To know when the drumsticks are done and ready to be taken out of the pan, use a digital meat thermometer that can give instant readings of the drumsticks’ internal temperature.

Once the temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, the drumsticks can be taken out.

Another way to check if the drumsticks are done is to cut one near the bone. If its inside is no longer pink, it is cooked.

What to serve with drumsticks

There are plenty of choices when it comes to serving side dishes with chicken drumsticks. These include a variety of vegetables, salads, pasta, and other dishes.

Here are some of the best dishes to serve alongside drumsticks, in our opinion.

  1. Baked beans
  2. Mashed potatoes
  3. Green beans
  4. Potato salad
  5. Roasted Brussels sprouts
  6. Baked sweet potato
  7. Roasted carrots
  8. Broccoli
  9. Quinoa spinach salad
  10. Grilled corn salad

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How to store leftover drumsticks

If you have some drumsticks left over from a meal, you can store them for later. Cooked chicken drumsticks can either be stored in the refrigerator or the freezer.

Store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container or plastic bag if you intend to consume them within the next 3 or 4 days.

Storing cooked drumsticks in the freezer is a good option if you want to store them for an extended period.

Place the drumsticks in a freezer-safe container and place them in the freezer. They can be stored safely for a few months.

How to reheat drumsticks

If you want to reheat stored drumsticks before consuming them, you can do it easily on a stove.

If you’re taking them out from the freezer, you’ll need to thaw them first by putting them in the refrigerator for a day.

To reheat the drumsticks, place them in a frying pan, cover them, and cook them over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Alternatively, the drumsticks can also be reheated in the oven or the microwave.

Other tips for cooking drumsticks on a stove

Here are some other useful tips for cooking drumsticks on a stove.

  • To make your drumsticks more flavorful, season and refrigerate the drumsticks 6 to 7 hours before you intend to cook them. This allows the flavors to blend in better.
  • Make sure you flip and rearrange the drumsticks multiple times during the cooking process.
  • Avoid overcrowding the pan with too many drumsticks. Make sure there is plenty of space around each drumstick. If you have more drumsticks, cook them in multiple batches.
  • A digital meat thermometer makes it very easy to keep track of the drumsticks’ internal temperature and lets you know when they’re cooked. Investing in one is a good idea.
  • For even and effective cooking, use a cast-iron pan instead of a lightweight aluminum one.

Equipment needed and cooking time required for drumsticks

To cook drumsticks on a stove, here is the list of equipment you need:

  • 1 large (12-inch) non-stick frying pan
  • Stove
  • Digital meat thermometer (for keeping track of the drumsticks’ internal temperature)

So, how long should you cook the drumsticks on a stove? The cooking time can vary depending on the number of drumsticks, their size, and the heat level.

Ideally, the drumsticks should be cooked at medium heat for about 20 to 25 minutes. 

During this period, their internal temperature will rise to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once that happens, the pan can be removed from the stove.

During the cooking process, the drumsticks should be flipped over and rearranged once every 5 or 7 minutes to ensure even cooking.

Ingredients needed to cook drumsticks

Here is a list of ingredients you need to cook drumsticks. This list of ingredients and the recipe following make 6 drumsticks, with a weight of roughly 2 lbs.

  1. 6 drumsticks with bone and skin on them
  2. Salt
  3. Oil 
  4. Pepper
  5. ½ tablespoon olive oil
  6. 2 tablespoons butter
  7. Chopped parsley
  8. ½ tablespoon lemon juice

Nutrition facts for drumsticks

Here are some nutrition facts for chicken drumsticks.

These facts are taken from Nutritionix and are for one average-sized drumstick with the skin on, weighing roughly 91 grams.

1. Calories: 167

2. Total fat: 8.2 grams

  • Monounsaturated fat: 3.2 grams
  • Polyunsaturated fat: 1.7 grams
  • Saturated fat: 2.2 grams

3. Cholesterol: 116 milligrams

4. Potassium: 240 milligrams

5. Sodium: 89 milligrams

6. Total carbohydrates: 0 grams

  • Sugars: 0 grams
  • Dietary fiber: 0 grams

7. Vitamin C: 0% of recommended daily intake

8. Vitamin A: 1.2% of recommended daily intake

9. Iron: 5.5% of recommended daily intake

10. Calcium: 0.8% of recommended daily intake

Chicken Drumsticks FAQs

Do I need to wash the drumsticks before cooking them?

No, there is no need to wash the drumsticks before cooking them since cooking them will kill off the bacteria.

Do you cook drumsticks covered or uncovered?

Whether you should cover drumsticks or not depends on how you’re cooking them. If you’re cooking them on a stove, you should cover the pan with a lid.

However, if you’re baking them in an oven, then covering them isn’t required.

Should I take the skin off my drumsticks?

In most cases, cooking drumsticks with the skin on is preferable and better. The reason for this is simple: cooking drumsticks without the skin can make the chicken very dry.

So for best results, cook them with the skin on.

How do you keep drumsticks from drying out?

To prevent chicken drumsticks from drying out during the cooking process, cook them with the skin on. As mentioned previously, cooking without the skin can make the chicken very dry.

Additionally, you can add melted butter on top of the drumsticks when they are cooking to provide moisture. 

Also, keep track of the internal temperature of the drumsticks using a digital meat thermometer to prevent them from getting dry and overcooked.

This is my favorite chicken drumsticks recipe❗❗ My husband wants to eat it almost every day!! >> Check out the video below:

Final thoughts

When it comes to delicious and easy-to-prepare meals, chicken drumsticks are hard to beat. They can be prepared and cooked quickly with little effort and can be paired with a variety of side dishes. 

Cooking drumsticks on a stove involves seasoning them and cooking them at medium heat for about 20 minutes.

Once the internal temperature of the drumsticks reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, they can be taken out and served.

In this guide, we covered everything you need to know about cooking drumsticks on a stove. We hope you found it helpful!

References

https://cullyskitchen.com/how-to-cook-chicken-drumsticks-on-the-stove/

https://www.nutritionix.com/food/chicken-drumstick

Lindsey G.

Lindsey is the founder of BackyardApron.com. Lindsey is writing about all topics related to Food, Grocery, Shoplifting and Store management. Her job also included covering trendy new food products and kitchen staples.

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