Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks are an anytime meal that’s incredibly fast and easy to cook. They come out juicy, tender, delicious and are on the table in a flash.
I love how easy this recipe is. Normally drumsticks need to cook for at least 45 minutes in the oven at 400°F(204°C). During the summer that’s just not something I’m prepared to do. It heats up the house so much. No thanks. Cooking them in the Instant Pot saves time and doesn’t heat up your house unnecessarily.
Why You’ll Love These Chicken Drumsticks
- Chicken drumsticks are inexpensive and easy to make. The process is so quick in the Instant Pot. It’s the best tool in my kitchen.
- In the Instant Pot, this recipe takes just 10 minutes, plus the pressurizing time. In just 25 minutes, dinner is ready and the house is still nice and cool.
- This Instant Pot recipe is so simple, but it results in the most tender chicken drumsticks. You can crisp them under the broiler if you want, but I don’t think it’s necessary.
Jessica says: 
We had these drumsticks for dinner last night and they were incredible! Perfectly moist and full of flavor!
maryanne says: I can’t believe how tender these drumsticks were! Definitely a repeat recipe!
» Also try cooking a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot. You will be amazed at how good it is!
Ingredients For Instant Pot Drumsticks
- Chicken drumsticks – This recipe calls for 8 drumsticks but you can cook up to 24 without increasing the cooking time.
- Dry rub – Adds flavor. We like to use this dry rub on just about everything. You could also use salt and pepper or seasoned salt.
- Water – I like to use chicken broth instead of water to add more flavor. Using hot liquid helps the Instant Pot come up to pressure quicker.
- BBQ sauce – Optional. You can use your favorite BBQ sauce or glaze to finish these drumsticks off. You can make homemade BBQ sauce using this recipe.
Equipment Needed
- Instant Pot – I use a 6-quart Instant Pot Duo Plus to make all of my recipes, but you can use any size or brand of electric pressure cooker. If you’re using an 8-quart pot, you will need to adjust the amount of liquid accordingly, as it requires more water to build steam.
- Trivet – You’ll want to use the trivet to keep the drumsticks out of the water. If you don’t have one, you can set the chicken directly in the pot. I like the texture of the chicken more when it’s on the trivet. It’s more tender and less dense.
Expert Tips to Follow
- You can cook the chicken drumsticks from frozen in the Instant Pot, if you want to. It will take about 2 more minutes to cook, so set the time to 12 minutes.
- You don’t need to increase the pressure cooking time in you’re cooking additional chicken drumsticks. You can cook up to 24 drumsticks at a time without increasing the time.
- You can cook as many chicken drumsticks as you want as long as you don’t exceed the max fill line. It still only needs 1 cup of water for the 6-quart pot, or 1 1/2 cups for the 8-quart pot.
- You can crisp up the chicken skin once the chicken is done cooking, either in a toaster oven, air fryer, or under the broiler, if you want to, but it isn’t necessary.
How to Cook Chicken Drumsticks in the Instant Pot
Step 1: Prepare the Instant Pot
Pour a cup of hot chicken broth (or just plain hot water) into the base of the pot. Add the trivet.
Step 2: Season the Chicken
Season the chicken drumsticks with the seasoning of your choice or your favorite dry rub. Then place the drumsticks evenly on the trivet. You can stack them up, if necessary.
Step 3: Cook
Close the lid and seal the vent. Press the “pressure cook” button to cook on high pressure, then set the time to 10 minutes. After this, allow natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then manually release the remaining pressure.
At this point, you can serve the drumsticks as is. They are nicely seasoned and tasty.
Step 4: Add Sauce – Optional
Brush the drumsticks with BBQ sauce, buffalo sauce, or a glaze, like this delicious honey sriracha sauce recipe, from our sister site.
You can also crisp up the skin in the oven, if you want to. Place the chicken on a baking sheet and put under the broiler for a few minutes. I almost always skip this extra step. It’s just not necessary, in my opinion. Cooking the chicken for longer in the oven isn’t why I choose to use the Instant Pot.
What to Serve With Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
This chicken drumstick recipe really does go with just about anything. I think this Instant Pot Corn on the Cob is perfect. You might also try this Instant Pot Asparagus or this easy Instant Pot Macaroni Salad.
Some other recipes we love to serve on the side are this sweet and tangy Instant Pot Baked Beans, Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes, or these easy Instant Pot Baked Potatoes.
How to Store and Reheat
Storage
Refrigerator: Before storing let the drumsticks cool down to room temperature to avoid moisture buildup, which can make the chicken soggy. Use an air-tight container or sealable plastic bag to store the drumsticks in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Freezer: If you are freezing them use an air-tight container or sealable plastic bag and squeeze out as much air as possible to minimize freezer burn and store in the freezer for 4 months.
Reheating
If frozen, thaw the drumsticks in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. This ensures even reheating and reduces the risk of bacterial growth.
Oven: The best option for retaining the chicken’s flavor and texture. Preheat the oven to 375°F(190°C) place the drumsticks on a baking sheet and heat for 18-20 minutes.
Microwave: While convenient, the microwave might not retain the crispiness of the skin. If you’re in a hurry, though, heat the drumsticks on a microwave-safe plate, covered with a paper towel, on 50% powder in 1 minute intervals, checking for doneness.
Questions About the Recipe
Can I put frozen chicken in the Instant Pot?
Yes! It’s one of the great things about the Instant Pot. You don’t have to thaw chicken before cooking. Always check the recipe to see how much time to add. In this case, the drumsticks will need an extra 4 minutes of cooking time for a total of 14 minutes.
How can I make the skin crispy?
You can crisp up the skin in the oven, under the broiler. I almost always skip this extra step. It’s just not necessary, in my opinion. Cooking the chicken for longer in the oven isn’t why I choose to use the Instant Pot.
How many drumsticks can I cook in the Instant Pot?
You can cook as many drumsticks with this recipe as you want in the Instant Pot so long as they don’t go above the max-fill line. The actual number of drumsticks will vary based on the size of the drumsticks and the size of the Instant Pot you’re using. I’ve personally cooked up to 2 dozen drumsticks at one time in my 6-quart Instant Pot. You still only need 1 cup of water.
Before You Go
Since you made it to the end of this article, you might be interested in more great chicken recipes. Here are a few more articles we think you might enjoy.
- Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs
- Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta
- Instant Pot Chicken Fried Rice
- Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- 40 Easy Instant Pot Chicken Recipes
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Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks
Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 2 tablespoons (8 g) dry rub
- 1 cup (237 ml) water adding it hot reduces pressurizing time
- 1/2 cup (143 g) bbq sauce or glaze if desired
Instructions
- Coat the chicken drumsticks with dry rub or seasoning.
- Pour 1 cup hot chicken broth or water into the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- Insert the trivet. Place the chicken drumsticks on the trivet. Secure the lid and turn the valve to sealing. Press the pressure cooker button to cook on high pressure and set the time to 10 minutes.
- When the time is up, allow it to naturally release pressure for 5 minutes, then release the remaining pressure manually.
- Brush the drumsticks with glaze or sauce, if desired.
Notes
- You can cook from 2-24 chicken drumsticks on high pressure at a time in the Instant Pot without increasing the time (as long as you don’t exceed the max fill line.)
- Cooking frozen chicken requires adding 2 minutes to the cook time.
- The skin will not be crispy. If you want to crisp it, broil in the oven for 4-5 minutes.
- The drumsticks pictured are coated with honey sriracha sauce from our sister site A Food Lover’s Kitchen.
Nutrition
Laura is a passionate home cook and the owner of A Pressure Cooker Kitchen. She is dedicated to helping people create delicious Instant Pot meals with ease. Laura is an expert at developing recipes that can be prepared quickly and easily using a pressure cooker.
I love how easy and quick these are to make. Great recipe…thanks for sharing 🙂
Yummy!! These are so delicious and juicy. I love all the tips that you added.
Definitely passing this along to my cousin in Savannah who is getting an Instant Pot for his new apartment!
That’s a great idea, Gita. He’s gong to love the IP.
I loved the dry rub in this recipe. Thanks it was a winner with my group.
Glad to hear that!
Sounds like a delicious dinner idea! Looks so flavorful
I’m making this with drumsticks but I’m confused if this recipe is for wings or drumsticks. I made it with drumsticks and it’s very good. However, the recipe jumps back and forth between wings and drumsticks.
Sorry about that. It’s a typo. The recipe is for drumsticks, though it can also be used for wings with the same cooking time.
I’m going to make it tonight but unfortunately my kids don’t like BBQ sauce, any other recommendations for kids friendly sauce? (I would love to do the honey Sriracha but too spicy for kiddos)
Hi Adi. You don’t really need a sauce at all, but I bet the kids would love our honey mustard sauce! It’s just mayo, honey, yellow mustard and lemon juice. It’s delish. Just do a search on the site to find the recipe.
What setting do you set the pressure at? Hi, med/hi, or low?
High pressure
Sounds great. Will try. Thank you.
Just tried your recipe with my brand new instant pot …. and it turned out good. My family loves it!
Hi Carly, glad your family loved them! I love my instant pot and use it all the time.
We had these drumsticks for dinner last night and they were incredible! Perfectly moist and full of flavor!
This is mind-blowing! I had no idea I could make these in the Instant Pot. Ah-mazing!
I definitely need to use my Instant Pot more! These drumsticks are perfectly cooked and crisp on the outside!
Oh wow! These drumsticks look fantastic. I love how easily they come together in the instant pot and the flavors sound amazing.
I can’t believe how tender these drumsticks were! Definitely a repeat recipe!