These Air Fryer Pickle Juice Chicken Drumsticks are the perfect balance between savory, succulent, and crispy. Soaked in Pickle Juice Brine overnight, the chicken legs are air-fried straight from the marinade and turn out tender, and moist, with an incredibly crispy skin and full of flavor.
Pickle Juice Chicken
Who would've thought that pickle juice and chicken could work together so harmoniously? But trust me, the tangy and spicy pickle juice marinade gives the chicken a unique flavor that you won't find in regular chicken recipes. It is an ideal meal for after-school snacking, dinner parties, summertime picnics, or just an anytime indulgence.
I love how pickle juice tenderizes the meat, and also infuses it with a tangy, zesty flavor that will leave you wondering why you've never tried this combo before.
Pickle brine chicken is a great way to use up that leftover pickle juice that's been sitting in your fridge for weeks. I tried this recipe first with Pickle Juice Chicken Breast, coated in mayo and Panko. It came out so flavorful and tender, that I'll be keeping my pickle juice in the fridge until I want to try the next recipe.
How to Make Crispy Pickle Juice Drumsticks
Prepare the Pickle Juice Marinade. In a mixing bowl, combine dill pickle juice from your favorite jar of pickles, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Whisk the mixture until everything is blended well. Place your chicken drumsticks in a resealable plastic bag (or a large glass bowl) and pour the marinade over it. Make sure that the pickle brine is coating the chicken drumsticks fully. I use a large glass bowl to marinate my chicken in the fridge.
Marinade the Chicken Drumsticks Overnight. After adding the marinade to the chicken, seal the bag, and refrigerate overnight. Keep the drumsticks in the marinade for at least 6-8 hours (or for up to 24 hours) for the best marinating result. The longer the marination period, the better the flavor will be.
Air Fryer Preparations. After marinating overnight, take your chicken out of the refrigerator. Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F for 5 minutes. Remove the chicken drumsticks from the marinade, and lightly pat them dry. Sprinkle them lightly with your favorite seasoning. I used Suya spice.
Air Fry the Chicken Drumsticks. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, and place the chicken drumsticks in the basket. Air fry the drumsticks at 390 degrees for 22-24 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking. Keep an eye on the chicken to ensure it doesn't get overcooked. Once your chicken is done, remove it from the air fryer basket and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Serve. You can serve the Delicious Pickle Juice Chicken Drumsticks with any of your favorite dipping sauces like honey mustard, BBQ sauce, or Homemade Chipotle mayo.
Is Pickle Juice good for you?
Yes! The briny liquid leftover from your favorite pickle snack is actually good for you in more ways than one.
Pickle juice contains electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which are essential for proper muscle function and hydration.
It also has been shown to alleviate muscle cramps and improve recovery after a workout.
And if you're feeling under the weather, downing a shot of pickle juice might even help to settle your stomach thanks to its vinegar content.
What to do with leftovers?
Leftover chicken drumsticks are the ultimate treasure in the fridge. You don't want them to go to waste, but you also don't want to eat them cold and bland. So, what do you do?
Well, first off, don't just throw them in a Tupperware and call it a day. That's boring.
Instead, turn those drumsticks into a salad, a sandwich, or a quesadilla.
But, if you must save them for later, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. And for extra points, add a little note that says "Do not touch - my chicken!" to ward off any potential fridge thieves.
Reheat in the microwave or air fryer until heated through.
May I recommend serving Pickle Juice Chicken Legs with:
- Homemade fries and dunk those bad boys in some tangy BBQ sauce or copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce.
- They go divine with garlicky roasted veggies such as Air Fryer Peppers, Mushrooms and Onions.
- Or go classic with Air Fryer Baked Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, or Jalapeno poppers for a spicy kick.
Where to get Pickle Juice?
You've gobbled up all the crunchy cucumbers and now you're left with a jar full of tart juice. But before you pour that precious liquid down the drain, consider the possibilities! Pickle juice can be the perfect addition to a marinade for chicken in our recipe or pork, a secret ingredient in your next batch of potato salad, or even a refreshing alternative to sports drinks for your next workout. So don't let that juice go to waste.
When shopping for pickle juice in the supermarket, be sure to select the jar of pickles with all-natural ingredients, such as cucumbers, water, sugar, salt, vinegar, spices (dill or dill seeds), red pepper, celery leaves, garlic, bay leaf. Avoid ingredients you can not read or pronounce and avoid colors, such as Yellow #5 and Red #40. If you see turmeric for color, totally go for it. You can also get a 2 qt jar of Dill Pickle Juice.
Are Pickle Juice Chicken Drumsticks too salty?
Marinating chicken in pickle juice is a game-changer. But is the chicken too salty? That's a question only you can answer, my friend. And if you're like me, the answer is a "heck no!" But if you're a little more salt-sensitive, don't worry - you can always dilute the pickle juice with some water. The point is, don't let the fear of a little salt stop you from exploring the wonderful world of pickle juice chicken.
The bottom line is, chicken absorbs only a small portion of pickle juice, resulting in perfect not too salty chicken.
More Deliciously Tangy Recipes You’ll Love:
- Salt & Vinegar Chicken Wings
- Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips
- Pickle Juice Chicken Breast
- Brined Chicken in salty water
Air Fryer Pickle Juice Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 chicken drumsticks skin on
- 2 cups pickle juice pickle brine
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Pickle Juice Marinade. In a mixing bowl, combine dill pickle juice from your favorite jar of pickles, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Whisk the mixture until everything is blended well. Place your chicken drumsticks in a resealable plastic bag (or a large glass bowl) and pour the marinade over it. Make sure that the pickle brine is coating the chicken drumsticks fully.
- Marinade the Chicken Drumsticks Overnight. After adding the marinade to the chicken, seal the bag, and refrigerate overnight. Keep the drumsticks in the marinade for at least 6-8 hours (or for up to 24 hours) for the best marinating result. The longer the marination period, the better the flavor will be.
- After marinating overnight, take your chicken out of the refrigerator. Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F for 5 minutes. Remove the chicken drumsticks from the marinade, and lightly pat them dry. Sprinkle them lightly with your favorite seasoning. I used Suya spice.
- Air Fry the Chicken Drumsticks. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, and place the chicken drumsticks in the basket. Air fry the drumsticks at 390 degrees for 22-24 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking. Keep an eye on the chicken to make sure that it doesn't get overcooked. Once your chicken is done, remove it from the air fryer basket and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.Alternatively, check for internal temperature of 165F upon chicken is done cooking.
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