Mustard Mayonnaise Chicken Drumsticks are cooked in a seasoned blend of mustard and mayonnaise to create moist, flavorful chicken legs that are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Oven and air fryer instructions are included!
These mustard mayonnaise chicken drumsticks are super moist inside and crispy outside and have a delicious mustard mayo marinade.
Make them in the air fryer or oven baked!
Chicken drumsticks are an underrated cut of meat. They're often overlooked in favor of chicken breasts, but they're actually just as versatile and delicious. Plus, they're usually cheaper than most types of chicken!
These mustard mayonnaise chicken drumsticks are a great example of how delicious and easy-to-make chicken drumsticks can be.
The mustard and mayonnaise provide a zesty flavor that pairs well with just about anything.
This mix also helps tenderize the meat, so you're left with a juicy chicken leg that's crispy on the outside.
The best part about this recipe is that it can be made in either an oven or air fryer! They pair well with any side dish and make for a great weeknight meal!
If you're looking for more tasty ways to enjoy chicken, you'll love Dutch Oven Whole Chicken, Bacon Wrapped Chicken with Cream Cheese, BBQ Chicken Legs In Oven, and Bacon Wrapped Chicken Wings!
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Why Make This Recipe
Chicken drumsticks are a budget-friendly cut of meat that you can find at any grocery store!
The mixture of mustard and mayo provides a tenderizing flavor base for simple seasonings and spices.
Chicken legs pair with many types of side dishes, including vegetables, starches, and salads.
You can make these quickly in your air fryer or roast them in the oven. Either way, they are delicious!
Ingredients
- Mayonnaise - Makes up the creamy marinade's base while helping tenderize the meat. I use Duke's but any will work.
- Yellow Mustard - Adds an acidic, tangy flavor that pairs well with dark meat chicken. I use French's.
- Garlic Cloves - Gives the chicken a bold garlic flavor. Swap to garlic powder if you prefer.
- Seasonings - A mix of dried paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper gets added to the mixture to enhance the flavor of the chicken.
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full quantities.
Instructions
Wondering how to make this Mustard Mayonnaise Chicken Drumsticks recipe? It's easy!
Just follow this step-by-step photo tutorial. Then, scroll down for the recipe card for the full ingredients list and recipe method.
Prepare the chicken legs: Wash the chicken legs, then pat them dry with a paper towel. Remove any excess fat. Place them into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle them with salt and pepper evenly.
Assemble the marinade: In a separate bowl, add the mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, paprika, and onion powder and whisk until fully combined.
Marinate the chicken: Pour the wet marinade over top of the prepared chicken legs and toss to coat. Cover the bowl and add to the fridge to marinade for at least 30 minutes.
Oven Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Add the marinated chicken legs to a baking dish.
- Cover the dish with foil or a lid and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil or lid and bake for 10-15 minutes or until golden and lightly browned.
Air Fryer Instructions:
- Lay the legs in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook at 400°F for 10 minutes, then use tongs to flip the drumsticks and cook for 7-8 more minutes or until they are cooked.
- Remove with tongs.
Cook's Tips
Ensure that the chicken is pat dry before adding the seasonings. This will help the seasonings stick to the chicken.
To get that crispy skin, make sure not to overcrowd your pan or air fryer basket. If necessary, cook the chicken in batches.
The safe internal temperature for cooked chicken is 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken legs before removing them from the oven or air fryer.
We recommend a minimum of 30 minutes to marinate, but you can marinate the chicken for up to 12 hours for even more flavor!
Chicken safety: Wash hands, surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after handling raw chicken. Before serving, ensure the chicken is piping hot and thoroughly cooked, juices run clear and no pink color remains.
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
Variations & Substitutions
Add honey to the marinade for a sweeter flavor and slightly sticky chicken legs.
Use other types of spices in the marinade, including Italian herbs, Cajun seasoning, or lemon pepper powder.
Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or lime juice before serving for an extra zing!
You can use Dijon or whole grain mustard if you don't have yellow mustard.
If you don't have paprika, you can use smoked paprika or chili powder.
Use a dash of liquid smoke in the marinade for a smoky flavor.
Serving Suggestions
If you're looking for some tasty side dishes to serve with your mustard mayonnaise chicken drumsticks, then try these!
- KFC Macaroni Salad
- Greek Pasta Salad
- Easy Roasted Beets
- Arkansas Green Beans with Bacon
- Jiffy Corn Casserole
- Side Dishes for Chicken
Looking for some dipping sauces to serve with your chicken drumsticks?
- Wingstop Ranch
- Chipotle Southwest Sauce (Subway Copycat)
- Arby's Horsey Sauce
- Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce
- Horseradish Aioli
- Bacon Aioli
Storage & Freezing
Leftover chicken legs can easily be stored when cooled and placed in an airtight container. They will last in the fridge for up to four days or can be frozen for up to three months.
To freeze, place the chicken legs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for about two hours. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
FAQs
Yes, you can! Just adjust the cook time accordingly since chicken thighs and breasts will cook faster than drumsticks.
It depends on the size of your chicken legs. For this recipe, we recommend cooking the chicken for 20 minutes covered and then an additional 15 minutes uncovered. Use a kitchen thermometer to be safe.
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📖 Recipe
Mustard Mayonnaise Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 10 chicken drumsticks
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Wash the chicken legs, pat dry with paper towel, put it into a bowl and sprinkle with the salt and pepper.
- Add the mayonnaise, mustard, garlic, paprika and onion powder to a bowl and stir to combine. Pour the mixture over the chicken legs and toss to coat. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
To cook in an oven
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Add the marinated chicken legs to a baking dish. Cover the dish with foil or a lid and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil or lid and bake for a further 10-15 minutes or until golden and lightly browned and cooked through (the internal temperature of the drumsticks with a meat thermometer is 165 degrees).
To cook in an air fryer
- Lay the legs in the air fryer basket in a single layer (cook in batches if necessary).
- Cook at 400F for 10 minutes, then use tongs to flip the drumsticks and cook for 7-8 more minutes or until they are cooked through (the internal temperature of the drumsticks with a meat thermometer is 165 degrees).
Notes
Nutrition
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.
Janessa
Oh yum, these look so crispy! Thank you for including the air fryer instructions- I think we're gonna give these a go for dinner tonight.
Tayler
I'm always looking for new ways to upgrade our chicken dinners, so I can't wait to make this for dinner tonight!
Toni
This is so good!! My family enjoyed this meal! Such an amazing dinner any night of the week!
Savita
This turned soo good, everyone in my family loved it. I am a fan of chicken drumsticks and this one was soo good.
Kerri
These were so good! They were moist and full of flavor! Served them with your texas roadhouse rice and some salad.