Home Chicken Dinners Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Becky Hardin
4.65 from 157 votes
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These delicious BBQ chicken drumsticks are so quick to cook in the Instant Pot! Great to serve as an appetizer or main, they are deliciously tangy and so easy to make. Ready to enjoy in 20 minutes!
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BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
You are in for a real treat with this Instant Pot BBQ chicken recipe! Trust me when I tell you, this is finger licking good!
Loaded with flavor, these instant pot bbq chicken drumsticks are an American classic that the whole family will love! Simple, quick and most importantly delicious!
For more chicken drumstick recipes, be sure to check out my Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Drumsticks and Baked BBQ Chicken (Apple Cider BBQ Sauce).
Why you will love this Instant Pot BBQ chicken drumsticks recipe!
- Quick: Ready to serve in 20 minutes, these BBQ chicken drumsticks are perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.
- One pot: Everything in this recipe is all prepared in your pressure cooker, so clean up is a breeze!
- Kid-friendly: This is a great dish that the whole family can enjoy, even your picky eaters will love these!
How to make Instant Pot BBQ chicken drumsticks
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- Combine the seasonings and rub over the drumsticks.
- Place the drumsticks on a trivet in the Instant Pot.
- Pour over the broth.
- Cook on high and release pressure.
Optional
- Toss in your favorite BBQ sauce.
- Broil until browned.
Can you make this with other cuts of chicken?
These instant pot bbq chicken drumsticks work so well, but this recipe is easy to adapt to make with chicken breasts, wings and thighs. The cooking times will vary, so be sure to check out my instant pot chicken guide to make sure your timings are correct.
Can you use frozen drumsticks?
Yes, you can make this Instant Pot BBQ chicken with raw or frozen drumsticks. Prepare them in the same way, you will just need to adjust the cooking time slightly. If cooking from frozen, they will require 20 minutes cooking time rather than 15.
What do you serve them with?
These BBQ chicken drumsticks are great to serve as an appetizer for a crowd, but they make for a great main when served up with veggie, rice and potato sides. Try them with:
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Sauce and broiling are both optional. I like the texture better when broiled, but the drumsticks are fine to eat right out of the instant pot.
- Let the chicken rest before serving or tossing in the sauce. This will help the juices redistribute.
- Use a trivet in your Instant Pot so that the chicken doesn’t burn.
More Instant Pot Chicken Recipes!
- Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup
- Instant Pot Cheesy Chicken Pasta
- Instant Pot Chicken Chili
- Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
- Instant Pot Chicken All the Ways
4.65 from 157 votes
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken drumsticks have never been quicker or easier to make than in the Instant Pot. Seasoned with spices and smothered in BBQ sauce (optional), they come out perfectly juicy and are ready to serve in 20 minutes.
Prep: 5 minutes minutes
Cook: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 8
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Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 5 pounds chicken drumsticks
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- BBQ Sauce (optional – your favorite kind)
Instructions
Combine seasonings in bowl and season the chicken drumsticks liberally to taste.
½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 5 pounds chicken drumsticks
Place trivet inside the Instant Pot.
Place the chicken drumsticks on top of the trivet.
Pour chicken broth into the pot (directly over the chicken).
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
Seal cooker and set to HIGH pressure for 15 minutes (20 minutes for frozen).
When it’s done, release the pressure valve and wait for the pressure to release, then let the chicken rest for another 5 minutes.
Optional: Toss in your favorite BBQ sauce (if using).
BBQ Sauce
Optional: Set your oven broiler to 550°F. Place the BBQ chicken drumsticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet and broil for 2-4 minutes or until browned slightly. If using BBQ sauce, toss once more.
Notes
- Let the chicken rest before serving or tossing in the sauce. This will help the juices redistribute.
- Use a trivet in your Instant Pot so that the chicken doesn’t burn.
- We like the texture better when broiled, but the drumsticks are fine to eat right out of the instant pot.
- Nutritional information does not include the optional BBQ sauce.
Storage:Store Instant Pot chicken drumsticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
Amount Per Serving
Calories 191Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Trans Fat 0.03g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Cholesterol 148mg49%
Sodium 477mg21%
Potassium 404mg12%
Carbohydrates 0.4g0%
Fiber 0.1g0%
Sugar 0.03g0%
Protein 31g62%
Vitamin A 135IU3%
Vitamin C 0.03mg0%
Calcium 18mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Author: Becky Hardin
Course:Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine:American
Did You Make This?We love seeing what you’ve made! Tag us on social media at@easychickenrecipesfor a chance to be featured.
More delish recipes
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Meet Becky Hardin
Becky Hardin founded Easy Chicken Recipes in 2018. She has been creating trusted, easy, and delicious recipes on the web since 2012. Becky is known for simple dinner ideas, delicious crockpot recipes, creative chicken meals, and so much more. We have built a team of recipe developers, testers, and writers that love to create trust chicken recipes for every family.
Reader Interactions
Leave a Review
Mesha says
I want to see the reviews people write.Reply
- Jana Hendrix says
I will definitely be adding this recipe to my “use often” list! I do admit to ad-libbing the seasoning a bit due to not having exact items on hand. And I also turned the chicken in the broiler a couple of times so it would be even all the way around.Reply
- Becky Hardin says
Definitely modify to your liking and needs!
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- Joanne says
I suggest using foil when placing in the oven. I followed the recipe and the parchment paper was in flames
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- Kristin says
I was shocked to see that, yeah definitely avoid parchment paper in the broiler to be safe!
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- Morgan Farris says
I made this for my family last week and my husband has not stopped talking about how amazing it was, so making again tonight!Reply
- Becky Hardin says
I love it!
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- Carol Haynes says
This is the first recipe cooked in my Instant pot that I thought was worthy of 5 stars. Thank you!Reply
- Becky Hardin says
Thanks for sharing!!
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- The Raygors says
This was the first recipe I made with my new InstaPot. I was scared to death to use it! But the well written directions eleveated apprehension in using it. The taste is OUTSTANDING! The broth left was delicious and I’ve frozen it for future use. My husband just loved this recipe, and since it’s just the two of us, I removed the chicken from the rest of the drumbsticks, made chicken soup and froze the rest for future use. You can feed a full house with this delicious meal and not spend your life in the kitchen.Reply
- Becky Hardin says
I love making the leftovers into something new!
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- Pat says
Thank you for posting this recipe. It was easy and above all very tasty. I will definitely save this recipe.Reply
- Becky Hardin says
So glad you enjoyed it!
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- Shela Lane says
Well I must say I was very disappointed. The seasoning for the drums was not nearly enough. I had to triple the amount to cover 5 Lbs of chicken legs.Reply
- Becky Hardin says
I’m sorry this recipe didn’t work out as expected, Shela!
Reply
- Nikki Maye says
Was a fast and easy way to cook chicken legs I am a person who loves my instant potReply
- Becky Hardin says
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Nikki!
Reply
- Andrea says
How long for frozen drumsticks? I plan on adding all ingredients except broth and bbq sauce to a ziplock for a “dump and go” freezer meal for busy days. Plus I always buy frozen chicken because it’s cheaper.
Reply
- Becky Hardin says
An extra 5 mintes!
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