What is a Chicken Drumette? A Guide to this Tasty Little Nugget

If you love chicken wings you’ve probably snacked on drumettes before without even realizing it. While the terms “drumstick” and “drumette” sound similar they actually refer to different parts of the chicken. Keep reading to learn all about what a drumette is, where it comes from, and how to cook it.

What Part of the Chicken is the Drumette?

To understand the drumette, you must first know how a chicken wing works. A chicken wing is made up of three main parts.

• The drumette – The meaty upper section attached to the chicken’s body.

• The flat/wingette – The middle part of the wing.

• The wingtip – The skinny, bony tip of the wing.

So the drumette comes from the upper portion of the wing, next to the chicken’s body. It contains part of the humerus bone as well as some muscle and skin.

The drumette looks like a miniature drumstick (hence the name), with a rounded, tapered shape. It has an exposed bone at one end that you can grip while eating it.

Where Do Drumettes Come From?

Drumettes are usually sold next to wings, separated into their three separate parts. Some restaurants and frozen wing packs sell drumettes by the piece as a snack.

When whole chicken wings are butchered, the drumette is separated from the other wing sections. But you can also purchase a whole wing with the drumette still attached.

In this case, drumettes are just one part of the larger wing structure. They are not the same as real drumsticks, which come from the chicken’s legs!

What Do Drumettes Taste Like?

The drumette has a deeper flavor than chicken breast because it is mostly made up of dark meat. As the wing’s meatiest part, it tends to be more juicy and tender than the other parts.

Here are some tasting notes for drumettes:

• Savory, chicken-y flavor
• Hints of fat and skin add meaty, umami quality
• The bone adds extra flavor when cooked
• Skin gets deliciously crispy when fried or baked

The drumette really shines when cooked until crispy and tossed in a sticky sauce or dry rub. The sauce permeates the meat, and the skin gets crackly—perfect for snacking!

How to Cook Drumettes 3 Ways

There are so many ways to prepare these little nuggets of chicken goodness:

Baked

Baking is one of the simplest cooking methods. Just season drumettes with salt, pepper, spices, or a dry rub and bake at 375-400°F for 25-40 minutes until cooked through and crispy. The high heat helps render fat and crisp the skin.

Grilled

Grilling brings out great charred flavors. You can grill drumettes over direct high heat for about 15 minutes, flipping occasionally. Brush with a savory sauce glaze in the last few minutes.

Fried

Deep frying makes drumettes extra crispy and juicy. Fry at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Let excess oil drain off before tossing them with your favorite wing sauce.

No matter which cooking method you choose, drumettes always make a tasty, mess-free snack. Their built-in handle makes them perfect for dipping too.

The Benefits of Drumettes

Compared to other fried foods, drumettes can be a healthier option:

• High protein – A 3 oz serving provides about 21 grams of protein.

• Low calorie – Less fatty than breast or thigh meat, with only about 50 calories per drumette.

• Nutrient-rich – Provides some iron, zinc, potassium and B vitamins.

So feel good about choosing these lean, protein-packed chicken pieces! Just avoid heavy breading and fry them instead of drowning them in oil.

Drumettes vs. Drumsticks

It’s easy to confuse these two chicken pieces that sound so alike. Here’s a quick comparison:

• Drumettes – The upper wing section, smaller and daintier.

• Drumsticks – The lower chicken leg, larger with more meat.

While they come from different parts of the chicken, both can be cooked using similar methods. Drumsticks do have more total meat and fat compared to drumettes.

Next time you’re prepping wings, try separating and cooking the drumettes by themselves. Their flavor and crunch stand out when they’re not attached to the flat or tip. Treat yourself to these yummy little nuggets!