Golden Drumsticks with Buttery Mashed Potatoes

This dish features crispy, golden-fried chicken drumsticks paired with rich, buttery mashed potatoes for the perfect comfort meal. 🍗🥔✨

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Ingredients:

For the Fried Chicken:

• 6 chicken drumsticks
• 1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice)
• 1 tsp hot sauce (optional, for heat)
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cornstarch (for extra crispiness)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 tsp baking powder (helps make it extra crispy)
• Oil for frying (vegetable or peanut oil)

For the Buttery Mashed Potatoes:

• 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
• ½ cup heavy cream (or whole milk)
• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
• ½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ cup sour cream (optional, for extra creaminess)

For Garnish:

• Fresh parsley, chopped
• Extra melted butter for drizzling

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Instructions:

1. Marinate the Chicken:

1. In a bowl, mix buttermilk and hot sauce.
2. Add the chicken drumsticks, ensuring they are fully coated.
3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight for best flavor).

2. Prepare the Mashed Potatoes:

1. Boil chopped potatoes in salted water for 15-20 minutes until fork-tender.
2. Drain and mash the potatoes.
3. Add butter, heavy cream, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
4. Mix until smooth and creamy. Stir in sour cream if using.
5. Cover and keep warm.

3. Coat the Chicken:

1. In a separate bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne, and baking powder.
2. Remove the chicken from the buttermilk, letting excess drip off.
3. Dredge in the flour mixture, pressing firmly to coat.
4. Let the coated chicken rest on a wire rack for 10 minutes to help the coating stick.

4. Fry Until Golden & Crispy:

1. Heat oil in a deep pan to 350°F (175°C).
2. Fry the drumsticks in batches for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and crispy.
3. Drain on a paper towel and let rest for 5 minutes.

5. Serve & Garnish:

• Plate the crispy drumsticks with a generous serving of buttery mashed potatoes.
• Drizzle extra melted butter over the potatoes and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

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🔥 Crispy, juicy chicken paired with creamy, buttery mashed potatoes—this dish is pure comfort food perfection! 😊🍗🥔