Fast Foods, Fried Chicken, Drumstick, meat only, skin and breading removed
Whole food · Fast Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
This is the lean, meaty core of a fried chicken drumstick, stripped of its crispy skin and breading. The result is a tender, juicy piece of white meat with a mild, savory chicken flavor and a firm, fibrous texture. It's a high-protein, virtually zero-carb food, making it a staple for low-carb and high-protein diets.
💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its satisfying, lean protein hit and familiar, comforting chicken flavor that acts as a perfect canvas for countless marinades, sauces, and seasonings. It's a convenient, portable protein source that fits into busy lifestyles and diverse culinary traditions.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Without the skin, it can be perceived as drier or less flavorful than other cuts, and it's often high in sodium from brining or seasoning in fast-food preparation. To counteract dryness, marinate before cooking or use moist-heat methods like braising. To manage sodium, rinse the meat if canned or choose low-sodium preparations and pair with potassium-rich vegetables like spinach or broccoli.
Key benefits
- Excellent source of complete protein for muscle maintenance
- Very low in carbohydrates, suitable for ketogenic diets
- Contains essential nutrients like niacin, vitamin B6, and phosphorus
- Versatile base for a wide range of global dishes
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
A single drumstick's meat provides roughly 26 grams of protein, which is about half the daily recommended intake for an average adult, making it one of the most protein-dense parts of the chicken.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 64.2 g |
| Energy | 172 kcal |
| Energy | 718 kj |
| Protein | 26.2 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 7.4 g |
| Ash | 2.1 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.00 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 16.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.0 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 24.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 211 mg |
| Potassium, K | 291 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 492 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 2.5 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.08 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.05 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 32.1 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.08 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.30 mg |
| Niacin | 5.7 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.27 mg |
| Folate, total | 10.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 10.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 10.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 81.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.74 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 11.0 ug |
| Retinol | 11.0 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 37.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.33 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 5.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.10 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 2.0 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.05 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 1.4 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.49 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 2.9 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.43 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.42 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 2.4 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 2.4 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.03 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.7 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.5 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 1.4 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.07 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.06 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.08 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.07 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.06 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.01 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.05 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.02 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.02 g |
| Cholesterol | 133 mg |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
FAQ
Is the meat from a drumstick considered white or dark meat?
It's technically classified as dark meat because the drumstick is a well-used muscle, but it cooks and tastes more like white meat, especially when the skin and breading are removed.
How can I tell if this chicken is cooked through without a thermometer?
The juices should run clear when pierced, and the meat should be opaque all the way through with no pinkness. The meat will also pull away easily from the bone.
Why is the protein content so high when the fat is also present?
Chicken drumstick meat has a favorable lean-to-fat ratio. The 7.41g of fat per 100g contributes to flavor and juiciness, but the meat is still predominantly protein by weight.