How to Make Mock Chicken Legs

How to make mock chicken legs is here! with a crispy cornflake outside and tender inside on a popsicle stick, it’s a snack kids just love. You can bake them in the oven or make fried chicken legs in oil for a really crispy version.

Where did mock chicken leg originate?

Well it is said to have started in Pittsburgh when butchers combined cubes veal and pork or sausage together. Mixed together in a sort of meatloaf style mixture with egg and milk it was formed to look like drumsticks. It’s sometimes called city chicken too.

Mock Chicken Leg Recipe

I suppose they could have formed it into balls and done the same thing but with a stick baked inside it is more fun to eat for sure this way. You could easily swap out ground turkey or chicken out for one of the two described here and the seasonings would be up to your preferences too. Ours are listed below that work well for us.

First you’re going to make your base, that would be with the meat and some binder. Cornflakes were used this time but you could easily swap out for some seasoned breadcrumbs if you wanted to. For a dairy free alternative almond milk, plain, would be just fine instead of “regular”.

Now you won’t be able to boil chicken legs made this way because they were kinda’ fall apart. Instead the best way to get them crunchy but cooked all the way thru is to fry and then bake in the oven.

What are mock chicken legs made of?

You are going to ideally want some ground sausage, I like spicy Jimmy dean brand, which gives the mixture a bit more fat to stick together and make as moist as possible.

Then combine with some ground veal or make as a ground chicken recipe for a lower fat version.

Can you use mock meat?

If you wanted a vegetarian option you could use impossible sausage or ground beef with these directions to make them that way too. A great variation with the same fun meal idea.

You are going to need a few large Eggs ideally at room temperature whisked in a bowl to coat the meat and get the breading to stick. I usually thin it out with a bit of milk.

If you wanted to integrate some vegetables into the meat mixture a few tbsp bell peppers diced or onions work well.

Cornflakes crushed is what we use for the outside to make it crunchy. It has just a tiny touch of sweetness but not much which we love.

Breading alternatives

If you don’t have cornflakes there are several alternatives such as crushed crackers like Ritz, Panko, or even crushed Kix cereal would work.

Mock Chicken Drumsticks in the Oven

You could place on a sheet pan and follow the directions in our baked chicken legs but I will say in this case fried is better. With the soft insides you want a quicker cook so it doesn’t really flatten and they come out looking like corn dogs in a sense.

You are going to want a skillet, I love cast iron, or pan and a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You wouldn’t need to add the stick but if you do it can be picked up easily. With kids it makes it more fun this way.

Breaded Mock Chicken Legs on the Stove

Combine 1/2 cup cornflake crumbs, salt, green pepper, egg and milk in a bowl. In a large bowl break up ground pork and veal on top of mixture. Begin mixing with a spoon and continue to mix with your hands, until mixed well. Set aside.

In a separate shallow bowl, combine eggs and milk. In another shallow bowl, add cornflakes or bread crumbs. Heat 1/4″ of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Shape 1/4 cup of the meat mixture into a 3″ log and wrap the meat around the popsicle stick.

Coat each leg in crushed cornflakes, then in the whisked milk and egg mixture and return to the cornbread crumbs for a second coat. Let legs stand for 5 minutes. Fry legs, a few at a time, for one minute on each side or until browned. Place onto baking sheet. Preheat oven to 350 and bake for 15-20 minutes.

This will take you about 45 minutes start to finish…… And then you can use our dipping sauce for chicken wings for extra pizazz at the end. If all you have is ketchup and Ranch dressing you can just go with those, and a 3rd with the 2 mixed together. 😉

How long does it take to cook mock chicken legs in the air fryer?

You need 15-20 minutes flipped halfway thru this time to get the insides cooked all the way at 375F. This will get the center tender and juicy with a golden crispy later on the outsides.

Mock Chicken Legs with Gravy

And then there is a 4th a lot of people like, chicken gravy!! So you aren’t going to have drippings necessarily to make this from scratch but you could use broth instead and thicken with cornstarch.

Does Mock Chicken Taste Like Chicken?

Kind of, more like chicken nuggets with ground chicken would. I mean it is made from ground meat so the texture is different.

How to save leftovers

If you have leftovers you can save them but you will want to wrap each one in foil, then into the fridge for up to 3 days. It is best if you air fry them when reheating. A few minutes on each side at 380 F or so will do it.