Steaming Drumsticks: Instant Pot Perfection In Minutes

Cooking chicken drumsticks in an instant pot is a quick and easy way to get a delicious, juicy, and tender meal on the table in under 30 minutes. The instant pot is great for a simple, speedy, kid-friendly dinner and can cook fresh or frozen drumsticks. The cooking time will vary depending on whether you are cooking from fresh or frozen, with frozen drumsticks taking a little longer to come up to pressure.

How to cook drumsticks from frozen in an instant pot

Ingredients

• Chicken drumsticks (frozen)
• Chicken broth or water
• Seasoning of your choice (salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, etc.)
• Olive oil
• Butter
• Cornstarch (optional)
• Fresh herbs for garnish (optional)

Utensils

• Instant Pot
• Small bowl
• Tongs
• Trivet
• Air-crisp lid or baking sheet (optional)

Method

• Clean your Instant Pot inner pot and lid with warm, soapy water and dry thoroughly.
• Season the frozen drumsticks generously with your chosen spices. Ensure they are evenly coated.
• Pour one cup of chicken broth into the Instant Pot. You can also use water.
• Place the seasoned drumsticks into the Instant Pot, arranging them in a single layer.
• Secure the lid, ensuring the steam release valve is set to the sealing position.
• Set the Instant Pot to "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" and adjust the time to 15 minutes. For smaller drumsticks, reduce the time to 12-13 minutes. For larger drumsticks, increase the time to 16-18 minutes.
• Once the cooking time is up, allow the Instant Pot to release pressure naturally for 5-7 minutes. Then, carefully perform a quick release by turning the steam release valve to "venting".
• Open the lid and transfer the drumsticks to a serving plate.
• If you want crispy skin, place the drumsticks under an air-crisp lid or in the oven for a few minutes.
• Garnish with fresh herbs (optional) and serve.

Tips

• You can add a tablespoon of olive oil and butter to the Instant Pot and brown the chicken skin side down for 2-3 minutes before adding the chicken broth. Flip and brown for another 2 minutes before removing the chicken and setting aside.
• You can make gravy by transferring the chicken to a serving plate and setting the Instant Pot to "Saute" mode. Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon of water and whisk until the sauce thickens.

How to make instant pot buffalo chicken drumsticks

Ingredients:

• Chicken drumsticks (fresh or frozen)
• Garlic powder or granules
• Vegetable oil (sunflower, coconut or olive oil also work)
• Buffalo sauce
• Paprika
• Onion powder
• Parsley
• Oregano
• Black pepper
• Salt
• Water or chicken broth

Method:

• Prep, clean and pat the chicken dry with a kitchen towel.
• Make a dry spice rub by mixing paprika, onion powder, parsley, garlic powder, oregano, black pepper and salt together. Add the spice rub to the chicken and mix well.
• Leave the chicken to marinate for 30 minutes to 12 hours (optional).
• Set the instant pot to saute and add vegetable oil to the inner pot.
• When the oil is heated, add the marinated chicken drumsticks in a single layer and brown the sides. This takes about 2-3 minutes on each side.
• When the sides are browned, take the drumsticks out of the instant pot and put them on a plate. Switch off the saute mode.
• Add water or chicken broth to the inner pot and place a trivet in the pot. Arrange the chicken drumsticks on the trivet and close the instant pot with the lid.
• Set to manual pressure cook for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes, do a 5-minute natural pressure release.
• Once the instant pot is depressurised, open the lid and take out the chicken drumsticks.
• For crispy skin, broil or grill in the oven on each side.
• Add some buffalo sauce to the chicken and broil. Add more buffalo sauce after broiling, mix with the chicken and serve.

Tips:

• Pat drumsticks dry with a kitchen towel so the spice rub is not watered down.
• If broiling, line an oven tray with a baking sheet for easy cleanup.
• Broiling the chicken is not a must. If you’d rather not have crispy drumsticks, then omit the broiling process.

How to make instant pot BBQ chicken drumsticks

Ingredients:

• Chicken drumsticks (fresh or frozen)
• BBQ sauce
• Olive oil
• Butter
• Chicken broth or water
• Spices (paprika, onion powder, parsley, garlic powder, oregano, black pepper, salt, etc.)

Utensils:

• Instant pot
• Baking sheet (optional)
• Air-crisp lid (optional)
• Trivet
• Kitchen towel
• Bowls
• Whisk
• Tongs
• Air fryer (optional)

Method:

• Prep, clean, and pat the chicken drumsticks dry with a kitchen towel.
• Make a dry spice rub by mixing your chosen spices. Add the spice rub to the chicken and mix well. Leave the chicken to marinate for 30 minutes to 12 hours (optional).
• Set the instant pot to saute and add olive oil and butter to the inner pot.
• When the oil is heated, add the marinated chicken drumsticks in a single layer and brown the sides. This should take about 2-3 minutes on each side.
• When the sides are browned, take the drumsticks out of the instant pot and put them on a plate. Switch off the saute mode.
• Add water or chicken broth to the inner pot and place a trivet in the pot. Arrange the chicken drumsticks on the trivet and close the instant pot with its lid.
• Set to manual pressure cook for 10 minutes (15 minutes if cooking from frozen). After the 10 minutes, do a 5-minute natural pressure release.
• Once the instant pot is depressurized, open the lid and take out the chicken drumsticks.
• For crispy skin, broil in the oven for 5 minutes on each side or use an air fryer.
• Toss the drumsticks in barbeque sauce before broiling in the oven. Broil for 5 minutes on each side, adding more BBQ sauce afterward if desired.

How to make the skin crispy

If you're looking for a way to make the skin of your chicken drumsticks crispy, there are a few methods you can try. Here are some detailed instructions:

Using an Air Fryer or Air-Crisp Lid

One way to achieve crispy skin is by using an air fryer or an air-crisp lid. After pressure cooking your chicken drumsticks, simply place them in the air fryer or under the air-crisp lid for a few minutes. This will give the skin that desired crispiness. You can also use a broiler for a similar effect.

Broiling or Baking

If you don't have access to an air fryer or air-crisp lid, you can try broiling or baking your chicken drumsticks. After pressure cooking, transfer the chicken to a baking sheet and place it under the broiler for a few minutes. Alternatively, you can use your oven's broiler setting to achieve a similar result.

Searing in the Instant Pot

Another option is to sear the chicken skin directly in the Instant Pot before pressure cooking. To do this, press the "SAUTE" button on your Instant Pot, add some oil, and sear the chicken skin side down for 2-3 minutes. Then, flip the chicken and sear the other side for about 2 minutes. However, keep in mind that the Instant Pot may not give you the same char or crispiness as other methods.

Tips for Crispy Skin

• Seasoning the chicken a day ahead of time can help dry out the skin and give it that crispy texture when cooked.
• Using a combination of salt and other seasonings, such as Montreal Steak seasoning, can also enhance crispiness.
• Make sure to brown the chicken skin adequately before pressure cooking. The more browning you achieve, the crispier the skin will be.
• If you're cooking a whole chicken, trussing it (tying up the legs, wings, and thighs) can help it hold together better during cooking and result in crispier skin.

How long does it take to cook chicken drumsticks?

The cooking time for chicken drumsticks depends on the method of cooking and whether the chicken is fresh or frozen.

Instant Pot

If you're using an Instant Pot, the cooking time for chicken drumsticks is 10 minutes at high pressure. However, it's important to note that it takes around 6-7 minutes for the Instant Pot to come to pressure before the cooking time starts. After the cooking time is complete, it's recommended to allow for a natural pressure release, which can take at least 5 minutes, for the most tender meat.

Stovetop or Oven

Cooking chicken drumsticks on a stovetop or in an oven typically takes around 30 minutes.

Frozen Chicken Drumsticks

If you're cooking frozen chicken drumsticks in an Instant Pot, the cooking time increases to 15 minutes at high pressure, followed by a natural pressure release. For other cooking methods, it's recommended to add 5 minutes to the total cooking time when using frozen chicken drumsticks.

Frequently asked questions