Crispy Butterflied Chicken Drumsticks

Name: Crispy Butterflied Chicken Drumsticks
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1.53 lb chicken drumsticks; chipotle seasoning blend, to taste; garlic salt, to taste

Butterflied chicken drumsticks are split lengthwise to increase surface area, allowing them to cook quickly and develop crispy exteriors on all sides. This simple technique combined with chipotle and garlic salt seasoning makes an easy weeknight meal.

🌍American 🏷️Chicken drumsticks 🏷️Butterflied chicken 🏷️Crispy chicken 🏷️Chicken recipe Quick dinner

🏷️

🏷️Weeknight meal

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TikTok

Total

35 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$10–$16

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

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Ingredients

1.53 lb chicken drumsticks
chipotle seasoning blend, to taste
garlic salt, to taste

3 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Using a sharp knife, carefully cut each chicken drumstick along the bone to butterfly it open. This will help it cook faster and get crispier.
2
Season the chicken generously on all sides with the chipotle seasoning blend and garlic salt.
3
Place the seasoned drumsticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer, skin-side down.
4
Air fry for approximately 20 minutes.
5
Flip the drumsticks over so they are skin-side up.
6
Continue to air fry for another 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is golden brown and crispy.
7
Remove from the air fryer and serve immediately.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Butterfly with the skin facing up and cut close to the bone on both sides to maximize surface area for crisping.
Pat drumsticks dry before seasoning to help the skin brown faster and achieve better texture.
Use medium-high heat for pan-searing to render the fat under the skin without burning the exterior.
Don't overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if needed so skin makes direct contact with heat for crispiness.

Substitutions

chipotle seasoning blend → smoked paprika + cumin + chili powder (same ratio)
garlic salt → kosher salt + garlic powder (adjust to taste)
drumsticks → chicken thighs or bone-in chicken breasts (adjust cooking time accordingly)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled drumsticks in an airtight container for up to 3 days; reheat in a 350°F oven for 10–12 minutes to restore crispiness.

Common Questions

How do you butterfly chicken drumsticks?

Place the drumstick skin-side up and use a sharp knife to cut along both sides of the bone from the thickest end, then flatten the meat outward. This opens the drumstick without removing the bone entirely.

How long do butterflied chicken drumsticks take to cook?

Butterflied drumsticks cook in 12–15 minutes total when pan-seared over medium-high heat, or about 20 minutes if baked at 400°F, depending on thickness.