Air Fryer Chicken Legs
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Air Fryer Chicken Legs are a quick and easy dinner recipe! These Chicken Drumsticks are tossed in olive oil and then a blend of seasonings before they are cooked. This gives them a delicious flavor and crispy skin!

Today, it’s all about crispy chicken legs in your Air Fryer with a super simple spice rub. Air Fryer Chicken Legs are juicy, full of flavor and so easy to cook in an air fryer, ready in 30 minutes!.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This easy air fried chicken legs recipe takes only 5 minutes to prepare and ready in to eat in 30 minutes for an easy meal!
- Crispy skin, juicy chicken meat from cooking chicken legs in the air fryer with tons of flavor from the homemade rub.
- You can be creative and use any of your favorite seasoning mixes or sauces to create any kind of chicken legs you love!
Easy and very tasty!
How to cook Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer
Set the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place the chicken in a bowl or resealable bag, and coat it with olive oil.
Combine spices in a small bowl then sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken and toss until the chicken is evenly coated.
Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook it for 10 minutes. Turn the chicken drumsticks over and cook for another 10 minutes.

Storage & Reheating
Refrigerator: Place chicken drumsticks in air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezer: To freeze chicken legs, we recommend storing them in a freezer safe airtight container for up to three months.
Quickest and easiest way is to throw these Air Fryer Drumsticks back in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they are reheated. This will ensure the skin gets nice and crispy again.
You could also warm them on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
The microwave will also work, but it will make the chicken skin soggy so we try to avoid this.
how to serve crispy air fryer chicken legs
The perfect side dishes to serve with this air fryer drumsticks recipe are potato salad and pasta salad during the summer and roasted vegetables during the winter. Keep it simple and serve them with a side of French fries!
Julie’s Tips!
- Be sure to preheat your air fryer. Just like your oven, you want to make sure your air fryer is hot and at temperature prior to cooking, which is 400 degrees Fahrenheit for the chicken legs.
- Don’t overfill the air fryer otherwise your chicken legs won’t cook evenly since the hot air won’t be able to circulate fully.

This easy chicken drumstick recipe is just another reason to love your air fryer! I hope you give this recipe a try because the whole family will love it for weeknight dinners!
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!

Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat 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 air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.
- Flip chicken drumsticks over and cook for an additional 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- 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
- Don’t overfill the air fryer otherwise your chicken legs won’t cook evenly since the air won’t be able to circulate fully.
- Don’t stack your chicken legs in the air fryer. Place them in a single layer so the skin is exposed. This will ensure your chicken drumsticks cook evenly and get that delicious crispy skin!
- Refrigerator: Place chicken drumsticks in air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Freezer: To freezer chicken legs we recommend storing them in a freezer safe airtight container for up to three months.
Nutrition Information
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes!
Love using your Air Fryer as much as we do for quick meals and treats? Here are a few of our most popular recipes using your Air Fryer!
GKG says
Made these for the first time. Family absolutely loved them. So tasty! I will make these regularly. So crispy too. Thank you.
Michelle Sperr says
Glad you love the air fryer chicken legs recipe! Thanks for sharing your comment!
Carol D OConnell says
How long do you cook yours to reach 180-190 degrees??
Michelle Sperr says
Hi Carol! Thank you for your question. I start by preheating the air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes. To cook them, I place the chicken drumsticks in air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Flip chicken drumsticks over and cook for an additional 10 minutes at 400 degrees. 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.
Erica says
I’m so glad I found this recipe. My family loved it!
Thank you for sharing 🙂
Michelle Sperr says
You’re welcome Erica! Glad you all enjoyed it!
DJ says
Delicious! Family favorite. I’ll never make it another way!
Michelle Sperr says
Awesome DJ! Glad that you loved these chicken legs!
Kathy says
These chicken legs are now a family favorite. Super easy and absolutely Amazing.
Michelle Sperr says
Awesome Kathy!
Patrycja says
Very good!
Michelle Sperr says
Thank you! Glad that you enjoyed the recipe!
Retta says
Followed the recipe to a t….excellent….husband and daughter said, “Mmmmm…it’s very tasty.” Thanks!
Michelle Sperr says
So glad this recipe was a success for you and your family Retta!
Bebe says
Absolutely delicious! I’ll be doubling this next time! Our whole apartment smells heavenly! Perfect blend of spices. This is a keeper!
Michelle Sperr says
Yay! So glad to hear that this recipe was delicious and you’ll be making it again!
Linda Hodges says
Turned out great! Juicy and crispy!
Michelle Sperr says
Glad to hear you liked them!
Danielle Schmidgall says
These were easy and delicious. The skin was crispy and flavorful. This recipe was the first time I’ve made drumsticks in my air fryer and it won’t be the last!
Julie says
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
Sarah says
Amazing!!!! Thank you so much for the recipe! My entire family enjoyed it!!
Julie says
Awesome! I’m so glad they were a hit with the whole family!
Kayla says
Loved it! Thank you so much! Is the nutritional fact per drumstick?
Julie says
It is for 2 drumsticks. I’m so glad you loved them!
Vikki says
VERY VERY GOOD, THANKS SO MUCH FOR A LOVELY RECIPE, THIS IS ALREADY A FAMILY FAVOURITE!
Julie says
Great! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!
barbara Savary says
do you use the bowl to catch the fat dripings
Julie says
Your air fryer should have something in it to catch the drippings.
Alison Cagle says
This was absolutely delicious! My legs were pretty meaty so I had to leave mine in for 25 minutes to get them cooked all the way to the done. The spices made a perfect smokey crunch, and went great with my mashed potatoes. Definitely adding this to the air fryer recipe binder!
Julie says
Awesome! I’m so glad you loved them!
Marla J. Ybarra says
I’m following the Keto way of eating and this recipe is perfect and easy for making a great meal! I’ve been looking for an air fryer recipe for crispy chicken, thanks!
Michelle Sperr says
You’re welcome Marla! Glad you loved this recipe.