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

If you like chicken wings, you may have eaten drumettes as a snack before without realizing it. The words “drumstick” and “drumette” sound alike, but they mean different parts of the chicken. Find out what a drumette is, where it comes from, and how to cook it by reading on.

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.

The drumette comes from the top part of the wing, right next to the chicken’s body. Part of the humerus bone is in it, along with 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?

You’ll usually see drumettes sold right alongside wings, segmented into their three distinct parts. Some restaurants and frozen wing packs even sell drumettes individually for snacking.

The drumette is separated from the other parts of the wing when whole chicken wings are cut up. You can buy a whole wing with the drumette still attached, though.

So drumettes are simply one piece of the larger wing structure. Don’t confuse them with actual drumsticks, which come from the chicken’s legs!

What Do Drumettes Taste Like?

The drumette contains mostly dark meat, giving it a richer flavor than chicken breast. As the meatiest part of the wing, it tends to be juicier and more tender than the other sections.

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!