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Home » Recipes » Chicken Drumsticks with Peppers and Paprika

Chicken Drumsticks with Peppers and Paprika

by Mike Hultquist · May 23, 2022 · 20 Comments

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Chicken Drumsticks Recipe with Peppers and Paprika Recipe

This Italian chicken drumsticks recipe is huge on flavor with chicken legs seasoned with paprika, then browned and oven baked with with peppers and onions.

Chicken Drumsticks Recipe with Peppers and Paprika Recipe

One Pan Italian Chicken Drumsticks

We're cooking up an easy chicken recipe tonight in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen, my friends. This might become your new go-to chicken dinner recipe.

I'm using chicken legs, chicken drumsticks to be more precise. Chicken drummies are always fun to eat and they satisfy some of the comfort food craving we get from time to time.

These chicken drumsticks are baked, though, not fried, so they aren't so decadent. I'm also seasoning them up with lots of paprika, which is vibrant and flavor.

It's an Italian style recipe, with the chicken drumsticks baked with lots of sliced peppers and onions. Talk about flavor.

It's called Cosce di Pollo con Peperoni e Paprika, or Chicken Drumsticks with Peppers and Paprika.

It's a one-pan meal, the main and the side dish all cooked up together, though you can easily include other ingredients to make it your own.

You can also easily adjust the seasonings to your personal preference, making it as spicy as you prefer. I know you want to, my chilihead friends! =)

Let's talk about how to make chicken drumsticks with peppers and paprika, shall we?

Italian Chicken Drumsticks ready to serve with lots of roasted peppers

Chicken Drumsticks with Peppers and Paprika Ingredients

  • Chicken Drumsticks. You can use other cuts of chicken for this recipe.
  • Olive Oil. For cooking, and for serving, if desired.
  • Paprika. I’m using hot paprika for this recipe, though you can use sweet paprika or smoked paprika, or a combination.
  • Other Seasonings. Red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper.
  • Onions.
  • Peppers. Use bell peppers for the bulk of the recipe, or Italian sweets if you can find them (or grow them). Add in spicier peppers to your preference. I'm adding jalapeno peppers today.
  • Garlic.
  • Dry White Wine.
  • For Serving. Chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, lemon, olive oil.

How to Make Chicken Drumsticks with Peppers and Paprika - the Recipe Method

Preheat Oven. Heat oven to 400 degrees F.

Season the Chicken. Toss the chicken drumsticks with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon paprika, chili flakes, salt and pepper. Be sure to evenly coat.

Seasoning Chicken Drumsticks in a bowl

Brown the Chicken. Heat a large oven-proof skillet to medium-high heat. Cook the seasoned drumsticks for 5 minutes, turning to brown each side and get some crispy skin. Remove chicken and set aside.

Searing Chicken Drumsticks in a hot pan

Cook the Onions, Pepper, and Garlic. Heat the remaining olive oil in the same skillet and add onions and peppers. Cook for 5 minutes to soften.

Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until the garlic becomes fragrant. Remove from heat and cool slightly.

Cooking down peppers and onions in a hot pan

Add the chicken back to the pan.

Wine and Seasonings. Pour the wine into the pan. Sprinkle with remaining paprika, along with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste.

Bake the Chicken. Transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered, turning the chicken a few times throughout, for 40 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through and nicely glazed.

Check the temperature of the chicken at about 30 minutes, as they may have already come to proper temperature. Cooking times can vary.

The internal temperature should measure 165 degrees F for cooked chicken when measured with a meat thermometer.

Ready to Serve. Remove from heat, garnish and serve. I enjoy fresh chopped parsley, red chili flakes, and a bit of good quality olive oil drizzled over this dish, though fresh squeezed lemon juice is a very nice addition for a pop of citrus.

Italian Chicken Drumsticks in a pan with vegetables

Boom! Done! Your chicken drumsticks are ready to serve with lots of peppers. Easy enough to make, isn't it? We love this for a simple weeknight dinner.

Serving the Chicken Drumsticks

You can serve your chicken drumsticks with the cooked peppers and onions on the side for a simple meal. For a variation, toss the peppers and onions with cooked pasta, then top with the chicken drumsticks.

Another delicious way to serve them is over creamy polenta with a good olive oil. I greatly enjoy a few drizzles of fresh Tuscan olive oil over the top.

Recipe Tips & Notes

  • The Chicken. I enjoy making this recipe with chicken drumsticks, but you can easily use the entire chicken legs, including chicken thighs. It's also great with chicken breast. Bone in chicken is ideal here, but you can use boneless chicken, though you won't need to bake them as long.
  • Other Ingredients. You can round this dish out with other vegetables to make it a fuller meal. I enjoy adding sliced potatoes to the pan, which soften up nicely and make the dish more filling. Also, try adding cherry tomatoes 10 minutes before serving.
  • The Paprika and Other Seasonings. You can also adjust the seasonings to your preference. Consider adding cayenne pepper for a spicier version, or use a mix of hot paprika and smoked paprika. Also consider dried herbs, like dried oregano or basil.
  • Saucy Version. For saucier chicken drumsticks, add 2-3 large sliced tomatoes to the dish before baking them in the oven. This is perfect for serving with pasta.

That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy this aloo gobi recipe. Let me know if you make it. I'd love to hear how it turned out for you, and if you decided to spice it up!

Cookbook Recommendation

If you enjoy Italian cuisine, I recommend the following cookbook, which I used to adapt this recipe. It has a lot of great recipes.

  • Lidia's Mastering the Art of Italian Cuisine: Everything You Need to Know to Be a Great Italian Cook, by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich (affiliate link, my friends!)

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

  • Peri Peri Chicken
  • Grilled Harissa Chicken Drumsticks
  • Paprika Chicken (Chicken Paprikash)
  • Peruvian Chicken (Pollo a la Brasa)
  • Nashville Hot Chicken
  • Quick and Easy Chipotle Chicken
  • Mango-Habanero BBQ Chicken (with homemade BBQ sauce)
  • Salsa Chicken
  • Cajun Baked Chicken Thighs
  • Baked Chicken Drumsticks with Pipian Rojo
  • Chicken Scarpariello
  • Chicken Cacciatore
Chicken Drumsticks with Peppers and Paprika in a pan, ready to serve

Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.

Chicken Drumsticks Recipe with Peppers and Paprika Recipe
Print

Chicken Drumsticks Recipe with Peppers and Paprika (Cosce di Pollo con Peperoni e Paprika)

This Italian chicken drumsticks recipe is huge on flavor with chicken legs seasoned with paprika, then browned and oven baked with with peppers and onions.
Save Recipe Saved!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: bell peppers, chicken drumsticks, chicken legs, paprika
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
Calories: 250kcal
Author: Mike Hultquist
Servings: 6 chicken drumsticks
Tap or hover to scale
5 from 7 votes
Leave a Review

Ingredients

  • 6 chicken drumsticks about 2 pounds
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 2 tablespoons paprika divided (I’m using hot paprika, though you can use sweet or smoked)
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes plus more to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 medium onions sliced
  • 2 bell peppers seeded and sliced into strips (use Italian sweets if available)
  • 3-4 jalapeno peppers sliced into strips (optional, for a spicier version)
  • 6 cloves garlic minced
  • 1.5 cup dry white wine
  • For Serving. Chopped parsley red pepper flakes, lemon, olive oil.

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Toss the chicken drumsticks with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon paprika, chili flakes, salt and pepper. Be sure to evenly coat.
  • Heat a large oven-proof skillet to medium-high heat. Cook the seasoned drumsticks for 5 minutes, turning to brown each side. Remove chicken and set aside.
  • Heat the remaining olive oil in the same skillet and add onions and peppers. Cook for 5 minutes to soften.
  • Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until the garlic becomes fragrant. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
  • Add the chicken back to the pan.
  • Pour the wine into the pan. Sprinkle with remaining paprika, along with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to taste.
  • Transfer to the oven and roast, uncovered, turning the chicken a few times throughout, for 40 minutes, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through and nicely glazed.
  • Remove from heat, garnish and serve.

Notes

The internal temperature of the chicken should measure 165 degrees F when measured with a meat thermometer.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 250kcal   Carbohydrates: 10g   Protein: 15g   Fat: 12g   Saturated Fat: 3g   Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g   Monounsaturated Fat: 6g   Trans Fat: 1g   Cholesterol: 70mg   Sodium: 93mg   Potassium: 438mg   Fiber: 3g   Sugar: 4g   Vitamin A: 2601IU   Vitamin C: 63mg   Calcium: 37mg   Iron: 2mg
Chicken Drumsticks Recipe with Peppers and Paprika Recipe
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?I love hearing how you like it and how you made it your own. Leave a comment below and tag @ChiliPepperMadness on social media.

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Tami says

    January 25, 2025 at 8:43 pm

    5 stars
    I used thighs and beef stock instead of legs and dry wine. It came out great. My family enjoyed it.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      January 25, 2025 at 10:36 pm

      Yes!!! Glad your family enjoyed it, Tami!!

      Reply
  2. Judy says

    December 14, 2024 at 7:15 pm

    5 stars
    I was looking for recipe using peppers and chicken drumsticks. I came across this recipe and gave it a try. It was delicious. I made sautéed perogies to go with it. Delicious!

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      December 15, 2024 at 2:40 pm

      Sounds perfect, Judy! Thanks!!

      Reply
  3. Cj says

    December 28, 2023 at 2:12 pm

    5 stars
    Rating is a

    Reply
    • Mike H. says

      December 28, 2023 at 2:37 pm

      Thank you, CJ!

      Reply
  4. Chantal Joni says

    December 28, 2023 at 2:11 pm

    10/10. The family loved it so much

    Reply
    • Mike H. says

      December 28, 2023 at 2:37 pm

      Thank you for the feedback, Chantal!

      Reply
  5. Ashley says

    March 20, 2023 at 2:40 pm

    What can you use in place of wine?

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      March 20, 2023 at 2:55 pm

      Vinegar is good as a sub, Ashley.

      Reply
    • Dora says

      June 16, 2023 at 6:10 pm

      5 stars
      You can use Chicken Broth as a substitute for the wine. I used the broth each time I made this dish. Came out delicious

      Reply
      • Moreblessing Mutambudzi says

        June 21, 2024 at 9:44 am

        That’s exactly what I ve done!

        Reply
  6. Stacey says

    June 20, 2022 at 12:03 pm

    If I added potatoes to this, what kind would you recommend?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 20, 2022 at 12:21 pm

      Stacey, I would use smaller baby potatoes or fingerlings, or you can quarter some yellow potatoes. Let me know how it goes! Enjoy!

      Reply
  7. Gary says

    June 02, 2022 at 5:54 pm

    5 stars
    Followed pretty closely, using Korean powered red pepper instead of flakes and only two jalapenos. Was very good, just the right amount of bite for my wife and myself.

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      June 03, 2022 at 6:23 am

      Excellent!! Glad you enjoyed it, Gary!

      Reply
  8. MaryLou says

    May 25, 2022 at 2:43 pm

    5 stars
    Hey Mikey this meal was amazing I will be sure to make this one again !!!
    big hit..
    I like the way you work with all the peppers and all the information on them..
    It's great to be able to understand the heat and what they are capable of...
    Thx so much
    MaryLou

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      May 26, 2022 at 7:40 am

      Thanks so much, MaryLou! I appreciate it! Glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  9. Leo says

    May 25, 2022 at 7:53 am

    5 stars
    WOW this is delicious tnxs mike

    Reply
    • Mike Hultquist says

      May 26, 2022 at 7:40 am

      Thanks, Leo! Yes, we love this one for sure!

      Reply

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