Instant Pot Chicken Legs: The Best Chicken Drumsticks With Honey Cayenne Rosemary

This super delicious Instant Pot Chicken Legs Recipe With Honey, Cayenne and Rosemary is a fantastic recipe and one the whole family will love. Cooking chicken legs in the Instant Pot doesn’t have to be difficult and the fantastic flavours in this cayenne chicken dish will leave you wanting more.

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cAN YOU COOK INSTANT POT CHICKEN LEGS FROM FROZEN?

Yes, you certainly can cook chicken legs from frozen int he Instant pot. For this particular recipe, I recommend fresh or thawed chicken to allow the marinade to seep into the chicken well. However, if you want to cook frozen chicken legs in the pressure cooker you will need to add an extra 5 minutes pressure cooking time. 

What Is Cayenne Pepper?

Cayenne Pepper is a fantastic flavouring and has often referred to as the king of medicinal herbs. Cayenne Pepper is a type of child pepper very similar to bell peppers and jalapeños. Cayenne pepper is a popular spice to add to dishes as it is full of antioxidants, is a great source of Vitamins, A, E, C, B6 and K. 

Adding cayenne pepper to this fantastic Instant pot chicken dish not only makes the meal extra nutritious, it boosts the protein content and can help warm you up on and fight against nasty colds. 

RELATED POST: INSTANT POT FLUFFY RICE RECIPE

Honey Cayenne and Rosemary Instant Pot Chicken

• Prep time: 10 minutes
• Cook time: 15 minutes
• Servings: 5 -6 chicken legs 

INGREDIENTS foR iNSTANT pOT chICKEN leGS

Ingredients:

• –   1 package of five to six chicken legs
• –   1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
• –   1 teaspoon of salt
• –   2 tablespoons of honey
• –   3 tablespoons of olive oil
• –   5 cloves of garlic
• –   1 lemon
• –   1 cup of butter
• –   1 large white onion
• –   2 sprigs of rosemary-   Optional: white rice for serving

Busy Now? Why Not Pin This instant Pot Chicken Recipe For Later!

HOW TO MAKE HONEY CAYENNE CHICKEN LEGS

1. In a small bowl, mix together the cayenne pepper, salt, honey, olive oil and crushed garlic.

2. Wash the chicken and make small cuts in the surface of the pieces.

3. Marinade the chicken in a large Ziploc bag with the marinade mix and seal tightly. Let sit in the fridge for two hours or just until all of the other ingredients are ready to go.

4. Cut the onion into long thin strips and cut the lemon into thin slices as well.

5. Set your instant pot to sauté function and add half of the butter to the pot.

6. Remove the chicken from the fridge and take the pieces out of the bag, leaving the marinade in the bag for later.

7. Fry the chicken on each side for two to three minutes or until the chicken skin crisps up and turns a light golden or dark brown color.

8. Remove the chicken from the instant pot and set aside.

9. Add the remaining butter and the onions to the instant pot and sauté for one to two minutes, until the onions become tender and translucent.

10.  Turn the instant pot off and let sit for a minute before turning it back on.

11.  Add the chicken to the pot on top of the onions and pour the rest of marinade over the chicken.

12.  Add the rosemary sprigs and lemon slices.

13.  Cover the instant pot with the lid and set it to manual mode with seven minutes cook time and let cook.

14.  Release the pressure and remove the lid. Set to sauté mode again until the juices from the marinade and chicken have thickened.

15.  Turn the instant pot off and let the chicken cool a bit before serving to allow the honey to thicken up. Serve with white rice or butter pasta!

Seasoning Variations for Cayenne Chicken

If you want to cut down on the amount of cayenne pepper in this recipe, or even eliminate it completely, you can try some other fantastic flavours to season your chicken. Try garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano or even a bit of curry powder for something different.

Should I Leave The Skin On Chicken Drumsticks?

This is a personal preference. Some people prefer to cook chicken with the skin on as it helps keep the chicken moist during cooking. I generally cook my chicken without the skin as I don’t like to eat it, however if you are feeding this to younger children or want to guarantee extra moisture in your chicken, then leave the skin on.

Can I Use Different Cuts Of Chicken If I Don’t Like Chicken Legs?

If you don’t like chicken legs, or can’t get them, then you can use any other cuts of chicken that you like. Chicken breast, chicken thighs or chicken wings would all work great in this recipe. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Ways to Serve Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks

This fantastic cayenne chicken dish can be served in a multitude of ways. I love to serve it with some simple steamed vegetables and some boiled rice, however you could shred the chicken and use it to make wraps, burritos or even enchiladas. This recipe would also go great with some mashed potatoes or even sweet potato fries.

How To Store Instant Pot Chicken Legs

This cayenne chicken dish will last in the fridge for up to 3 days, however, I recommend reheating it until it is piping hot before serving. This recipe can also be frozen for up to 3 months, just make sure to thaw it thoroughly before reheating.

If you are looking for a fantastic Instant Pot chicken recipe with amazing flavors then this Instant Pot Chicken Legs Recipe With Honey, Cayenne and Rosemary is definitely the recipe for you. This delicious cayenne chicken dish is a delicious meal idea for the whole family and is sure to be a hit with even the pickiest of eaters. So, what are you waiting for? Give this delicious recipe a try today!

Looking for more fantastic recipes? Why not try out the following?

• Acorn Squash Instant Pot Recipe
• Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
• Instant Pot Bourbon Chicken 
• Instant Pot Glazed Carrots
• The Best Instant Pot Drinks 

About Angela Milnes

Angela Milnes is a Qualified Early Years Teacher who has specialised in teaching. She has a wealth of experience teaching young children and adults. Angela has also taught cooking classes and loves to share both family recipes and easy instant pot recipes here on The Instant Pot Table. Follow her on Pinterest!