Pan Fried Chicken Legs (with Flour)

We will show you how to make our deep fried or pan fried chicken legs recipe with flour just like my Grandma did when I was a kid. There is a trick to getting super moist meat on the inside with crispy skin on the stove top. We will go over the tips below with photos to follow along easily.

Fried chicken drumsticks are the bomb, especially when you have kids. We keep adding to our list of the best chicken leg recipes of all times, this is yet another. No sauce or rub necessary for this one, you can enjoy it right out of the pan once it cools down a bit. Achieving perfectly moist meat and incredibly crispy skin with minimal oil is the goal and we will show you how it’s done with our 1-2-3 method!

Pan Fried Chicken Legs

Fried Chicken Seasoning is very important when it comes to achieving this copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe. If you don’t add anything it just won’t taste very good y’all. Instead add all the flavors you love. I always go for garlic all the things, paprika is great for breading and of course salt and pepper are a given. You could make it spicy too.

For that just add 1/4 tsp of red pepper flakes if you like. We have used dry Sriracha at times too and recently have made jalapeno powder which OMG is delish. If you have a few other musts in your cupboard then by all means experiment with those on subsequent batches. Cooking for a crowd? Double this!

How to Cook Fried Chicken Drumsticks

Are chicken legs and drumsticks the same thing?

Yes, just different ways of saying the same thing y’all. If you are on a budget you might be able to find chicken leg quarters cheaper at the store. Use those and just increase the cook time a bit since they have the thigh attached too. I love those since you get even more dark meat for hungry eaters.

Now since we are using a wetter batter than just an egg wash and breadcrumbs it wouldn’t work well in the oven or air crisped. If you wanted a lower fat version such as the latter you should instead use our air fryer fried chicken recipe here. Same great taste but the outside isn’t quite as wet or thick.

How Long to Fry Chicken with Flour

About 15 minutes is needed to cook to crispy. To get the outside to stick nicely you will need a milk and egg mixture. If you need dairy free you could use plain almond milk or even coconut milk. This is how to bread chicken without eggs if that is an issue as well.

Feel free to tweak it for your dietary needs too, just know that the flavor will be altered subtly if done so. You can also make a tempura batter type of coating like we did with our deep fried wings here.

How Long to Deep Fry Chicken Legs

You’re going to need 12-16 minutes whether you use a deep fryer or a pan / skillet. There will be a variance because some are larger than others. I always suggest using medium sizes. We prefer the texture and health benefits of organic free range poultry but that is up to you. Fried butterflied chicken legs would take a bit less time since they are sliced and thinner.

Ingredient Notes

• You should choose medium sized chicken legs with the skin on (that is one of the best parts). I highly suggest buying organic free range as it is meatier, with less fat and has a tenderer texture overall.
• One step for the coating on the outside is to dredge in all purpose flour that has seasonings added to it like;
  • Salt and black pepper, Paprika, Onion powder and Chili powder, celery seeds, Garlic powder, Oregano, Ground black pepper and some Basil
• We are going to whisk together buttermilk with the egg for the other dredge to coat the outside but there are alternatives to this liquid such as whole milk or dairy free alternative like plain cashew milk.
• Eggs should be large, brought to room temperature and whisked to light and fluffy before adding your meat.

What is the best oil for fried chicken?

#1 is vegetable oil, the most commonly used. It doesn’t really have a flavor so your meat and seasonings will really shine through. #2 peanut oil works great but will have a flavor to it you may not want for your dish, it also isn’t safe for those with an allergy. #3 Coconut oil has one of the highest smoke points at 450 degrees.

I do use olive oil for all the things but not for frying. It has quite a strong flavor and won’t work well for your chicken pieces. Just use that to make your side dishes like fried green beans, breaded zucchini, or cauliflower in your air fryer. In spray form it is great to crisp all the things.

You could do this same thing with boneless or bone-in chicken thighs. Those would take almost exactly the same time unless of course yours are huge. If they are quarters, still attached with the bone you are looking at an additional 5 minutes or so.

How long should I fry my fried chicken on each side?

Depending on the size, you should fry chicken legs on each side for about 4 minutes at a time, flipping over several times. Total cooking time will be about 12-16 minutes until outside is golden brown. I think moving around 3 times is better than twice to ensure that every inch is cooked thru and golden.

What temperature is fried drumsticks done?

No matter what cut you use you’ll want to insert the thermometer into the thickest part, lifted out of the oil to get an accurate read. Whether pan fried or deep fried, the internal temperature needs to hit a minimum of 165 degrees. When done set on a few paper towels folded together to absorb the excess oil to keep it crispy.

Ideal Fried Chicken Oil Temp

So what is the ideal temperature of the oil you should reach before you get started? 350 degrees F is just right for this fried chicken drumsticks recipe for best results!! You can use a meat thermometer for this. Be patient until it gets to this point and then adjust so it stays steady right there and doesn’t continue to rise. If it does you’re likely to burn the outsides and that would be tragic.

Perfect pan fried chicken drumsticks and whole fried chicken are both made this way, just take my word for it y’all. What I do is heat the oil and once it is about 300 degrees start to bread and coat the outsides. Then it has a bit of time to rest on a pan, coated, and it should be ready shortly after that.

How to Cook Fried Chicken Legs in Cast Iron Skillet

All in all this is going to take you a good 30 minutes to make. A bit less if making mock chicken legs. Remember that the oil needs to get hot before you ever add your piece(s). You never want to let it sit in it any longer than necessary. It will begin to absorb it and the coating will fall off and become a disaster of a mess. Cast iron is recommended because it maintains an even heat.

Leftovers

Ok so you know how I hate wasting food. If you don’t eat it all it can be saved and rescued in the next 3 days. Store in a freezer bag free from air in the fridge. Ideally reheat within the next 24 hours. Then you have got to reheat chicken in air fryer, PERIOD! If you want to fix the softer outsides this is the only way to go.

You can alternatively strip the meat off of the bones and chop up. Then use that in one of our leftover chicken recipes for another new meal.