Ready in less than 20 minutes, these easy Instant Pot Chicken Legs are a great budget-friendly dinner option. Also kid-friendly, you can cook up a large batch for easy meal prep!
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Anything to make cooking dinner easier is a winner in my book. By cooking chicken legs and thighs in the Instant Pot, we guarantee tender, juicy meat that is practically falling off the bone in minutes. Finish under the broiler to crisp up the skin and you’ve got a super easy, FRUGAL, main dish ready to go. Also check out our Instant Pot Salmon or Instant Pot Ham for more easy protein in the Instapot.
Ingredients
Chicken Legs/Drumsticks: For 4 servings, I tend to cook 6 chicken legs, or about 1.5 pounds of chicken legs. Feel free to double or triple the spice blend and number of chicken legs for your needs.
Water or Chicken Broth: This is the cooking liquid for the Instant Pot, so you can simply use water. If you’d like to turn the liquid into a gravy after cooking, I would recommend using chicken broth or stock to get a bit more flavor in your gravy.
Spice Blend: To season up our chicken legs, we are going to mix together onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and your favorite chicken seasoning or garlic salt.
Equipment
- Instant Pot (any size will work – I used a 6 quart)
- Sheet Pan
- Measuring Spoons
- Small Mixing Bowl
How to Cook Chicken Legs in the Instant Pot
- Season all sides of the chicken legs with the dry seasonings.
- Place a wire trivet in the Instant Pot. Add water or chicken broth to your pot, then place the chicken legs on top.
- Close the lid, seal the steam release valve, and cook on High Pressure for 10 minutes.
- Once cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes. Then, open the vent to release any remaining pressure.
- Remove chicken legs and place them on a large baking sheet. Broil on high for 2-3 minutes, or until the skin is browned and slightly crispy.
frequently asked questions
Can you cook chicken legs in the Instant Pot from frozen? Yes, you can! To cook chicken legs or drumsticks from frozen in the Instant Pot, simply increase the high pressure cooking time from 10 minutes to 12 minutes.
How to store leftover Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks? Cooked chicken legs will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. When reheating, make sure to heat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. I like to cook up a few pounds at a time and take out and reheat just what I need for each meal.
Can I cook more of less than 5-6 chicken legs in the Instant Pot at a time? Easily double or triple this recipe depending on the size of your Instant Pot. I found that my 6 quart pressure cooker will fit up to 15 drumsticks, or about 4.5 pounds.
more Instant Pot Dinner Recipes
- Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo
- Instant Pot Sloppy Joes
- Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage
- Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti
- Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
- Instant Pot 15 Bean Soup
- Instant Pot Pork Butt (Pulled Pork)
Instant Pot Chicken Legs
Chicken legs or drumsticks are a wonderful budget-friendly dinner option, and these Easy Instant Pot Chicken Legs are perfect for busy weeknights or even meal prep.
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken legs (about 5-6 pieces)
- 1 ½ cups water (or chicken stock)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chicken seasoning (I used McCormick Roasted Garlic & Herb, but you can use whatever you favorite is)
Instructions
- Combine all spices in a small bowl. Stir well with fork or whisk to combine well.
- Sprinkle seasoning on all sides of chicken legs.
- Place a wire trivet or steamer basket in the Instant Pot. Add water to your pot, then place the chicken legs on the trivet or in the steamer basket.
- Close the lid, seal the steam release valve, and cook on High Pressure for 10 minutes.
- Once cooking time is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes. Then, carefully open the vent to release any remaining pressure.
- Remove chicken legs and place them on a large baking sheet. Broil on high for 2-3 minutes, or until the skin is browned and slightly crispy.
- Carefully remove from the oven and enjoy!
Notes
How to Cook Chicken Legs in Instant Pot from Frozen: To cook chicken legs or drumsticks from frozen in the Instant Pot, simply increase the high pressure cooking time from 10 minutes to 12 minutes.
How to Store Leftovers: Cooked chicken legs will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. When reheating, make sure to heat to an internal temperature of 165.
Scaling: Easily double or triple this recipe depending on the size of your Instant Pot. I found that my 6 quart pressure cooker will fit up to 15 drumsticks, or about 4.5 pounds.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 320Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 216mgSodium: 172mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 41g
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