Whipping up a delicious batch of chicken legs has never been this easy. Air fryer chicken legs are just as easy to make as they are to eat. They’re perfectly seasoned and crunchy!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer.
I’m constantly on the lookout for easy and filling meals to feed my family on busy weeknights.
With after-school activities, homework, and chores to do around the house — dinner can sometimes fall to the back burner.
Instead of serving up pasta three times a week, I like to have some other easy options on hand.
That’s where this recipe for chicken drumsticks in the air fryer comes in! All you’ll need are some chicken legs, pantry ingredients, and (of course) your air fryer.
The prep only takes about 5 minutes — then pop them in your air fryer for 15 minutes, and dinner is served! They’re crispy on the outside and perfectly juicy on the inside, exactly how chicken should be.
Pair them with a bit of fresh parsley and plate them on a bed of arugula. Or serve them with some veggies and a carb like pasta, rice, or roasted potatoes for a balanced meal that everyone will love.
You can also play around with the spices and seasonings to really make this meal your own.
Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:
- The ingredients you’ll need to make air fryer chicken legs at home.
- Air fryer chicken legs temperature advice — what temp to cook them at and what their internal temp should be so that they are safe to eat.
- Answers to frequently asked questions, like how long to cook chicken legs in the air fryer.
Air fryer chicken drumsticks are so easy to make, you won’t believe how little you’ll need to make a tasty and satisfying meal. The combination of savory spices and a bit of brown sugar are the perfect blend of flavors!
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Legs
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F and mix together the paprika, salt, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, and black pepper in a small bowl. Add a bit of cayenne pepper if you like spicy food.
STEP TWO: Place the chicken drumsticks into a large bowl and drizzle with a bit of olive oil. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture on top, then toss to coat completely.
STEP THREE: Add the chicken to your air fryer basket, being careful to arrange them in a single layer. It’s important not to crowd them — you can always cook your air fryer drumsticks in two batches if you have to.
STEP FOUR: Air fry for 15 minutes, making sure to flip the drumsticks halfway through. Serve immediately with your favorite sides!
How Long To Cook Chicken Legs In The Air Fryer?
You shouldn’t have to cook your chicken drumsticks in the air fryer for much more than 15 minutes. Remember that the air fryer chicken legs temperature needs to be 165 degrees F in order for them to be safe to eat. You can test this with a food-safe thermometer.
What to Serve with Chicken Legs
- Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms
- Air Fryer Cornbread
- Air Fryer Garlic Bread
- Air Fryer Green Beans
- Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Can You Put Raw Drumsticks In An Air Fryer?
Absolutely! You don’t have to worry about precooking your air fryer chicken drumsticks. You won’t want to skip out on the oil or the seasonings, as this ensures crispy and crunchy results. When you cook chicken drumsticks in the air fryer, they’ll be perfectly juicy on the inside too.
How Do You Stack Chicken Legs In An Air Fryer?
In my opinion, you shouldn’t stack your chicken legs. I get the best results when I line them up in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Remember that you can always cook your air fryer chicken legs in batches if you’re working with many. It’s better to take the extra time since they won’t cook properly if you crowd them.
How Many Pieces of Chicken Can You Put In An Air Fryer?
It depends on how big the pieces are. Again, be careful to arrange your air fryer drumsticks in a single layer. This will ensure that they cook evenly. Your air fryer chicken legs temperature needs to be 165 degrees F, and to achieve this, you shouldn’t overcrowd the basket.
Other Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You’ll Love:
- Air Fryer Bone in Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Frozen Chicken
- Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Love air frying? Join our newsletter! You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or join our free Facebook Air Frying Community.
Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Air fryer chicken legs are crispy and juicy, and take 20 minutes to prep and cook! All you need is some chicken and a variety of seasonings.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 lbs chicken drumsticks
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400F
- In a small bowl, stir together the paprika, salt, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, brown sugar, and black pepper to make the seasoning
- Add chicken drumsticks to a large bowl, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with seasoning, and toss to coat
- Place chicken drumsticks in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket
- Air fry for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until cooked to 165 F.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 456Total Fat: 24gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 288mgSodium: 753mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 55g
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
