Description
This Air Fryer Chicken Legs recipe delivers crispy, flavorful drumsticks with minimal effort. Coated in a spicy, smoky seasoning blend and cooked to juicy perfection in the air fryer, it’s an easy, healthy meal perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 8 chicken drumsticks
Seasonings and Oil
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3–5 minutes to ensure it’s hot and ready for cooking.
- Prepare the Chicken Legs: Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, then place them in a large mixing bowl.
- Coat with Oil: Drizzle the olive oil over the drumsticks and toss well to coat each piece evenly, which helps the seasoning stick and the skin crisp up.
- Mix and Apply Seasoning: In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne pepper. Sprinkle this seasoning blend over the chicken legs and toss thoroughly to cover them uniformly.
- Arrange in Air Fryer Basket: Place the drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are spaced out and not overcrowded to promote even cooking.
- Cook the Chicken: Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes. Then carefully flip the drumsticks over and continue cooking for an additional 10 to 12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the skin is golden brown and crispy.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken legs from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring moist and flavorful meat. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, salad, or roasted vegetables.
Notes
- For extra-crispy skin, lightly spray the drumsticks with cooking spray before air frying.
- For deeper flavor, marinate the chicken with the seasoning and oil mixture for a few hours in the refrigerator before cooking.
- Serve alongside fresh salad, roasted vegetables, or your preferred dipping sauces for a balanced meal.
- If cooking in batches, keep cooked drumsticks warm in a low oven while finishing the rest.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 drumsticks
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
