Air Fryer Chicken Legs
295 Comments
Posted: 10/14/19
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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!
Contents
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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
Quick, easy and healthy chicken drumsticks made in your
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.
Video
Nutrition Information
Calories: 310kcal (16%), Carbohydrates: 2g (1%), Protein: 27g (54%), Fat: 21g (32%), Saturated Fat: 5g (31%), Cholesterol: 139mg (46%), Sodium: 743mg (32%), Potassium: 364mg (10%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 1g (1%), Vitamin A: 489IU (10%), Calcium: 15mg (2%), Iron: 1mg (6%)
Joan says
Just what I was looking for. All the info I need and more. I will be sure to keep it
in my bookmarks so I don’t loose it.
Julie Evink says
Great to hear Joan!
Maria says
Made these but somehow it turned out burned. I wonder what I did wrong.
BodyGourd says
Hi Maria! When I saw this recipe was 400°F, I thought that was too high. I cooked mine at 360°F for 30min, flipping half way. (350 or 375 would work as well if your air fryer can’t do 360). I’ve had a lot of experience with chicken burning at higher temperatures in my model of air fryer before I’ve reached the desired internal temperature.
Julie Evink says
Great tips thank you!
Juanita Clark says
Very tasty be sure and check the leggs by cutting beside the bone and let set for 3 min. to be sure nothing comes out. I think my leggs were too Jumbo. The cooking time was not for jumbo Leggs. But very good.
Tim says
Good recipe
Julie Evink says
Thanks Tim!
Shelley says
Love these!!! Big hit 👍👆 Delicious
max says
literally turned my chicken into disks of charcoal. was so excited because i made a homemade marinate to put it in overnight and i was greeted with expertly shattered dreams
Jennifer says
Followed the temperature and time and after the first 10 minutes my chicken legs were almost charcoal
Amanda S. says
So delicious! We just got our air fryer and I stumbled onto this recipe. So glad I did. Definitely saving to use again!
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed it Amanada! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Maureen says
Wow! Very good, quick and easy. Great for a weekday meal. Only thing is we aren’t big skin fans. Will the spices stay on skinless chicken legs just as well?
Julie Evink says
Yes the oil helps it stick!
Kathy W. says
Recently got an air fryer. This was a great recipe.
Julie Evink says
Wonderful to hear Kathy! Thanks so much for commenting and rating the recipe!
Kali says
I have made this many times. Our whole family loves it.
Julie Evink says
So glad everyone loves it Kali! Thanks for rating and commenting on the recipe!
Lana says
This is the best chicken! I did take the suggestion of others and cooked them just a few minutes longer on each side. They are juicy, crispy and flavorful! Thank you for the recipe!
Julie Evink says
So glad you enjoyed them Lana! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
carol says
Just made these! SO SO Good! I just added 2 more mins per side and they came out cooked and juicy!
Julie Evink says
Awesome!! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
randy says
exelent
Julie Evink says
Great to hear Randy! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Suzanne says
Love this recipe and will definitely put it in my rotation. I love how crispy and flavorful they turned out. Is there any reason why they can’t be frozen in the marinade?
Julie Evink says
So glad you are enjoying them Suzanne! I haven’t ever tried freezing them but I would think it would work to rub them with the oil and seasonings and then freeze. Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!