Looking for easy, delicious, and affordable meals? These 15 chicken drumstick recipes under $10 are inexpensive to make and are packed with flavor! Perfect for family dinners, meal prep, or budget-friendly weeknight meals.
Chicken prices might be creeping up, but drumsticks are still holding down the fort when it comes to budget-friendly meals. Juicy, flavorful, and easy to cook a million ways, chicken legs are the unsung heroes of the grocery aisle. Maximize your grocery budget with these 15 chicken drumstick recipes you can make for under $10!
Scroll down for the master list of recipes in a table format that lists number of servings, and a cost estimate for both the complete recipe (all under $10) and by serving!
Growing up in a big family, without a lot of money, my mom made chicken drumsticks a main feature of our dinners all the time. She could get pretty creative with them, and I never minded it – in fact I’ve always preferred the legs and thighs (the so called dark meat) because they were juicy and tender, and had tons of flavor.
When I married Mr. Hungry (over 30 years ago! 😅) he was NOT a fan of meat on the bone, and like most picky eaters he preferred boneless chicken breasts. So that’s what I defaulted to cooking with over the years, and I didn’t mind because the chicken breast is super versatile (and the so-called experts told us it was healthier.)
But with grocery prices continuing to skyrocket, and shopping anxiety becoming a real thing, we’re all making some sacrifices. Chicken drumsticks are a great way to stretch your budget, and still get some delicious, healthy protein into your meals.
Whether you’re feeding a family or just meal prepping for the week, these inexpensive chicken leg recipes prove that you don’t have to spend a fortune to eat well – or eat healthy.
If you’re on a low carb diet, then these chicken drumstick recipes will fit right into your plan, but they can also be served with budget friendly sides like rice, potatoes, or tortillas if you are not counting carbs right now.
Some of these chicken recipes call for thighs, which you can definitely use instead, but they will run you a dollar or more per pound. All of these recipes are easily modified for using drumsticks instead.
Quick Tip:
If you’re swapping drumsticks for thighs (or vice versa), remember that thighs are a little thicker and might take 5–10 minutes longer to cook. Always check the internal temperature — for juicy, tender results, aim for 175°F–185°F when cooking dark meat like chicken legs and thighs.
Don’t worry too much if you overcook them a bit, though. Drumsticks are very forgiving — even if they go a little over 185°F, they stay juicy because of the higher fat content.
Please Note:
The estimated costs for these recipes assume that you already have some basic pantry staples on hand — like salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and common oils (like olive oil or vegetable oil).These essentials aren’t included in the total cost breakdown, since most kitchens keep them stocked — but even if you need to grab a few basics, these recipes are still designed to keep your overall grocery bill super affordable!
15 Easy Chicken Drumstick Recipes Under $10
simply click the recipe title below to get to the recipe!
Why Drumsticks Are the Ultimate Budget Dinner MVP
- Affordability: Drumsticks are usually the cheapest cut of chicken, often under $1/lb on sale. Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs typically cost $1.49 to $2.29/lb — about 30% to 80% more per pound than drumsticks. Boneless thighs are even more expensive, making drumsticks the best value for flavorful meals.
- Flavor:Â Cooking meat on the bone gives you juicy, tender results every time.
- Versatility:Â Bake them, grill them, air fry them, or toss them in a slow cooker!
- Meal Prep Friendly:Â Easy to batch cook and freeze for later.
Pro Tip: Drumsticks go on sale often — when they do, stock up and freeze extras! A little meal prep now means even more $10 dinners in your future.
More Budget-Friendly Meals You Might Love:
If you’re looking for even more delicious ways to stretch your grocery budget, check out these easy and affordable recipes:
Eating well doesn’t have to mean spending more. These chicken drumstick recipes are proof that a little creativity (and a lot of garlic) can take you a long way.
Love these ideas? Save this post for later on Pinterest so you’ll always have an easy, budget-friendly dinner ready when you need it!
If you haven’t already read my post with 20+ practical grocery shopping tips to save money in 2025, be sure to check that out next!
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