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Oven-Fried Chicken legs are dipped in an egg wash and dredged in a spice-infused panko breadcrumb mixture to create the most finger-licking good Panko Crusted Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks you have ever eaten.
My husband calls this Out of Control Chicken! Yes, he thinks it is that good! I love when something so simple makes him happy! This recipe is easy, quick, and won’t leave a hole in your wallet either!
This chicken really is AMAZING y’all and it really cooks so fast! Using the drumsticks allow for so much flavor and the meat is tender! Who would have thunk that simple ole drumsticks could be so delicious!
Why You’ll Love These Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks
- Amazingly delicious: This recipe always gets rave reviews whether it’s a family dinner or I serve it to company!
- Versatile: I often make oven fried chicken with drumsticks, but thighs or breasts work well too. Whatever you use will give you the most flavorful panko fried chicken ever.
- Economical: Using drumsticks is a great way to feed the family for less and not skimp on taste!
You will find this deliciousness much more often at my house now that my daughter has moved out. She is a no bone-in meat kinda girl. She entertained the thought of no meat all at one time! I almost felt like a failure as a mother lol! Just kidding. But anywho, I used to always have to make her a plain ole chicken breast (it’s really delish too) whenever we ate something so wild as this!
Ingredients For Oven Fried Chicken Legs
- Chicken Drumsticks (legs)
- Panko Breadcrumbs
- Egg
- Water
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Spices (Salt, Pepper, Oregano, Paprika, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder)
- Olive Oil
How to Make Southern Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks
Now y’all get ready for all the hard steps in this recipe (WINK WINK). Not really this is so easy you will be wondering why you haven’t been making this all your life!
✱ Be sure to see the recipe card below for exact ingredients and full recipe instructions!
STEP 1 | Prepare skillet or baking dish
Preheat oven to 425 °.
Place butter in the cast iron or oven safe skillet (You can use a baking dish if you want).
Take the skillet or dish and place it in the oven to melt butter while you coat the chicken. You can also do this on the stovetop. That is how I start my skillet cornbread, too!
STEP 2 | Dip in egg wash
Get out two shallow dishes. A pie plate or baking dish works well. Today I just used two 9 X 9 baking dishes. You know what I grabbed first out of the cabinet!
Whisk together the egg and water.
Get those chicken legs all coated in this bath. This prepares them for grabbing onto all those breadcrumbs and holding on.
STEP 3 | Dredge in panko parmesan spice mixture
In the other dish combine your breadcrumbs with the Parmesan cheese and all those delicious spices. Kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and wait – Oregano you ready for this deliciousness?
I know I am terrible at jokes!! But, I’m joking about how good this is.
STEP 4 | Bake and enjoy
Remove heated pan with all that melted butter from the oven.
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Place chicken in (not touching)! They don’t like that. This keeps everything nice and open and ready to get crispy.
Drizzle the olive oil on top. I don’t measure, just a drizzle to make them sizzle! Cook for 25 minutes and then flip and cook for 20 minutes!
I like to sprinkle mine when they come out with a little parsley for color! Perfect Oven Fried Chicken
Variations of Breaded Chicken Drumsticks
While I think this is the perfect flavor combination if you want to try other spice combinations, here are a few suggestions:
- Spicy Baked Chicken: Add a little chili powder or red pepper flakes to the mix.
- Lemon Garlic Baked Chicken: Lemon pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- BBQ Fried Chicken: BBQ rub, kosher salt, and pepper. You can even add a dash of liquid smoke to the egg wash for more smokiness.
- Other cuts of chicken: You can substitute, chicken breasts or thighs – boneless or bone-in. Chicken wings will also work for this as well.
Tips For Making Breaded Chicken Legs
- Using a bone-in chicken helps keep the chicken moist. However, you can use a boneless chicken with good results.
- Make sure to coat the chicken well with the crumb mixture. Turn it over while coating and cover all sides.
- Use a cast-iron skillet if you have it. It will cook more evenly and also helps achieve that crispy oven-baked chicken you are looking for.
- Leave space around the chicken for the heat to bake on all sides. This gives you a crunchier chicken.
- Flip the chicken carefully when turning. This keeps the crust in tack. You don’t want to lose any of the crunch!
What to serve with Oven Fried Chicken Legs
Here are a few perfect side dishes that would complement the crispy, fried chicken legs:
- Creamy Mashed Potatoes – A classic side that balances the crunch of the drumsticks with its smooth, buttery texture. Add a little garlic for extra flavor.
- Roasted Vegetables – Light and colorful roasted veggies like green beans, broccoli and Brussels sprouts provide a healthy, vibrant contrast.
- Coleslaw – A tangy and refreshing side that cuts through the richness of the chicken, offering a nice crunch and lightness.
- Macaroni and Cheese – For an indulgent pairing, creamy mac ‘n cheese is always a winner. The crispy panko on the chicken and the creamy pasta are a dream team. I have a creamy or baked mac and cheese version to choose from.
- Cornbread – Sweet or savory, cornbread makes a comforting, Southern-style match to your drumsticks.
- Salad – Keep it light with a fresh garden salad or opt for something more hearty like a Caesar salad to balance the meal.
- Baked Beans – For a more Southern BBQ vibe, baked beans offer a sweet and smoky complement to the fried chicken.
- Bread – Serve up some crispy, buttery garlic bread or a fresh homemade dinner roll for a satisfying side that’s always a crowd-pleaser.
These pairings would round out your meal beautifully while keeping everything simple and family-friendly!
Storing and reheating Breaded Chicken Drumsticks
Storing
- Refrigerator: Once the drumsticks have cooled completely, place them in an airtight container. You can stack them with parchment paper in between to prevent the coating from getting soggy. They’ll stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer: To freeze, lay the cooled drumsticks on a baking sheet in a single layer. Freeze them for 1-2 hours, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. This helps maintain the crispy coating. They’ll last in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Reheating
Reheating in the oven or air fryer will keep the coating crunchy and delicious, just like when they were first made!
- Oven (Best method for crispiness):
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Place the drumsticks on a wire rack over a baking sheet to allow airflow around them.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until heated through and crispy again.
- Air Fryer (Quick option for crispiness):
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
- Reheat for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway, until they are hot and crispy.
- Microwave (Not recommended for crispiness):
- If you’re in a rush, you can microwave the drumsticks for 2-3 minutes, but the coating may get soggy.
FAQ’s
Panko bread crumbs are Japanese-style bread crumbs made from white bread and processed into a larger flake rather than a small crumb, then it is dried. This results in a lighter, airier bread crumb that absorbs less grease and stays crunchy and crispy. Perfect for panko crusted chicken!
Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts: Cook 20 minutes, turn over, and cook an additional 20 minutes.
Bone-in Skin-on Chicken Breasts: Cook 30 minutes, turn and cook an additional 20 minutes.
Chicken Wings: Cook 15 minutes, turn over, and cook 15 more minutes.
Just keep in mind cook times will vary depending on the size of the chicken. This is a good rule of thumb. You can always test the chicken’s doneness by using an instant-read thermometer internal temperature of 165°. Also, juices will run clear when the chicken is done.
I really love the butter for the base in cooking these oven-fried chicken legs. I have tried vegetable oil and it will work, while the butter really gives you the best results for flavor. I do drizzle the top with olive oil. However, you can use melted butter for this step too.
More Chicken Recipes
- Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken
- Skillet Lemon Chicken and Potatoes
- Alice Springs Chicken
- Cheddar Chicken Casserole
- Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken
- Cashew Chicken Casserole by Norine’s Nest
- Carolina Gold BBQ Grilled Chicken by Julias Simply Southern
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Oven Fried Panko Crusted Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp oregano, dried
- olive oil to drizzle on top of chicken
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place butter in cast iron or oven safe skillet and put in oven to melt. (This can be done on stove top as well)
- In a shallow dish whisk one egg and water together.
- In another shallow dish combine panko crumbs, parmesan, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and oregano.
- Dip the drumsticks first in the egg mixture and then in the panko, pressing to mixture into drumsticks to coat on all sides.
- Place drumsticks into the skillet of melted butter. Drizzle the drumsticks with olive oil.
- Place in oven and bake for 25 minutes, turn chicken and bake for 20 mote minutes.
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Nutrition Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Soulfully Made is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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Outstanding chicken drumsticks!
Thank you, Celine!
Does this splatter in the oven and get grease everywhere?
I have not had an issue with grease splatter in the oven. You really aren’t using that much oil.
Have used this recipe several times and love it each time. Going to try it with pork chops tonight!
Thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed them. I love this coating with pork chops too!
Best Panko Breaded chicken recipe ever!! Works well with thighs and breasts also. Just adjust cooking time for breasts. Iron skillet is a must for crispiness. A+++ recipe
Thank you so much, Monica! This one is on repeat at our house. I am so glad you loved it too!
This is a good recipe. I made a few changes. Sometimes I use a glass pan, add a little cayenne. The main thing I changed was I don’t flip it. I cook it for 50 minutes. It is done, juicy and delicious. 😋
Thank you! Yes, glass pans work too! I am glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe!