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Crispy Low-Carb Chicken Drumsticks

Martina SlajerovaUpdated 28 September 2023★★★★★4.6 (403 ratings)

Ready in 45m
0.8 g net carbs
315 kcal
Serves 5

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Crispy Chicken Drumsticks (low-carb, keto, paleo)

Who doesn't like crispy chicken drumsticks? I got inspired by this recipe from Nagi of Recipe Tin Eats who used a similar technique to make crispy oven-baked chicken wings.

Apart from using baking powder, Nagi also baked the chicken wings at two temperatures: first on low to render the fat and then on high to crisp them up. I'm not sure if this will work for the drumsticks but my guess would be that this may make them too dry.

Below are tips for the best results:

Remove any moisture from the drumsticks by pat drying with a paper towel
Press butter or ghee under the skin of each drumstick
Use gluten-free baking powder mixed in a spice rub for extra crispiness
Use a rack to allow all the juices drip so the drumsticks remain crispy

Step-by-step

Preheat the oven to 200 °C/ 400 °F (fan assisted), or 220 °C/ 425 °F (conventional). Start by pat drying the chicken drumsticks with a paper towel.
Using your fingers, rub the ghee or butter under the skin. To do this, simply pull up the skin of the chicken and massage the fat into the flesh. Spread any remaining ghee on top of the skin.
Mix the spices for the rub: paprika, baking powder and salt. Cover the drumsticks in the rub and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. For even better results, place the drumsticks on a rack.
Place in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes until the skin is crispy and the meat is cooked through.
Enjoy!

Crispy Low-Carb Chicken Drumsticks

Recipe

Crispy Low-Carb Chicken Drumsticks

★★★★★4.6 (403 ratings)

Juicy and tender chicken drumsticks with deliciously crispy skin. The perfect low-carb dinner to serve with ...

Hands on: 5m
Overall: 45m
Servings: 5

0.8 g
Net carbs: 23.7 g
Protein: 23.1 g
Fat: 315
kcal

Ingredients makes 5 servings

10 chicken drumsticks (~ 1.2 kg/ 2.6 lbs), weight includes bones, will yield about 50% meat
¹/₄ cup ghee or butter, you can make your own ghee (56/ 2 oz)
1 tbsp paprika
2 tsp gluten-free baking powder or use a mixture of ¹/₂ tsp baking soda + 1 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp sea salt
Optionally: Serve with Easy Keto Ranch Dressing

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200 °C/ 400 °F (fan assisted), or 220 °C/ 425 °F (conventional). Start by pat drying the chicken drumsticks with a paper towel.
Using your fingers, rub the ghee or butter under the skin. To do this, simply pull up the skin of the chicken and massage the fat into the flesh. Spread any remaining ghee on top of the skin.
Mix the spices for the rub: paprika, baking powder and salt. Cover the drumsticks in the rub and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. For even better results, place the drumsticks on a rack.
Place in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes until the skin is crispy and the meat is cooked through.
Enjoy!

Nutrition per serving, 2 drumsticks

Carbs 1%Protein 31%Fat 68% of calories

Net carbs: 0.8 g
Total carbs: 1.3 g
Fiber: 0.5 g
Sugars: 0.1 g
Protein: 23.7 g
Fat: 23.1 g
Saturated fat: 9.8 g
Calories: 315 kcal
Sodium: 835 mg · 36.3% RDA
Magnesium: 28 mg · 7.11% RDA
Potassium: 351 mg · 17.5% EMR

Nutrition by ingredient

Per 2 drumsticks	Net carbs	Protein	Fat	kcal
Chicken drumsticks, raw	0.1 g	23.5 g	12 g	209
Ghee	0 g	0 g	11 g	100
Paprika, spices	0.3 g	0.2 g	0.2 g	4
Baking powder, gluten-free	0.4 g	0 g	0 g	2
Salt, pink Himalayan rock salt	0 g	0 g	0 g	0
Total	0.8 g	23.7 g	23.1 g	315

Serving size 2 drumsticks

Gluten free
Egg free
Nut free
Pork free
Avocado free
Fish free
Shellfish free
Beef free

Comments & ratings (12)

4.6403 ratings

5 ★306
4 ★53
3 ★24
2 ★16
1 ★4

Natalia Ivanova28 October 2019
Very tasty! My hasband loved it. Thank you
Gabe10 January 2019
I just want to thank you for this recipe. It was a total hit. The chicken was moist and had a lot of flavor.
Gabe
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor17 January 2019
  Thank you Gabe!
Hudson29 November 2018
I love this idea… chicken legs and thighs are ALWAYS on sale and I’m always looking for recipes that help with the weekly budget! We’re entertaining for a football party this weekend so I’m going to make these… winning… both reasonably priced and full, of yummy flavors! 🍗 🍗 🍗
Hammy18 February 2018
Absolutely delicious! We somehow didn’t have baking powder so I substituted coconut flour in its place. Also put them on the grill instead of baking. Perfectly crispy and the flavor was outstanding. Thank you for the recipe!
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor31 March 2018
  Thank you for your kind words, Hammy!
Julia17 October 2016
Can this chicken once cooked be put in the freezer?
The chicken was bought fresh and the BB date is soon, so I'd like to cook the chicken, but not ready to eat right away or even in the next few days.
And if it can be in the freezer would reheating be best in the oven?
Love your recipes by the way and looking forward to trying this one!
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor1 November 2016
  Thank you Julia! Crispy chicken tastes best when freshly baked. You could freeze them but they won't stay crispy. Actually, the skin won't stay crispy even if you refrigerate the chicken but you could crisp it up by reheating in the oven. If you freeze the cooked drumsticks and want to defrost them, make sure you leave them in the fridge overnight, and then crisp them up. You could also use a microwave to reheat them but I don't think this will help the skin crisp up.
Felix16 February 2016
Why not remove the option in the recipe to use baking soda? It's not really helpful to have to read all comments before the recipe is used. This recipe is really yummy, btw.
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor1 March 2016
  Thank you Felix, that's because a mixture of baking soda and cream of tartar can be used (see the ingredients). Just avoid using baking soda only.
libby11 September 2015
Thank you Martina, these look so tasty, I'll have to add some paprika next time! I made them a few weeks ago just with salt but used baking soda instead of baking powder. That was a BIG mistake! So make sure you use baking powder because otherwise it's not edible 😊
1. Martina @ KetoDietAuthor13 September 2015
  Thank you Libby, yes I totally agree, baking soda only doesn't work - you have to add cream of tartar or use gluten-free baking powder 😊