15 Chicken Drumstick Recipes That Are Way Better Than Wings

These chicken drumsticks are the perfect game-day treat. They're super tender and crazy flavorful with a gingery, garlicky glaze. Broiling is an optional step, but it really takes them to a whole other level. Fall-apart meat and crispy skin? Sign us up!

Get the Crock-Pot Chicken Drumsticks recipe.

The key to that tasty BBQ flavor lies in both the sauce and the technique of glazing the drumsticks. Returning them to the air fryer sets the glaze to finger-licking stickiness (a GREAT thing in our book). If you already have a favorite brand of BBQ sauce, streamline the recipe and use 1 cup of that instead of our homemade version.

Get the Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe.

Try something a bit different for your next tailgate: Buffalo drumsticks. The perfect game day snack for mega fans, these tender drumsticks will be a repeat favorite.

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This dish is loosely inspired by two Chinese dishes: fragrant, umami-filled Cantonese soy sauce chicken and Coca-Cola wings. Instead of the traditional method of poaching, we get the soy-marinated chicken slightly crispy and perfectly tender in the air fryer. Then we will use the reserved marinade, along with some Coke, to make a sticky, sweetish sauce, perfect for serving with some cooked white rice or garlicky broccoli rabe.

Get the Air-Fryer Drumsticks recipe.

The only time we really think about eating chicken drumsticks is when we roast a whole chicken. We forget to cook them on their own sometimes, but with this simple baked recipe, we're about to start! After a quick marinade, these drumsticks bake in the oven in no time and stay extremely tender and juicy. The high heat helps the skin get nice and crispy for a perfectly cooked drumstick that only takes about 20 minutes to bake.

Get the Baked Chicken Drumsticks recipe.

Let’s be honest: Grilled chicken may not seem like the most exciting meat out there, but it’s affordable, crowd-pleasing, and a snap to cook. So why not skip the burgers at your next BBQ and try this super-easy recipe instead? You won’t want to sleep on the sauce, which is a classic BBQ jazzed up with honey and lime. It's so flavorful, the chicken really doesn't need a marinade—which means you get to eat it way sooner.

Get the BBQ Grilled Chicken recipe.

This sticky sauce is the perfect balance to sweet, salty, and tangy, and it caramelizes beautifully. It's the perfect thing to serve along fresh grilled veggies too!

Get the Sticky Grilled Chicken recipe.

This classic Filipino dish is one of our favorite weeknight meals. It's juicy, savory, and a bit bright from tangy vinegar, and goes great with fried rice.

Get the Chicken Adobo recipe.

Thai khao soi is a delicious (traditionally yellow egg) noodle soup made with chicken. Chiang Mai is one of the cities that celebrates this dish from every corner; everyone there says they make the best khao soi. Their style was created when Chinese Muslims migrated to the north and introduced khao soi with coconut milk and spices.

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No time to make it to the Caribbean? We've got you covered. This recipe gets its sweetness from cinnamon and allspice and its spiciness from jalapeño and a whole bunch of green onions. Two hours of marinating in this special blend makes for a perfect bite of tender grilled chicken.

Get the Jerk Chicken recipe.

A roasted chicken is one of our most perfect meals, but most of the time, we don't have the solid 2 hours it takes to roast one. These baked chicken leg quarters are the perfect compromise and mean you get both the chicken thigh and drumsticks. Glazed with mustard, maple syrup, and herbs and then roasted on top of potatoes and carrots, this dish makes for an award-winning dinner.

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Anything goes in this "Everything Is Optional" chicken noodle soup recipe! All you need is to fill in the blanks of this formula (broth, vegetables, chicken, and aromatics) with your favorite ingredients, or simply with whatever you currently have on hand—no additional shopping trip required!

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Cinnamon is the true star in this dish and a classic in Chinese-style five-spice mixes (and in our braised pork belly recipe!). Paired with spiced rice and roast veggies that absorb all of that flavorful pan juice, this roast chicken makes for a pretty hearty dinner.

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Call the doctor because we are in love with these sweet and savory chicken drumsticks. Take these to your next party and watch them magically disappear.

Get the Dr Pepper Chicken recipe.

This one is for the people who can't resist a savory-sweet combination. (AKA everyone.) Bacon + brown sugar = a match made in flavor heaven.

Get the BBQ Bacon Chicken Drumsticks recipe.