13 Chicken Drumstick Recipes to Celebrate a Versatile, Inexpensive Cut of Meat

Platter of fried chicken pieces flanked by yellow drinks on a marble countertop — Vicky Wasik

Ah, the drumstick, a neglected but versatile cut of chicken! Grill ’em or fry ’em and they get a really snappy bite; opt for a braise and you’re left with a succulent, tender piece of meat. They also happen to be one of the more inexpensive cuts of meat from a chicken. So, what are you waiting for? From a Senegalese braised chicken to a classic Italian dish and multiple types of fried chicken, we’ve got 13 drumstick recipes to satisfy your hunger no matter what you’re craving.

Ghanaian Chicken and Peanut Stew (Groundnut Soup)

Peanut butter and tomatoes lend a rich and creamy backdrop to this simple, hearty Ghanaian chicken stew.

Chicken Cacciatore With Mushrooms, Tomato, and Onion

An earthy, hearty version of the classic Italian dish, this recipe stars juicy, tender pieces of chicken leg, braised in white wine with mushrooms, onion, and tomato.

Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken (San Bei Ji)

The three cup chicken in a white ceramic bowl. — Serious Eats / Qi Ai

Equal parts soy sauce, rice wine, and sesame oil create a viscous, dark sauce for braising chopped pieces of bone-in chicken.

Jamaican Curry Chicken

Overhead view of curry chicken with rice and fried plantains — Serious Eats / Karina Matalon

Marinated with an assortment of spices and coated in a rich, creamy gravy, this flavorful curry chicken is a simple and delicious Jamaican staple.

The Best Buttermilk-Brined Southern Fried Chicken

20210324-SouthernFriedChicken-Andrew-Janjigian-21 — Andrew Janjigian

This recipe yields chicken with a deep brown, craggy crust that’s shatteringly crisp and intensely juicy.

Extra-Crispy Fried Chicken With Caramelized Honey and Spice

Finished pieces of honey butter fried chicken on a wire rack — Vicky Wasik

Inspired by Popeyes, this fried chicken has that signature airy crust of rugged and scraggy bits, coupled with some personal touches.

Obe Ata (Nigerian Red Pepper Sauce)

This versatile recipe delivers a flavorful red pepper tomato sauce for a stew or dip.

Batter-Fried Chicken

Potato starch gives this straightforward method of frying chicken an edge.

Jamaican Pan Chicken

Pan chicken served with white bread and condiments. — Serious Eats / Karina Matalon

Marinated with fragrant island spices like Scotch bonnet pepper, scallion, and thyme, pan chicken is hot, smoky, and tender—the ultimate Jamaican fast food.

Lowcountry Stew Chicken

Close up image of lowcounty stew chicken over rice — Serious Eats / Amanda Suarez

This South Carolina stew is complete with a deeply flavored, light-bodied sauce.

Chicken Yassa (Senegalese Braised Chicken With Caramelized Onions)

Chicken yassa on a bed of white rice. — Jillian Atkinson

This Senegalese dish offers a citrus-forward version of your favorite stewed and smothered chicken-and-onion dishes.

Homemade Pollo Campero (Central American–Style Fried Chicken)

20210105-Pollo-Campero-Style-Fried-Chicken-karla-vasquez-1 — Photograph above: Karla Vasquez; Process photographs: Tim Chin

Pollo Campero is a restaurant chain that originated in Guatemala and is now famous throughout much of Central America and beyond—in particular for the juicy, flavorful, and richly spiced fried chicken recreated by this recipe.

Maryland Fried Chicken With White Gravy

Maryland Fried Chicken is the Old Line State’s simple but indulgent answer to chicken-fried steak.