Simple Chicken Drumsticks with Curry and Paprika are always a crowd favorite. Mild curry and paprika make a flavorful and easy to prepare dinner, perfect for a busy weeknight or a weekend by the grill.
Simple Chicken Drumsticks with Great Flavor!
Curry is a relatively new flavor for my family. Though my husband and I love it, we always presumed it would be too… something… for our kids to enjoy. Boy were we wrong, the combination of mild red curry and paprika is one that our kids love. (All except the youngest who is not much of a meat eater at this point – but her older sisters are happy to claim her share at dinner.) It is an added benefit that chicken drumsticks are always more fun to eat.
If you are interested in introducing a new flavor to your family, or just your children, these Simple Chicken Drumsticks with Curry and Paprika are a great way to do it. They are delicious and flavorful, while not being overpowering for someone not accustomed to curry.
We also use a similar spice mix on this smoked chicken breast. If you have a smoker or a grill, you have to try it!
Easy Chicken Drumsticks for the Oven or Grill
Easy Chicken Drumsticks for the Oven or GrillThese Simple Chicken Drumsticks work great in the oven or on the grill – or our favorite, on the smoker! (We have a Big Green Egg and when my husband is willing to use it, I always find something to go on it!) But I most often cook them in the oven – because getting dinner on the table during the week is always a priority.
There is a trick to getting crisp Chicken Drumsticks. You need to cook them with a rack in the sheet pan. This elevates the chicken and allows the hot air to circulate around the meat. It also prevents the chicken from sitting in any oil that renders while the chicken is cooking.
More Simple Recipes for Weeknight Meals?
If you have a whole chicken, rather than just drumsticks, try this Warm-Spiced Roast Chicken over Sweet Potatoes. It is our favorite dinner of all time and it the whole meal cooks on a single sheet pan, which means the clean up is a snap. Perfect for weeknight dinners.
Or if you would like to give more curry a try, these Curried Lentils with Roasted Tomatoes are made with mild red curry powder and will knock your socks off.
Curried Lentils with Tomatoes
Simple Chicken Drumsticks with Curry and Paprika
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup butter melted half of a stick of butter
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp curry powder mild
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley for garnishing
Instructions
- Add olive oil, melted butter, garlic powder, salt, paprika, curry powder, and cumin in a small bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Add drumsticks and marinade to a gallon sealable bag or container. Toss to coat and leave them to marinade for at least 30 minutes (overnight works good too!)
- For the smoker, heat to 350 and smoke for 45 minutes to an hour or until the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees. Turn occasionally for equal cooking.
- For the oven, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place marinated chicken drumsticks on an elevated rack inside of a sheet pan. (I usually line the pan with foil to help with cleanup and brush the rack with olive oil to help with sticking.) Cook for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees, turning halfway to crisp both sides of the chicken.
I make have made this a couple time and always cook it in the crock pot. It is so amazing every time.
Oh my a God, my children are so picky but loved them. My Husband ask what other recipes do you have with Curry. You can see he’s also a big fan!!
Yum recipe, always a good go to, thanks! But please, for the love of all that is good in this world, stop with the monotonous unrelated family drivel. No one wants to know about the cold winter night where your long lost cousin and family came together over this recipe.. Just give us the damn recipe KAREN.
5 Stars
xo
Hi Lachlan! Glad you liked the chicken. I like them too. The fun part of having a website that is totally mine? I can write about anything I want to before I give you totally free recipes. There is a “jump to recipe” button at the top of every post. I think you secretly like all the family drivel or you would have used it. 🙂 #LachlanSuperFan
I love this recipe! It’s easy to change the flavor up a little bit with other spices, too. I cook it in my air fryer at 400° for about 26 minutes and it’s fantastic. Definitely a favorite of mine now.
I haven’t tried this in the air fryer yet but I really want to!!! I am so glad it turned out great! This is one of my favorite easy recipes.
Two years later and I’m here lol I Want to make this with a pour over sauce for the rice. Would it produce thick drippings if I bake it in a cast iron skillet? Btw LOVE LOVE LOVEEE the recipe without even cooking lol
I made this last night and all in my family agreed that this recipe was (is) delicious. Will definitely make it again and again…. thanks for sharing!
Was browsing chicken leg recipes and will be fixing these tonight, serving with roasted brussel sprouts and baked yams. Thanks!
My kids LOVE these! Don’t tell them they have curry in them. They are convinced they don’t like curry. LOL
I made these! I do not know why O was so scared of curry. Oh they were delicious. I added spicey seasoning to it to give it a kick and boyvwas it fabulous! This is definitely a keeper. Thsnk you, thank you, thank you!
Thank you for this recipe. I made it tonight for dinner and they were delicious!! Definitely a keeper recipe.
Made a double batch of these tonight. I nixed the butter because of an anaphylactic allergy in the family, and added a tablespoon of red curry paste because I love it and had some in the fridge.
All 4 kids plus husband who doesn’t normally like drumsticks LOVED these. Easy. Tasty. Easily modifiable for dairy allergy. Delicious.
I was just sitting here doing my planning for next week when your comment came through. I just want you to know you made my entire night. Thank you!
I just picked up a pack of drumsticks on clearance not knowing what I was going to do with them. I do now. Thanks for sharing on the #HomeMattersParty . I hope you will join us again next week.
Yum! This sounds like a delicious combo! Thanks for linking up at Merry Monday this week 🙂
This sounds so delicious! I love trying out new flavors on my kiddos (they are little, but never too early to experiment, right?!) Plus, you’re right, drumsticks are just more fun!
I totally agree! It is much for fun to teach kids trying new things is an adventure (though it takes some time for it to sink in!)