This Air Fryer Chicken Legs recipe is super quick and delicious, perfect for busy weeknights! These Air Fryer Drumsticks are cooked to perfection in the air fryer, resulting in perfectly crispy skin on the outside and juicy meat on the inside. It’s an easy recipe the whole family will love!
In this recipe:
The air fryer is one of the best kitchen tools for perfectly cooking any type of food, from Air Fryer Shrimp to Air Fryer Potato Taquitos. It’s especially perfect for making this easy chicken recipe – Air Fryer Chicken Legs. Air Fryer Chicken Legs are tossed in a flavorful seasoning mixture with a little bit of oil and cooked in the air fryer. If you thought KFC was good, just wait until you take a bite out of these juicy chicken drumsticks!
What Are Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Legs?
Literally the easiest chicken legs you can make. We love using the air fryer to cook chicken legs because the hot air from the air fryer circulates the chicken, creating super crispy Chicken Legs that are perfectly juicy on the inside.
The air fryer also cooks the chicken in a fraction of the time as any other cooking method, making it perfect for busy days. Plus, you can still reap the benefits of crispy chicken without sacrificing your arteries, just like with our air fryer chicken thighs. These juicy chicken legs don’t need a ton of oil to get that crispy exterior, saving you time AND calories! Have chicken breasts? Skip the air fryer and make this one-pan chicken and veggies or our family’s favorite creamy Tuscan chicken recipe!
Air Fryer Chicken Leg Ingredients
When it comes to quick dinners, it’s hard to air fryer recipes. Gather your ingredients and this recipe comes together in 30 minutes.
- Chicken legs – bone in, skin on.
- Olive oil
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Dried thyme
- Lemon zest
- Fresh parsley – for garnish.
How to Make This Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe
Put the air fryer to work for juicy chicken with an epic crunch. What’s not to love about that.
Prep the chicken
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Start by mixing all the spices and lemon zest in a small bowl. This will be your seasoning.
- Remove the chicken from the package and pat it dry with paper towels.
- Brush the chicken legs with oil so they have a nice, even coating on both sides. Then, sprinkle the spice mixture all over the chicken legs and rub it in so they’re nicely coated with the flavorful spices.
Air Fry the Chicken
- Put the chicken legs in the air fryer basket and cook them at 400 degrees F for about 8 minutes. Then, flip the chicken legs over and cook for another 6 minutes or until they’re fully cooked inside.
Garnish and Serve
- When they’re done, make them look even better by adding some fresh parsley on top as a garnish. You can also squeeze a bit of lemon juice over the cooked chicken legs before serving. And if you really want to change things up, baste these chicken drums in our homemade bbq sauce. Serve hot and enjoy!
Girl Carnivore Expert Recipe Tips
- Every air fryer is different.
- Air Fryer Capacity: Ensure the chicken legs are arranged in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overcrowding. This allows for proper air circulation and even cooking.
- Cooking Time and Temperature: Cooking times may vary depending on the brand and model of your air fryer. Use the provided times as a guide and adjust slightly if needed. An internal temperature of 165 degrees F ensures the chicken is cooked through. We take our dark meat to 170 degrees F for maximum flavor and tenderness.
- Checking Doneness: To confirm that the chicken legs are fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Insert it into the thickest part of the meat without touching the bone.
What to Serve With These Easy Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Whether you’re throwing a party, watching a football game, or enjoying family time, these Air Fryer Chicken Legs perfectly pair with a side of Smoked Potato Salad, Beef Tallow French Fries, and Smoked Mac and Cheese! If you want to keep things simple, serve up your chicken legs with some roasted vegetables, coleslaw, or a simple salad.
Leftovers & Reheating
Store any leftover chicken legs in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes to restore the crispiness.
Alternatively, you can freeze the chicken legs in an airtight container for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat, let them thaw in the fridge and reheat in the air fryer.
Need delicious ways to reuse leftover chicken? Try these Smoked Chicken Nachos, Curry Chicken Salad, or these Smoked Chicken Chilaquiles!
MORE DELICIOUS CHICKEN RECIPES
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With simple ingredients like chicken legs, olive oil, and a blend of intense seasonings, you can make these restaurant-quality Air Fryer Drumsticks right at home!
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Easy Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 Chicken legs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
- In a small bowl, combine all the spices and lemon zest.
- Remove the chicken from the package and pat dry with a paper towel.
- Brush the chicken legs with oil until fully coated on all sides.
- Liberally sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken legs to fully coat.
- Place the chicken legs in the air fryer basket and air fry for 8 minutes at 400°F.
- Flip the chicken legs and cook for another 6 minutes or until cooked through.
- Chicken legs are cooked when they reach 170 degrees F with an meat thermomter.
- Carefully remove the drums from the basket and arrang on plates to cool 5 minutes before servine.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.
Notes
- Air Fryer Capacity: Ensure the chicken legs are arranged in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overcrowding. This allows for proper air circulation and even cooking.
- Cooking Time and Temperature: Cooking times may vary depending on the brand and model of your air fryer. Use the provided times as a guide and adjust slightly if needed. An internal temperature of 165 degrees F ensures the chicken is cooked through. Check with an instant-read thermometer inserted to the thickest part of the dark meat without touching the bone.
Nutrition
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Recipe FAQs
Absolutely! If you want to try this recipe with wings, try our Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings or these Air Fryer Pickle Brined Chicken Wings!
Yes! Just make sure to adjust the cook time, as boneless chicken legs may cook faster than bone in.
Yes! We suggest prepping the seasoning mix beforehand and then cooking the chicken legs right before serving for the best results!
Make small slits in the chicken skin before cooking. This allows some of the fat from the chicken to seep out, resulting in even crisper, juicier skin!
Feel free to customize the spice blend to your taste. You can add a pinch of cayenne pepper for heat or switch out the herbs for your preferred flavors.
