This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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.
Want to Save this Recipe?
Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Soulfully Made.
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 Oven Fried 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 these Oven Fried Drumsticks
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
More from Soulfully Made
Helpful Kitchen Items for this recipe:
DISCLOSURE ~ If a purchase is made using one of the affiliate links on this website, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you! This helping to keep making new free recipes for you!
Hungry for more easy, home-cooked, delicious recipes?
Sign up for my free recipe club to get family-friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing daily meal-time inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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.
Want to Save this Recipe?
Enter your email below & we’ll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get great new recipes from us every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Soulfully Made.
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.
©️Soulfully Made
Easy. Crunchy! Tasty. Meat moist,skin crackling with the seasoned panko. Thanks!
Excellent and super easy recipe. No more standing over a hot stove. Juicy and delicious. Sorry, Mamma
Thank you, Kim! It’s amazing how easy this one is to make and you get such flavorful chicken!
Really good , crispy . Added some cayenne pepper and it was a big hit ! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Thank you! I love a little more spice with mine too!
Really tasty! My 3 and 5 year olds and husband all loved this chicken. I had to leave out the Parmesan, but still worked great!
Have you make this with drumettes and wings? Wondering how to adjust the cook time for smaller pieces.
Thank you, Sara. I love hearing that your whole family really enjoyed these. I haven’t done a lot of testing this exact recipe with smaller pieces or cuts, but I usually cook my drummettes and wings about 40 minutes total. I would cook 20 and turn and then test at about 30-40 minutes for doneness. Keep an eye out since all ovens cook a bit differently. If possible get you an instant read thermometer to test. They should be 165℉.
Wonderful
Just pulled my first skillet of this recipe from the oven.
Honey, hush your mouth! Could be the juiciest chicken I have ever put the slobbersmack on.
It is sooooo good!
Thank you so much, David! I am so happy that you stopped by to let us know you love this recipe! It’s a favorite at our house and is on our menu this week!
Super easy and delish! The only thing I did different was substitute the bread panko with pork panko (keto). This is the first time I made fried chicken in the oven that actually tasted like fried chicken. I will be making this again and again. Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you, Ana! That is a great choice for a low carb option! I am so happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Best oven fried chicken I ever tasted.
Thank you so much for your 5 star rating! It has made my evening reading this and know you enjoyed the recipe!
Do you leave the skin on the drumsticks?
I leave the skin on, but you can do them either way.
Really really good. I’ve never cooked drumsticks before so me and my 6 year old did it together in a baking dish instead of a skillet since we didn’t have one and worked out great.
Thank you so much, Courtney! I love that you did this in the kitchen with your little one. Making memories!
Great recipes. My kids devoured the chicken. Cooked exactly as in the recipes. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Elaine! I am so glad to hear the family enjoyed them!
Excellent! By far the best baked panko crusted drumstick recipe on the internet? The spices all come together to create a flavorful bite, no need to add additional spices unless you like spicy/hot. The butter & olive oil creates that perfect caramelization to the chicken. TYSM Nikki for sharing. Our new favorite chicken recipe?
Thank you so much Sandy! I so appreciate you taking time to let us know you enjoyed the recipe! You made my day!
This recipe is so easy and comes together very quickly. The drumsticks were crunchy and flavourful. My son said that this recipe is a keeper! I am thinking of using the same technique for chicken wings and just adjusting the cooking time.
Thank you, Linda! Best compliment when our boys love a dish! I think this crust will work on just about anything! Thank you for stopping by. Hope to hear from you more!
Absolutely delicious! I add a little Tony’s to the crum mixture and a tad less water in the egg wash for better sticking. This chicken almost rivals my Tennessee Crispy Fried Chicken, and it’s so quick and easy…you can make on a week night!
Thank you, Kelly! I love adding a little cajun flavor to spice things up a bit!
This is the first recipe that I’ve ever used with Panko. The drumsticks ? are absolutely so moist, tender & absolutely scrumptious! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I’ll continue to use it & tell others, as well!???
Thank you, Kelly! I am so glad you loved them and will be sharing the recipe! You have made my day.
So so good! Would like to make a few hours early for a large gathering – Any suggestions on the best way/temp to reheat?
Thjanks
The best way I have found is to remove the chicken from the fridge for about 10 minutes while the oven preheats to 400. Then place on a baking rack placed on a baking sheet. Cook for about 10 minutes for drumsticks.
So delicious! Crispy on the outside and nice and juicy on the inside. This will definitely be made on repeat!
Thank you so much, Jo-Anne! My family loves when I make it!
This is a great recipe and our family rated it “top notch”! I did make a small variation: I marinated the chicken in yogurt overnight in the fridge and then proceeded with the recipe. Also, I didn’t shake off all the yogurt when I prepared it the next day for baking and found it added great flavor to the chicken.
Absolutely Deeeelicious!!!!
Nice and Crispy!!!
Would you do bone in thighs the same way?
You can! Just check internal temperature for doneness depending on the size you may need to cook a little longer.