For perfectly tender chicken legs in under 30 minutes, look no further than this Instant Pot Chicken Legs recipe. These chicken legs are seasoned with a homemade spice blend using spices you probably already have in your kitchen.

Simplicity is best during busy weeknights, and it doesn't get easier (or more delicious) than this recipe.

a plate of cooked chicken legs in front of an instant pot.

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WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS INSTANT POT CHICKEN LEGS RECIPE

Simple Ingredients - This is an instant pot recipe that you'll definitely want to save. Inexpensive chicken legs are turned into the most delicious main dish with just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes under pressure.
Tender, Juicy Chicken - You'll end up with tender, juicy instant pot chicken legs that you can serve as part of a healthy meal, along with your favorite side dishes.
Great Paired with Other Dishes - We love serving these chicken legs slathered with keto BBQ sauce with a side of coleslaw.
Healthy Source of Protein - This recipe for instant pot chicken legs is keto-approved, low-carb, and gluten-free.

an oval plate of raw chicken legs next to the seasonings needed to make them in the instant pot.

KEY INGREDIENTS IN INSTANT POT CHICKEN LEGS

Chicken Legs - This recipe makes about a pound and a half of chicken legs, or five to six pieces of chicken drumsticks.

Paprika - I almost always season chicken with some paprika. Not only does it add a warm flavor, but it also adds beautiful color to the outside of the meat.

Onion Powder and Garlic Powder - A little bit of each of these gives this chicken a savory flavor that works well with just about any sauce or side dish.

Dried Parsley - I love the mild, herby, fresh flavor that this adds to the chicken. Feel free to add other dried herbs if you prefer, like thyme or sage.

Kosher Salt and Black Pepper - These basics are a must for tasty chicken legs.

Water - In order for the Instant Pot to work properly, it needs to have some liquid in it. A cup of water is perfect, but you could also use chicken broth for added flavor.

Fresh Parsley - To garnish.

raw, seasoned chicken legs inside of an instant pot, viewed from above

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN LEGS INSTANT POT

Place the chicken legs on a large clean cutting board and pat them dry with paper towels.

In a small bowl, combine the seasonings and sprinkle the legs liberally with the spice mixture.

Place a trivet inside the inner pot of an Instant Pot. Add water to the pot, then place the seasoned chicken legs on top of the trivet.

Secure and seal the lid and cook on MANUAL HIGH pressure for 15 minutes (20 minutes for frozen chicken). When the cooking time is done, allow a 5-minute natural pressure release, then carefully vent the valve. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes, then remove and serve as desired.

For crispy skin: Set your oven broiler to HIGH. Place the chicken drumsticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet and broil for 2-4 minutes or until browned slightly.

Toss the cooked chicken legs in BBQ sauce or honey mustard prior to broiling, if desired. You can also char the chicken on the grill instead of using your oven if you'd like.

BEST TIPS FOR MAKING INSTANT POT CHICKEN LEGS

Add as many chicken legs to the instant pot as you can fit. It's perfectly fine to stack the pieces on top of one another if needed, just be sure that each piece is well-seasoned before you put them in.

To ensure that your chicken is fully cooked, use a thermometer to check that it has reached an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.

If your chicken is not quite cooked, place the chicken back into the instant pot and cook again at high pressure for 2-3 minutes until it's cooked fully.

You can also cook frozen chicken legs using this instant pot recipe. Add 5 additional minutes to the cooking time to ensure that they thaw and cook in the pot.

Chicken quarters (the leg and thigh together) are another inexpensive cut of chicken that can be made in the instant pot. Increase the instant pot cooking time to 20-25 minutes to account for the larger size of the chicken pieces.

You can also cook chicken thighs with this recipe, or a combination of drumsticks and thighs.

Serve them with a side salad and a heaping serving of this Cauliflower Gnocchi with Creamy Mushroom Sauce.

MORE DELICIOUS INSTANT POT RECIPES

The Instant Pot is a fantastic kitchen tool for making healthy recipes. It's great for weekend meal prep, easy weeknight dinners, and homestyle meals that everyone enjoys. We've gathered a few of our favorite Instant Pot recipes for you to try.

We hope you give them a try.

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LET'S GET SOCIAL, you can follow Four Score Living on Pinterest. You can also leave a comment below if you have any questions.

Instant Pot Chicken Legs

Name: Instant Pot Chicken Legs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 5
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 5-6 chicken legs; 2 teaspoons paprika; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon dried parsley; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 1 cup water

Yield: 5-6 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

5-6 chicken legs
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup water

Instructions

Place the chicken legs on a large clean cutting board and pat them dry with paper towels.
In a small bowl, combine seasonings and sprinkle the legs liberally with it.
Place a trivet inside the inner pot of an Instant Pot. Add water to the pot. Place the seasoned chicken legs on top of the trivet.
Secure and seal the lid and cook on MANUAL HIGH pressure for 15 minutes (20 minutes for frozen). When the cooking time is done, allow a 5-minute natural pressure release, then carefully vent the valve. Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes, then remove and serve as desired.
For crispy skin: Set your oven broiler to HIGH. Place the bbq chicken drumsticks on a parchment-lined baking sheet and broil for 2-4 minutes or until browned slightly.
Toss them in BBQ sauce or honey mustard prior to broiling, if desired.

Notes

Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your preference, or use a pre-made chicken spice rub.
To ensure that your chicken is fully cooked, use a thermometer to check that it has reached an internal temperature of 165°F/74°C.
If your chicken is not quite cooked, place the chicken back into the instant pot and cook again at high pressure for 2-3 minutes until it's cooked fully.
You can also cook frozen chicken legs using this instant pot recipe. Add 5 additional minutes to the cooking time to ensure that they thaw and cook in the pot.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 577Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 393mgSodium: 559mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 75g

The nutrition information for this recipe is an approximate total per serving. Please double check the nutrition information for your exact ingredients and brands.

Thanks for sharing!