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. This is a weeknight-friendly way to switch up your chicken dinner, especially if you’ve been stuck in a boneless, skinless chicken breast rut. Chicken drumsticks are juicy, full of flavor and so easy to cook in an air fryer. Serve them with some Creamy Corn Macaroni and Cheese Casserole for a dinner your whole family will love!
These Air Fryer Chicken Legs have “go-to weeknight dinner” written all over them! In 30 minutes you can prep and cook the chicken legs and dinner is ready to go.
We love Baked Chicken Legs and Barbecue Baked Chicken Drumsticks that are cooked in the oven, but these Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks are one of our new favorites. The skin gets so nice and crispy and the flavor from the seasoning is so delicious!
This is definitely a chicken recipe you want to keep around because it pretty much goes with anything. I love them with potato salad and pasta salad during the summer and roasted vegetables during the winter.
Don’t have an air fryer? Try my Crock Pot Chicken Legs!
What do I need to make this?
If you’d rather skip my (very helpful, I think) tips and tricks, essential cooking info, and similar recipe ideas – and get straight to this easy Air Fryer Chicken Drumstick recipe – simply scroll to the bottom of the page where you can find the printable recipe card.
- Chicken drumsticks
- Olive oil
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Chili powder
- Onion powder
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- Preheat – Set the air fryer to 400 degrees F and preheat it for 10 minutes
- Season – Place the chicken in a bowl (or resealable bag) and coat it with the olive oil. In a small bowl, combine the spices. Sprinkle the spices over the top of the chicken and toss until the chicken is evenly coated.
- Cook – Place the chicken in the air fryer and cook it for 10 minutes. Turn the chicken drumsticks over and cook them for another 10 minutes. Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
What tools do I need?
- Large bowl for seasoning the chicken
- Small bowl for mixing the spices
- Air fryer
Tips and Tricks for Making the BEST Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks!
- For really crispy skin, it’s a good idea to pat your chicken drumsticks dry with a paper towel before you coat them in the oil and spices. This removes any excess moisture and ensures your chicken cooks up with a crispy skin.
- Be sure to preheat your air fryer. Just l like your oven, you want to make sure your air fryer is hot and at temperature, which is 400 degrees F for the chicken legs.
- Don’t overfill the air fryer otherwise your chicken legs won’t cook evenly since the air won’t be able to circulate fully. Check your air fryer manual for information about how much you should fill your particular model.
- 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!
- Chicken is done when the internal temperate reaches 165 degrees F. I prefer to cook my chicken drumsticks to 180-190 degrees F so the meat is falling off of the bone. Also, cooking it to a higher temperature gets rid of the bloody spots around the bone.
This easy chicken drumstick recipe is just another reason to love your air fryer! I hope you give this recipe a try!
More Air Fryer 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!
- Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
- Air Fryer Donuts
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Meatballs
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Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees 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 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.
Cat says
Husband and son (and me too) love this and there is never any leftover.
Julie Evink says
Awesome Cat!! Thanks for commenting and rating this recipe!
m silva says
delicious, easy to prepare, quick meal. thank you!
Julie Evink says
Awesome to hear!
Nicole S says
This is the best chicken I’ve ever made!
Julie Evink says
That’s great Nicole!! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Catherine says
Picky son ate three drumsticks!
Julie Evink says
Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!
KC says
OMG can you stop calling chicken legs, chicken drumsticks!!
They are NOT the same and take different times to cook.
Sammy Garpson says
They are legs! I don’t know what you think legs are. Legs with thighs are called “quarters”! Legs are drumsticks, drumsticks are legs! Drumsticks is an American tradition that gives a name to something, that it looks like, but is clearly not! Kinda like saying “Trump is a president” LOL
Julie Evink says
I love you 🙂
Jenny says
Yesss!!
Samantha says
My SO and I have been trying to make the decision to give up red meat for health reasons. Occasionally we will have beef, ham, etc. But it’s been challenging to try to make chicken still good and something that we truly enjoy for right now. (This is a fairly new thing – maybe a couple months). But I followed this recipe EXACTLY how you posted it and it was AMAZING. The pack of drumsticks that he brought home from the store had 12-13 in it so I had already put all but eight in the freezer, and he and our daughter asked if I thought they were already frozen or if we could just set them in the fridge for the night and have this again tomorrow! 🤣
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it!!!
sandra martin says
I just got my air fryer and tried your recipe. It was awesome. I will be making this again. Thank you again for a wonderful recipe
Julie Evink says
So glad to hear that Sandra!!
Vicki says
This recipe was GREAT! I followed it to a tee and came out perfect! The skin was very flavorful and the chicken was very juicy and tender. Definitely making this again. Thank you for sharing!
Julie Evink says
Awesome to hear Vicki!! So glad you enjoyed them!
Sharon says
This recipe is super simple and really delicious! I will definitely make this again!!!
Julie Evink says
Awesome to hear Sharon!
Mary says
Delish and so easy, too. This has moved into my regular recipe rotation! Thank you!
Julie Evink says
Great to hear Mary!
Cathy says
Crispy, tasty and juicy chicken legs! Delicious!
Julie Evink says
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed them!
Kate says
This is the first thing I’ve cooked in my 4 qt air fryer. The amount of spice for 4 drumsticks worked perfectly for 5 drumsticks, and the legs came out beautifully even thought the chicken has been frozen for 5 years! Definitely one to make again.
Julie Evink says
So glad to hear it Kate!
Daynah says
5 years!!! in the freezer ? noooooo!!! that can’t be right lol
Shannon says
Wow! These are wonderful! I highly recommend following her advice and cooking until meat pulls from bone.
The recipe was super easy and fast! Loved it.
Julie Evink says
Awesome! It’s our go-to recipe too!
Sissy says
This recipe is fabulous I have already made them about 5 times the flavor is spectacular and they fall off the bone I cooked them at 400 Degrees for10 minutes on each side very fast and easy recipe but I find when I marinate them overnight they’re even better
Julie Evink says
Great to hear! Thanks for coming back and rating and commenting!
Ashley Heath says
I’ve made this twice now! So yummy and easy. I love it with a side of smashed potatoes and greek salad!
Julie Evink says
Awesome to hear!
Tashua says
Love this recipe!
Julie Evink says
That’s awesome!