Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs

Tender, juicy chicken legs that are tossed in olive oil and seasoning then basted with BBQ sauce. Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs are tender, juicy and an easy and delicious dinner recipe!

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This air fryer chicken legs recip is based off my famous Air Fryer Chicken Legs, but we add a BBQ sauce at the end for the perfect finger-lickin’ sticky finish. Season the drumsticks with pantry staples to get a nice crispy skin and then finish them off with your favorite BBQ sauce. The flavor and texture is out of this world delicious. The best part is that kids are all about this handheld protein, too.

Don’t have an air fryer? No worries! You should try my crockpot chicken legs or easy baked chicken – they’re delicious, too. If it’s summer and you want to heat up the grill don’t miss our bbq chicken marinade.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• I love air fryer recipes, and this chicken leg recipe is always a favorite. You get the best crispy skin and juicy meat when you air fry chicken legs.
• We’re making our own spice rub that adds tons of flavor plus you probably have all of the ingredients on hand already. 
• The drumsticks are brushed in BBQ sauce and then cooked until the sauce caramelizes so it’s sticky and delicious. 

Ingredients

• Chicken drumsticks – Leave the skin on for a crispy outside. You can use wings or thighs, but you will have to keep an eye on cook time.
• Olive oil – This is used to coat the chicken which will help the rub stick to the drumsticks.
• Seasonings – sea salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder and onion powder are combined to season the chicken legs. They help to create a nice crispy skin.
• BBQ sauce – Use your favorite jarred sauce or homemade BBQ sauce. There are so many unique BBQ sauces, you can switch up the flavor profile of air fryer chicken legs every time you make them.

How to Make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken

Combine all the spices and herbs in a small bowl and set the spice mixture aside.

Place the chicken pieces in a resealable bag or large bowl. Add the olive oil and toss the drumsticks to coat them evenly. Add the spice mixture and toss again to coat chicken legs.

Place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook them for 10 minutes and then turn them over and cook them for 10 more minutes.

Brush the chicken with BBQ sauce on both sides and cook for two to three minutes until the sauce is caramelized and the chicken is cooked through.

How do I know when Chicken Legs are done?

The internal temperature of the chicken should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part. I prefer to cook them to 180 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit so that the meat is falling off the bones and there are no blood spots near the bones.

Storage and Reheating

Fridge: Leftover BBQ chicken legs will keep well in an airtight container for up to four days.

Freezer: If you want to freeze leftovers for another time, freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet before storing them in a freezer bag. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

Reheat BBQ chicken legs in the air fryer to keep the skin nice and crispy.

If you’re looking for easy chicken recipes, these air fryer BBQ chicken legs need to be in your meal plan. Your family will love every saucy bite!

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

5 from 8 votes

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs

Tender, juicy chicken legs cooked in the air fryer that are perfectly seasoned and brushed with BBQ sauce.

Prep:10 minutes mins

Cook:22 minutes mins

Total:32 minutes mins

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Video

4

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Basting brush
• Meat thermometer
• Tongs

Ingredients

• ▢ 8 chicken drumsticks skin on
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon chili powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1 cup BBQ sauce

Instructions

• Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
• In a small bowl combine all the spices and herbs, set mixture aside.
• Place chicken in a plastic resealable bag or bowl. Add olive oil and toss to coat.
• Add spice mixture to bag or bowl and toss to coat chicken legs.
• Place chicken drumsticks in a single layer in air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes. Do not stack chicken legs, you may need to do this in batches. You want the air to be able to circulate around them.
• Flip chicken drumsticks over and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
• Brush chicken legs with BBQ sauce on top side, flip and brush chicken legs again. Close the air fryer basket and cook 2-3 more minutes or until BBQ sauce is glazed.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 433kcal (22%), Carbohydrates: 31g (10%), Protein: 28g (56%), Fat: 22g (34%), Saturated Fat: 5g (31%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 11g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 139mg (46%), Sodium: 1477mg (64%), Potassium: 540mg (15%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 24g (27%), Vitamin A: 638IU (13%), Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 45mg (5%), Iron: 2mg (11%)

© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.

How To Serve BBQ Chicken Legs

These easy chicken legs pair with so many of your family’s favorite side dishes.

We love them with flavorful garlic noodles, tender corn on the cob, classic macaroni salad, deliciously creamy coleslaw, or household favorite baked potatoes.

Classics like roasted potatoes and baked beans are part of a dinner everyone will love!

More Great Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

• These homemade Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are a quick and easy dinner recipe that are made in 30 minutes.
• Tender, bite-sized chicken with a crisp breading is perfect for game day, appetizers or even part of a meal. We love to whip up Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken in our household!
• Enjoy a super juicy Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan with it’s crispy parmesan coating tonight for supper.
• I don’t know about you, but the kids in our house are obsessed with Chicken Tenders. These crisp, tender handheld pieces of chicken really hit the spot whether you’re at a tailgate or cookout.