Crispy, juicy, and oh-so-tasty, these air fryer chicken legs are the perfect way to satisfy your fried chicken cravings in a healthier way. It's the perfect quick and easy weeknight meal- make it in under 30 minutes!
Move over air fryer chicken wings and chicken breasts- these air fryer chicken legs are one of my new favorite air fryer recipes! Dark meat chicken legs come out so moist and juicy in the air fryer with perfectly crispy skin. And they have so much flavor!
This air fryer chicken drumstick recipe is an excellent dinner option that is quick, easy, and delicious. The whole family will love these perfectly seasoned chicken legs!
And these chicken legs are also low in calories and fat, low carb and gluten free. So why not try making some tonight and see for yourself just how great they can be?
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Perfect Chicken Legs In The Air Fryer
Air fryers allow you to cook with minimal oil, so it's a much healthier way of cooking chicken compared to deep frying. When you air fry drumsticks, you not only get juicy chicken legs with tender meat. You also get the crispy skin that we all crave, but with less calories and fat.
I toss chicken drumsticks with a flavorful spice rub that has a savory and slightly sweet, smoky flavor. Then I cook them in the air fryer to perfection. This is the air fryer that I use.
In under 20 minutes, you'll have perfectly cooked crispy chicken legs, ready to be devoured!
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Why You'll Love This Dish
- Easy- this is an easy recipe made with simple ingredients
- Fast- chicken legs cook incredibly fast in the air fryer; they're perfect for a quick weeknight dinner
- Healthy- juicy chicken drumsticks with crispy skin using minimal oil- it's much healthier than fried chicken
- Family-friendly- both kids and adults will love these air fryer drumsticks
Ingredients
Recipe notes and substitutions. See recipe card below for full ingredient list.
- Chicken legs- also known as chicken drumsticks
- Dried spices- I use a mixture of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and brown sugar. This combination has a nice combination of savory, smoky, and slightly sweet flavors that I love. You can substitute other spices like Italian seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning or cayenne pepper for heat.
- Oil- you just need a little to coat the chicken and help the spices adhere; I like to use olive oil or avocado oil.
Not sure what types of oils to use in your air fryer? Read my post on The Best Oils and Oil Sprays for the Air Fryer.
How To Make Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer Step-By-Step
See recipe card below for full recipe details and instructions.
- Step 1- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F. Mix the dried spices together in a small bowl.
- Step 2- Toss the chicken legs in a large bowl with oil and the spice mixture.
- Step 3- Place the chicken legs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. You can line the basket with an air fryer liner for easy clean up, if desired.
- Step 4- Cook 10 minutes until browned, then flip the drumsticks over and cook another 8-10 minutes until done (the chicken is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F as checked with an instant-read thermometer). If the chicken is getting too dark, lower the air fryer temperature. The final cook time will depend on the size of the chicken legs and the model of your air fryer.
Chef's Tips
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture before coating them with the oil and spices- this will help the skin crisp up nicely.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
- Use an air fryer liner for easy clean up. You can buy them or make your own liners with parchment paper.
- Don't overcrowd the basket. The hot air of the air fryer needs to circulate around the food in order for it to crisp up nicely and cook evenly, so arrange the chicken legs in a single layer. Cook them in batches if needed.
- If desired, you can brush these air fryer chicken legs with a sauce like bbq sauce or buffalo sauce at the end of cooking.
Recommended Accessories
Parchment Air Fryer Liners
These perforated parchment sheets come in different shapes, sizes, and colors- white or brown (unbleached).
Meat Thermometer
Invest in a good meat thermometer and never overcook or undercook meat again!
What To Serve with this dish
You can serve these air fryer drumsticks with your favorite sides like a side salad, potato salad, macaroni salad or coleslaw.
I also like to serve a vegetable on the side. Since you'll have the air fryer on, make my air fryer zucchini, air fryer diced potatoes, air fryer butternut squash or air fryer baked sweet potato.
You can also serve these air fryer chicken legs with my cheesy cauliflower bread on the side. These chicken legs have a ton of flavor but you can serve them with your favorite dipping sauce on the side, if desired.
Recipe FAQs
It takes about 18-22 minutes to get perfectly crispy chicken legs in an air fryer that's been preheated to 390°F .
Yes, you definitely can put raw chicken in an air fryer. Think of your air fryer as a mini convection oven so whatever you would cook in your oven, you can cook in your air fryer. And the air fryer will cook it even faster!
For best results, flip the chicken drumsticks over halfway through cooking. This will help ensure that they cook evenly and crisp up nicely on all sides.
You can store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. It should be eaten within 3-4 days. The best way to reheat leftover chicken drumsticks is in the air fryer to crisp up the skin.
Have you ever wondered how long chicken can sit out before you need to toss it? Read my post all about how to properly handle and store chicken to help ensure that it's always safe to eat!
More Air Fryer Recipes
Air Fryer Resources
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Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Crispy + Juicy)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken legs (drumsticks) (about 6 legs)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390°F.
- Place the chicken legs in a large bowl and pour the oil on top. Toss to coat the chicken with the oil.
- Mix the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, pepper, and brown sugar together in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture on the chicken legs and toss well to coat them evenly with the seasoning.
- Place the chicken legs in the air fryer basket in a single layer. You can line the basket with an air fryer liner for easy clean up, if desired. Cook 10 minutes until browned, then flip the drumsticks over and cook another 8-10 minutes until done (the chicken is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F). If the chicken is getting too dark, lower the air fryer temperature to 375 or 380°F.
- Serve chicken legs with desired side dishes.
Notes
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture before coating them with the oil and spices- this will help the skin crisp up nicely.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
- Use an air fryer liner for easy clean up. You can buy them or make your own liners with parchment paper.
- Don't overcrowd the basket. The hot air of the air fryer needs to circulate around the food in order for it to crisp up nicely and cook evenly, so arrange the chicken legs in a single layer. Cook it in batches if needed.
- If desired, you can brush these air fryer chicken legs with a sauce like bbq sauce or buffalo sauce at the end of cooking.
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