Crispy Deep Fried Chicken Legs

Deep Fried Chicken Legs are a mouth-watering dish that will satisfy your taste buds! This recipe will show you how to make fried drumsticks that are flavorful and crunchy outside, and moist and juicy inside.

Move over baked drumsticks, it's time to fall back in love with deep fried chicken legs!

They might not be as healthy, but it's worth it for that awesome deep-fried crunchy outside of the chicken legs and super tender and juicy inside.

I mean, seriously, you just can't beat the flavor and crunch of deep fried drumsticks, can you?!

Plus, it's easy to scale them up for a crowd when you whip up a batch of mouth-watering chicken legs that are sure to delight everyone's taste buds.

You can experiment with different spices, coatings, and dipping sauces to create a unique and delicious flavor profile. But for this recipe, I've given the recipe for a super simple, flavor-packed mustard mayonnaise marinade.

It's one of our favorite chicken pairings because the mayo adds a great moistness to the succulent chicken, while the mustard gives a subtle but rich flavor.

This was inspired by my baked or air fried Mustard Mayonnaise Chicken Drumsticks on this site, and pairs well with this KFC Macaroni Salad or Texas Roadhouse Seasoned Rice (copycat).

Why You'll Love This Recipe

1. Deep-fried chicken legs are a mouth-watering dish that is sure to satisfy your taste buds!
2. You don't need any special equipment or skills to make deep-fried chicken legs, making it an easy dish to prepare.
3. You can experiment with different coatings, spices, and dipping sauces to customize the flavor of your deep-fried chicken legs.
4. Deep-fried chicken legs are a great dish to share with friends and family, making it perfect for parties and gatherings.
5. Chicken legs are an affordable cut of meat, making deep-fried drumsticks an economical meal option.
6. When deep-fried properly, chicken legs have a crispy exterior and a juicy and flavorful interior.
7. Deep-fried chicken legs are a classic comfort food that can help to lift your mood and make you feel better.
8. Deep-fried chicken legs are a popular game day food that can be enjoyed while watching your favorite team play, whether for a Superbowl party, or a tailgate.

Ingredients

You only need simple pantry ingredients for this recipe!

• Chicken legs - also called drumsticks, this is a budget friendly cut of meat that's perfect for deep frying.
• Flour - all purpose flour is great for a crispy coating.
• Garlic powder, salt, and pepper - simple seasonings to bring out the flavor of the chicken drumsticks.
• Mayonnaise and mustard - for the wet marinade. I use regular Duke's mayo, and French's American yellow mustard. Feel free to switch it up with Dijon or wholegrain mustard instead.
• Vegetable oil - for frying.

See the recipe card for quantities and method.

Instructions

Follow these step-by-step instructions, then scroll down for the full ingredients list and method.

Mix the mayonnaise and mustard in a large bowl. Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels, then add them to the bowl and toss to coat. If you have time, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour to marinate.

Heat the oil in a large pot or deep fryer over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C). You'll need the oil to come up at least ¾-inch of the pot so the chicken is submerged enough.

Add the flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper to a bowl and stir to combine.

Roll each chicken leg in the flour mixture, making sure it is evenly coated.

Gently place the chicken legs in the hot oil, using tongs or a slotted spoon, being careful not to overcrowd the pot or splash.

Fry the chicken legs for about 12 minutes, turning each piece over halfway, or until they are golden brown and cooked through, with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken legs from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain off excess oil.

Serve and enjoy.

Scroll down for the full ingredients list and method.

Variations

1. Spicy Chicken: Add some cayenne pepper, chili powder, or hot sauce to the flour mixture to give your chicken a spicy kick.
2. Lemon-Pepper Chicken: Add some lemon zest and black pepper to the flour mixture for a zesty and flavorful twist.
3. Garlic Parmesan Chicken: Mix some grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and dried herbs into the flour mixture for a savory and cheesy coating. Check out this recipe for Garlic Parmesan Chicken Thighs for quantities.
4. Honey Mustard Chicken: Serve the deep-fried chicken legs with a side of honey mustard dipping sauce for a sweet and tangy flavor.
5. Korean Fried Chicken: Coat the chicken legs in a mixture of flour, cornstarch, and rice flour, then fry them twice for an extra crispy texture. Toss the fried chicken in a sweet and spicy sauce made with gochujang, soy sauce, honey, and garlic for an irresistible Korean-inspired flavor.
6. Buffalo Chicken: Coat the fried chicken in a mixture of buffalo sauce and melted butter for a spicy and tangy flavor.
7. Jamaican Jerk Chicken: Season the chicken legs with a Jamaican jerk spice blend made with allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cayenne pepper, and other spices for a flavorful and aromatic twist.

Serving Suggestions

There are lots of tasty side dishes to serve with your deep fried chicken legs! Try these:

1. Classic sides: Serve the fried chicken legs with classic sides such as mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and biscuits for a traditional Southern-style meal.
2. Fries or wedges: Pair the chicken legs with french fries or sweet potato fries for a tasty and satisfying combination.
3. Salad: Balance out the richness of the fried chicken with a fresh and crunchy salad. Try a Caesar salad, garden salad, or a coleslaw salad. Or try with a hearty Greek Pasta Salad or KFC Macaroni Salad.
4. Grilled vegetables: Add some grilled or roasted vegetables to your plate to make it a well-rounded meal. Zucchini, squash, peppers, and onions are all great options. Try Easy Roasted Beets.
5. Dipping sauces: Offer a variety of dipping sauces such as ranch, Southwest chipotle sauce, barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or hot sauce for an extra burst of flavor.
6. Waffles: Serve the fried chicken legs on top of a crispy waffle with some maple syrup for a classic Southern dish known as chicken and waffles.

More Chicken Recipes

Food Safety Tips

• Before cooking, wash your hands and countertops.
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that has touched raw meat.
• Always wash your hands after touching raw meat.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Keep those pot/pan handles turned in away from the front of the stove.
• When cooking at high temperatures, use oils with a high smoking point, to avoid harmful compounds.
• Ensure you have good ventilation when cooking on gas.
• Put foods in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours of cooking. Reduce this to within 1 hour if it is 90 degrees or hotter outside.
• Safely thaw food in the fridge, under cold running water, or in the microwave.
• To ensure food is cooked through, it's best to use a food thermometer. Be aware that you can’t always tell by looking.

Cook to safe temperatures:

• Beef, Pork, Lamb: 145 °F
• Fish: 145 °F
• Ground Beef, Ground Pork, Ground Lamb: 160 °F
• Turkey, Chicken, Duck: 165 °F

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📖 Recipe

Deep Fried Chicken Legs

This Deep Fried Chicken Legs recipe will show you how to make fried drumsticks that are crunchy outside, and moist and juicy inside.

5 from 8 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: deep fried chicken legs

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Marinating time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 618kcal

Author: Kate | You Say Potatoes

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

• Bowl
• Deep Pot
• Slotted spoon

Ingredients

• 8 chicken legs drumsticks
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
• ¾ cup all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper
• 2 cups vegetable oil or more if required, for frying

Instructions

• Mix the mayonnaise and mustard in a large bowl. Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels, then add them to the bowl and toss to coat. If you have time, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour to marinate.
• Heat ¾-inch of oil in a large pot or deep fryer over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
• Add the flour, garlic powder, salt and pepper to a bowl and stir to combine.
• Roll each chicken leg in the flour mixture, making sure it is evenly coated.
• Gently place the chicken legs in the hot oil, using tongs or a slotted spoon, being careful not to overcrowd the pot or splash.
• Fry the chicken legs for about 12 minutes, turning each piece over halfway through, or until they are golden brown and cooked through, with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
• Use a slotted spoon to remove the chicken legs from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain off excess oil.
• Serve and enjoy.

Tried this recipe?Head down to the comments and give it a star rating!

Notes

Top tips

• Use a meat thermometer: To ensure that the chicken legs are cooked all the way through and are safe to eat, use a meat thermometer to check their internal temperature. The ideal temperature for cooked chicken is 165°F (74°C). Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat, making sure it doesn't touch the bone.
• Don't overcrowd the pot: When frying chicken legs, it's important not to overcrowd the pot or fryer. This can cause the temperature of the oil to drop, resulting in greasy and unevenly cooked chicken. Fry the chicken legs in small batches, and give them enough space to cook and brown evenly.
• Let them rest: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to settle and get them nice and juicy, and the coating to set.

Nutrition

Calories: 618kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 246mg | Sodium: 427mg | Potassium: 702mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 102IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 4mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.