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overhead view of a cast iron skillet with four chicken legs and fresh parsley inside it.
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5 from 2 votes

Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Drumsticks (Chicken Legs)

These cast iron chicken drumsticks or chicken legs are delicious. Tender, juicy, crispy-skin chicken, one pan, just a few ingredients, and minimal effort – this recipe is a keeper!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course, Poultry
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 336kcal
Author: Adina

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken drumsticks 2 lbs/ 1 kg, Note 1
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 ½ teaspoon cumin Note 2
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika Note 3
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt or Kosher salt Note 4

Instructions

  • Season chicken legs: Pat them dry with paper towels and place them in a large bowl. Rub them well with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Add the spices (1 ½ teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon (smoked) sweet paprika, ¼ teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt) and mix well to coat the legs with the mixture.
  • Marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes or in the refrigerator for longer (up to 12 hours). If marinating in the fridge, allow the legs to come to room temperature before cooking; it will take about 20 minutes.
  • Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C.
  • Sear on the stovetop: Heat the skillet on the stovetop and add oil and butter. Brown the drumsticks on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per side; turn them with tongs.
  • Carefully transfer the skillet to the oven. Use mittens when you touch it; the skillet is super hot all over.
  • Bake for 30-35 minutes or until cooked through. Check with an instant-read thermometer; it should read between 165-170°F/74-77°C. If you don’t have one, tear one drumstick; the flesh near the bone should be white.
  • Rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Notes

  1. One drumstick weighs about 4 oz/ 120 g. You will need at least 2 per serving, maybe 3 for big eaters. Children under 7 will probably only eat one piece.
  2. Alternative spices: Anything you like. You can use your own spice mixture, store-bought seasoning blends or rubs, curry powder, Cajun, Italian, or taco seasoning, etc. Check out Baked Chicken Drumsticks for more seasoning ideas.
  3. For spicy drumsticks, use hot paprika or add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes (to taste) to the spice mixture.
  4. If using table salt, start with only ¾ teaspoon; table salt is more potent than sea or Kosher salt.

Nutrition

Serving: 2drumsticks | Calories: 336kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 772mg | Potassium: 376mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 420IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg