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Mexican Chicken Legs (Drumsticks and Thighs)

A simple recipe for cooking Mexican chicken legs. Chicken drumsticks and thighs simmered in spicy salsa verde; you will only need three ingredients for a delicious meal.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
50 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 546 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken thighs and 4 drumsticks OR 4 chicken quarters, Note 1
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ½ cups salsa verde 350 g/ 12.5 oz
  • ½ cup water 125 ml/ 4 fl.oz
  • 1 medium zucchini about 150 g/ 5.5 oz
  • fine sea salt or Kosher

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Brown chicken: Heat the oil in the pan. Place the chicken parts, skin side down, in the pan and cook without moving for about 4-5 minutes or until the chicken is golden and you can move it in the pan without the skin sticking to the pan.
  2. Flip the chicken and cook on the other side for another 4-5 minutes or until golden.
  3. Simmer: Add the salsa verde and water to the pan around the chicken parts and mix shortly. Cover and cook on medium-low heat for 25 minutes.
  4. Add zucchini: In the meantime, halve the zucchini lengthwise and slice the halves into chunks. Add them to the pan and continue cooking for another 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
  5. Remove the lid from the pan during the last 5 minutes of cooking time to reduce the liquid slightly.
  6. Check chicken: Use a meat thermometer; the internal temperature should be 165°F/75°C (Note 2).
  7. Adjust the taste with salt, if necessary.

Notes

  • If using whole chicken quarters, divide them at the joint. Hold the chicken thigh with one hand and the chicken leg with the other. Bend the chicken leg until the joint dislocates. Cut through the dislocated joint with a sharp knife or use kitchen shears. Remove the excess fat and skin from the chicken parts.
  • If you don’t have a meat thermometer, take one chicken piece out of the pan and make a small cut on the underside, near the bone. The meat around the bone should be white and not pink or bloody.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1chicken quarter with sauce Calories 546kcal (27%) Carbohydrates 7g (2%) Protein 64g (128%) Fat 28g (43%) Saturated Fat 7g (35%) Polyunsaturated Fat 17g Cholesterol 328mg (109%) Sodium 913mg (38%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 4g (8%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 546

% Daily Value*

Serving 1chicken quarter with sauce
Calories 546kcal 27%
Carbohydrates 7g 2%
Protein 64g 128%
Fat 28g 43%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Polyunsaturated Fat 17g 100%
Cholesterol 328mg 109%
Sodium 913mg 38%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 4g 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.