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.
Laura Miller says
I did this receipt today it cooked great iwill use this again thanks for sharing
Julie Evink says
Great to hear Laura! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Terri Porter says
I’ve used this recipe several times now and I love it. I do cook the chicken 10 minutes longer than the recipe says but it tastes wonderful.
Julie Evink says
So glad you are enjoying these Terri. Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Gary says
You lost me when you said “bloody spots around the bone”. No such thing. It isn’t blood, by product of frozen chicken when ice crystals penetrate the bone and release marrow. Looks red when fully cooked, isn’t blood. Regardless, great recipe!
Debra says
Made these last week and making them again tonight. I love drumsticks and these are the best I’ve ever had. I only made two the first time and it was everything I could do not to quickly defrost more. For this month’s shopping I went out and bought a huge package just so I could have more than two each time. Told my sister in law who recommended I buy an air fryer that I’m hooked. Thank you so much.
Julie Evink says
Wonderful to hear Debra! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Larry Markham says
Hi Julie, Great recipe & this was my first air fryer recipe. I loved the taste and the legs were nice and juicy………
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it Larry!
Joline Kress says
These come out just perfect! My kids love them. I left them in a bit longer and they were amazing.
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed them Joline! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Shelley says
We enjoyed several months ago, now doing a second time. Thx
Love my air fryer
Julie Evink says
Awesome! So glad you are enjoying it!
Randy Andrews says
Perfect
Rodger says
Does the chili make it spicy? If so, how spicy on a scale of 1 (mildest) to 5 (hottest)? I have picky kids. Thanks
Julie Evink says
It has a little kick to it. You can leave it out. Still delicious!!
Diane says
Can I use regular paprika in place of smoked?
Julie Evink says
You can but it will change the flavor profile a bit!
Margaret Ladouceur says
Easy & delicious and saves on moey
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed them Margaret! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
David says
I am a man tryiny for the first time
Charlene Maguire says
This is the second time I’ve made these chicken legs, and I can’t thank you enough for posting this! I especially love that there’s no actual breading to make these crunchy, which is where I was probably blowing it when I tried on my own. I simply LOVE these chicken legs!
Julie Evink says
Wonderful to hear Charlene! So glad you enjoyed them!
Alicia says
Excellent flavor, but I accidentally switched the amount of smoked paprika and chili powder, still delicious!
Julie Evink says
Oops! Glad to hear you still enjoyed it!
Shiko from Japam says
It’s was easy and delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!