What Do You Need to Make this Recipe?
For this air fryer chicken legs recipe, you’ll need chicken drumsticks, vegetable oil (olive oil or avocado oil are my favorites), paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar (or coconut sugar), kosher salt, black pepper, and baking powder. Just a few tasty options include ground cumin, ground coriander, cayenne pepper, curry powder, Italian seasoning, dried oregano, thyme, and chili powder.
Baking Powder for Extra Crispy Drumsticks
Cooking air fryer chicken drumsticks in baking powder is the key to getting extra crispy chicken legs in the air fryer—every time! Baking powder helps dry out the chicken’s skin without breaking its proteins and assists the browning process. Therefore, to get crispy drumsticks in the air fryer, I suggest adding some baking powder to your seasoning mixture. I learned this ‘secret ingredient/technique” from the folks over at Cook’s Illustrated when I made their Slow Baked Chicken Wings recipe.
Skinless Chicken Legs in Air Fryer: Do you want to cook your drumsticks without the skin? Though your chicken may not come out as crispy, this is the best way to cook chicken legs in an air fryer to eliminate extra fat and calories.Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Drumsticks: Though I don’t recommend this method, you can air fry frozen drumsticks to eliminate defrosting time. Simply cook them at 400 degrees F. for 45-50 minutes or until their internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.Air Fryer Shake and Bake Chicken Drumsticks: To simplify your seasoning method, try what most people call “the shake-and-bake” method! To do so, place your drumsticks and vegetable oil into a Ziploc bag, seal it, and mix until the chicken is fully coated. Then, add the seasoning mixture to the bag, seal it again, and repeat the shaking process until each drumstick has an even layer of spice. Cook your chicken as usual.
Air fry in batches: To ensure proper, even cooking, make sure you don’t overcrowd your chicken legs when arranging them in the air fryer. If you have a smaller air fryer or want to make more drumsticks, I suggest cooking this air fryer chicken leg recipe in batches.Remove the meat from the fridge: Take your drumsticks out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking them. This step gives the meat time to loosen up and release extra moisture.Pat dry: Take the time to pat dry each of your chicken legs before coating them with the oil and drumstick seasoning. Drying out your chicken legs will give them crispy skin.Use a digital thermometer: When checking whether your airfryer drumsticks are done, I suggest using a digital meat thermometer. To Food Safety Guidelines, your chicken should reach 165 degrees F. before they’re safe to eat.Let the drumsticks rest: After you cook your chicken drumsticks in the air fryer, loosely cover them with aluminum foil. Then, let them rest for 4-5 minutes before cutting. This resting period will result in juicy chicken drumsticks by giving the meat time to reabsorb its liquid.Timing may vary depending on the brand or type of air fryer you are using. The best way to check doneness is to use a thermometer and check them halfway through the air frying process.
Serve it with dipping sauce: Once you make roasted chicken legs in the air fryer, who can resist dipping them in a tasty sauce? The whole family will adore my Blue Cheese Sauce, tangy Tzatziki, peppery Muhammara, and creamy Eggplant Yogurt. This easy recipe also makes the perfect finger food (hello, kid-friendly eats!) when served alongside ketchup, barbecue sauce, and/or honey mustard sauce.Serve it with your favorite grains: Turn your drumsticks into an easy dinner recipe by serving them alongside savory and filling grains, like my Cooked Quinoa, Wild Rice, Bulgur, Bulgur Pilaf, and Lemon Quinoa. Or, serve it with Gigi Hadid’s Vodka Pasta.Pair it with your favorite salads: If you’re following a keto, low-carb, or paleo diet, some of the best recipes for drumsticks are—you guessed it—salads! Top your favorite Quinoa Salads and Spring Salads with this easy chicken recipe for a light and healthy weekday meal.Make it a part of your chicken salads: This tender meat makes a great addition to dozens of tasty salads, such as my Waldorf Chicken Salad, Sesame Chicken Salad, and Yogurt Chicken Salad.Serve with vegetable side dishes: Put a healthy spin on this air fryer drumsticks recipe with air fried veggies, like Air Fryer Asparagus and Green Beans Cooked in Air Fryer. Other quick vegetable dishes—like Baked Asparagus, Zoodles, Roasted Shiitake Mushrooms and Garlic Green Beans—are great ideas, too.
To Make Ahead: When preparing this drumstick recipe in advance, dry off your chicken legs before evenly coating them with oil and seasoning. Then, store the seasoned drumsticks in a Ziploc bag in the fridge a day before. Transfer them to a plate and let them rest for a few minutes before air frying them.Storage: Bring your air fryer fried chicken drumsticks to room temperature, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Your chicken will stay fresh for up to 2 days. To reheat your drumsticks, place them in your air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 4-5 minutes.
