Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs

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

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You don’t have to wait for grilling season to make juicy BBQ chicken legs! If you have an air fryer, you can make this delicious main dish all year long.

These air fryer BBQ chicken legs are seasoned with a flavorful spice rub and brushed with BBQ sauce. They’re so easy, and the air fryer makes the best crispy-skinned chicken!

These chicken legs are based off my famous Air Fryer Chicken Legs, but we add a BBQ sauce at the end for the perfect finger-lickin’ sticky finish.

Don’t have an air fryer? No worries! You should try my crockpot chicken legs or easy baked chicken – they’re delicious, too!

Why This Recipe Works

• 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!
• We’re making our own spice rub that adds tons of flavor – 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. 

You won’t miss the grill once you try these air fryer chicken drumsticks. Pair them with roasted potatoes and baked beans for a dinner everyone will love!

Ingredients

• Chicken drumsticks
• Olive oil
• Sea salt and black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Smoked paprika
• Chili powder
• Onion powder
• BBQ sauce – use your favorite jarred sauce or homemade BBQ sauce.

How to Make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken

• Prep – Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for five minutes. Combine all the spices and herbs in a small bowl and then set the spice rub aside.

• Coat – 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.
• Cook – 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.
• Baste – Brush the chicken with BBQ sauce on both sides and then cook them for two to three minutes or 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°F in the thickest part. I prefer to cook them to 180 to 190°F so that the meat is falling off the bones and there are no blood spots near the bones.

How long do you cook BBQ chicken drumsticks in the air fryer?

I like to cook mine for about 23 to 25 minutes at 400°F. The cooking time will vary depending on how thick the drumsticks are. 

Can you put raw drumsticks in an air fryer?

Yes, you can cook raw chicken in the air fryer. Once you are doing cooking clean the air fryer following your model’s instructions.

Can you stack chicken legs in an air fryer?

You shouldn’t stack chicken legs in the air fryer. The hot air needs to be able to circulate around the pieces so they cook evenly so always cook them in a single layer. If needed, cook them in separate batches and keep the cooked drumsticks in a warm oven while you cook the rest.

Should I season drumsticks before cooking?

You don’t have to, but a seasoning rub adds flavor and also helps to crisp up the chicken skin.

How long do they keep?

Leftover BBQ chicken legs will keep well for up to four days in the refrigerator. Keep them in an airtight container for best results. Reheat them in the oven or the microwave. The leftovers are also delicious cold!

What to serve BBQ Chicken Legs with!

These easy chicken legs pair with so many side dishes!

We love them with garlic noodles, corn on the cob, macaroni salad, or baked potatoes.

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 bite!

More Weeknight Chicken Recipes

• Instant Pot Shredded Chicken can be used to make easy tacos, soups, burritos, or chicken casseroles!
• Baked Parmesan Crusted Chicken is a super easy main course that pairs with so many sides. It’s a great dinner to have in your rotation!
• Crockpot Chicken Teriyaki is easy to prep and cooks in the slow cooker until it’s time to eat. It’s perfect with rice!
• These homemade Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are a quick and easy dinner recipe that are made in 30 minutes.
• Looking for a delicious dinner recipe? These creamy chicken enchiladas are amazing!
• These homemade Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are a quick and easy dinner recipe that are made in 30 minutes.

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!

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5 from 7 votes

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs

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

Prep:10 minutes mins

Cook:22 minutes mins

Total:32 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• ▢ 8 chicken drumsticks
• ▢ 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

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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 an air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees 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 at 400 degrees.
• 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.
• Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, if it is not this temperature add a few more minutes of cooking time and check after that. I actually prefer my chicken legs about 180-190 degrees so they fall off the bone and there’s no bloody spots around the bone.

Tips

How long do you cook BBQ chicken drumsticks in the air fryer?
I like to cook mine for about 23 to 25 minutes at 400°F. The cooking time will vary depending on how thick the drumsticks are.

Can you put raw drumsticks in an air fryer?
Yes, you can cook raw chicken in the air fryer. Once you are doing cooking clean the air fryer following your model’s instructions.

Can you stack chicken legs in an air fryer?
You shouldn’t stack chicken legs in the air fryer. The hot air needs to be able to circulate around the pieces so they cook evenly so always cook them in a single layer. If needed, cook them in separate batches and keep the cooked drumsticks in a warm oven while you cook the rest.

Should I season drumsticks before cooking?
You don’t have to, but a seasoning rub adds flavor and also helps to crisp up the chicken skin.

How long do they keep?
Leftover BBQ chicken legs will keep well for up to four days in the refrigerator. Keep them in an airtight container for best results. Reheat them in the oven or the microwave. The leftovers are also delicious cold!

Video

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.