How to Make Crispy and Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Here’s how you make the perfect Air Fryer Chicken Legs. They’re crispy, juicy, and you can even add a little honey drizzle that you’ll love! Enjoy!
Making air fryer chicken legs is now the easiest thing ever! If you’ve been following the blog, you know I love a good kitchen gadget, and my air fryer is no exception. I’ve recently shared my secret to getting crispy, restaurant quality French fries at home and today, I’m sharing my favorite recipe for Air Fryer Chicken legs.
I love using my air fryer because you can get away with using a lot less fats and oils (even for those comfort items like fries)! Air Fryer chicken legs are another one to add to that list.
So, here’s my foolproof recipe for delicious air fryer chicken legs, and be sure to scroll through to the recipe card for step-by-step directions.
Why are air fryer chicken legs (drumsticks) such a great recipe?
Air fryer chicken legs are a great recipe because drumsticks are one of the best parts of the chicken.
I particularly love dark meat on a chicken. I always have. When it comes to air fryer chicken legs I think they turn out so well with this recipe because drumsticks are not too big, not too small, and they’re dark meat which means they have a bit more fat than say, a breast. Because of that part alone, you’re able to retain more moisture in the meat. That will make your air fryer chicken legs tender and juicy. Plus, following the below recipe will also get your drumsticks super crispy too.
Using an air fryer to cook chicken legs is easy and cuts time.
Reiterating the point above, because chicken legs are such a great part of the chicken, not too small and not too large, they’re the perfect candidate for cooking in an air fryer. Air fryers cut the oil needed and cut the amount of time spent making your air fryer chicken drumsticks. Although the amount of time is generally lower, you still want to be sure that the poultry is thoroughly cooked by using a meat thermometer. Thoroughly cooked chicken should reach a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (F).
How long to cook air fryer chicken legs (drumsticks)?
The best way to cook with an air fryer is generally to preheat it to get it ready. For these air fried chicken legs, I always preheat the air fryer at 375 degrees. I set the timer for 15-20 minutes depending on how many drumsticks I have, etc. After that, to make sure they cook in an nicely even manner and get crispy all the way around, half-way into cooking time I turn them over. Before I ever serve them up or declare they’re done I test to make sure the temperature reads at 165 degrees (F).
What is the best way to season air fryer chicken legs?
Seasoning is really a taste preference, but in my home we love lots of seasoning. Now me, I watch my salt so I make a lower sodium version for myself but I go all the way in for my guys making sure their air fryer chicken legs are nicely seasoned. Here’s my big secret about seasoning fried chicken though. Season not just the chicken itself, but season the flour batter too! That way you get seasoning on the skin and meat PLUS on the crispy fried batter once it’s done!
Use the below as a guide to season air fryer chicken legs and any other poultry
seasoned salt
pepper
garlic powder
onion powder
paprika
For a low sodium seasoning on air fryer chicken legs or other poultry use this mix of spices
Salt free table blend seasoning
salt free garlic and herb seasoning
pepper
onion powder
paprika
Also, although these air fryer chicken legs are perfect with just the seasoning alone, and the batter that makes it crispy perfection, I encourage you to drizzle some honey over the top once they’re taken out of the air fryer and are still nice and hot. It’s the perfect salty-sweet flavors dancing in your mouth for me!
Here are some Kitchen Items You’ll Need to Get Started on your air fryer chicken drumsticks.
Before you get cooking, make sure you have these items on hand and at the ready. There’s nothing worse than getting started with a recipe and realizing you’re missing an essential item . . . or it’s dirty in the sink!
The Best Air fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)
Okay, let’s get cooking! Get ready for some delicious chicken legs, ready in 30 minutes.
Ingredients
8 Small to Medium Chicken Legs
Vegetable Oil
Honey
Flour
Baking powder
1/4 cup each:
Seasoned salt
Pepper
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Paprika
Directions
PREHEAT your air fryer to 375 degrees for 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, PREP your chicken legs by washing them off in the sink then patting them dry with a paper towel (this will ensure the results are crispy).
PLACE the chicken legs in a large mixing bowl and SPRAY with vegetable oil. Next, SPRINKLE on half the measured baking powder and make sure all chicken legs are coated. Add honey on top, and mix well.
Next, SPRINKLE half the measured amounts of seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder paprika, and pepper and MIX well until evenly coated.
Add flour and the remaining baking powder into to a separate gallon zipping bag. Add remainder of all seasonings and mix the contents of bag well. Add chicken legs to bag and shake well to coat all chicken legs evenly with the flour coating.
ADD the chicken legs to your preheated air fryer and set the cook time to 20 minutes. COOK the chicken legs for 10 minutes, FLIP, spray with more oil, then COOK for another 10 minutes.
CHECK for doneness with a meat thermometer. If the internal temperature is below 165°, continue to COOK for a few more minutes and check again. Remove air fryer chicken legs once done.
Last: Drizzle the chicken legs with your favorite honey immediately after removing from air fryer and still hot. Serve while chicken is still warm.
What Can I Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Legs?
I like to serve Chicken legs with “cookout” style options like potato salad and coleslaw. However, I LOVE serving it with good soul food sides like macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and cornbread. But the sky is really the limit. You can even change up the seasonings to match your favorite type of cuisine or the one you’re in the mood for.
You could lose the paprika and add ginger and brown sugar or curry powder for an Asian inspired dinner or spice things up with Cajun seasonings. I also love the combination of Italian seasoning mix (dressing mix) and brown sugar.
Be adventurous! You can keep the other steps of the recipe the same and always have an incredible result!
If you liked this post, be sure to check out those delicious Air Fryer French Fries I mentioned, plus The Easiest Chicken Pot Pie Ever, The Fastest Fried Rice Recipe Using Frozen Cauliflower Rice, my favorite Baked Salmon Tacos and these amazing Grill Recipes for family get togethers!
Check out the full video on how to make air fryer chicken legs!
And, be sure to check out the recipe card, below for step-by-step instructions:
How to Make Crispy and Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)
Air Fryer Chicken Legs - Crispy and Juicy!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 375 degrees (F).
- Wash chicken thoroughly and pat dry. Place into a mixing bowl.
- Spray chicken with vegetable oil.
- Add half of the measured baking powder to chicken and mix thoroughly.
- Add half of measured honey to chicken. Continue to mix until thoroughly coated.
- Add one half of all measured seasonings to chicken and mix thoroughly ensuring all is coated.
- Add flour and remainder of baking powder to zipping bag. Next add remainder of all seasonings to zipping bag. Mix flour and seasonings well within the bag.
- Add all chicken legs to zipping bag and shake it thoroughly to ensure all chicken is well covered with batter.
- Place each chicken leg into the air fryer, separately. All chicken should be in one layer.
- Set air fryer to cook for 20 minutes. Halfway through cooking time turn chicken and spray again with vegetable oil. Cook for remaining 10 minutes.
- Chicken legs are finished when internal temperature reaches 165 degrees (F).
- Drizzle remainder of honey onto chicken legs.
- Serve chicken while hot with your favorite side. These air fryer French fries are the perfect accompaniment!
Notes:
Low sodium air fryer chicken legs recipe: For a low sodium recipe, replace seasoned salt with a salt free table blend seasoning and consider using a salt free garlic and herb seasoning instead of the garlic powder.
