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.
These Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks are perfect for busy weeknights! In 30 minutes you can prep and cook these crispy drumsticks in the air fryer 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!
Don’t have an air fryer? Try my Crock Pot Chicken Legs!
Why You’ll This Love Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks Recipe!
- This easy recipe is ready 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.
What do I need to make Air Fryer Chicken Legs?
- Chicken drumsticks – We like to grab the biggest ones we can find so there’s more meat, just remember bigger ones take longer to air fry.
- Olive oil – You can use any type of cooking oil.
- Rub Ingredients – Sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder.
Skip the homemade rub and purchase your favorite Chicken Rub like our BBQ Chicken Rub to always have on hand for chicken.
How to Make Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer
- Preheat – Set the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit 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 seasoning mixture over the top of the chicken and toss until the chicken is evenly coated.
- Cook – Place the chicken in the air fryer basket 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.
Helpful Tools
How do I know when chicken legs are done?
Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the thickest part of the chicken. 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.
Make sure you have an instant read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. This is the only safe way to know your chicken is cooked through.
Pro Tips!
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- 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 Fahrenheit for the chicken legs.
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- 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. Check your air fryer manual for information about how much you should fill your particular model.
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- 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 and juicy meat!
How Long to Cook Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer
This cooking time is about 20 minutes to cook chicken legs in the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Remember the size of chicken legs always changes the cook time so check the internal temperature to make sure they are cooked through.
Can I add Sauce to my chicken legs?
Yes! We actually have a Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs recipe that has BBQ sauce on it to check out if you want.
We recommend cooking the chicken legs and then tossing in barbecue sauce, returning to air fryer for a few minutes so the sauce gets sticky.
How to Store Leftover Chicken Legs
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.
How to Reheat Chicken Legs
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 gives you that crisp skin 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.
Serving Suggestions
This is definitely an easy chicken recipe you want to keep around because it pretty much goes with anything.
The perfect side dishes to serve with this air fryer chicken legs 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!
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!
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!
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
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
Equipment
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.
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!