Crispy, Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Legs – A Family Favorite!
Achieve perfectly crispy skin and juicy meat with these easy Air Fryer Chicken Legs, a quick and delicious family favorite that's ready in under 30 minutes.
Equipment
- air fryer
- Large plate or cutting board
- paper towels
- Small mixing bowl
- whisk
- Basting brush (optional)
- tongs
- Internal meat thermometer
- Wire cooling rack
Ingredients
- 6 large bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks (approx. 4-6 ounces each)
- 2 tablespoons neutral-tasting oil (e.g., avocado or olive oil)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and pat the chicken drumsticks thoroughly dry with paper towels.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder.
- Rub the spice mixture evenly over all sides of the drumsticks.
- Arrange the drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Air fry for 10 minutes, then flip the drumsticks.
- Continue to air fry for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the drumstick registers 170-172°F (77-78°C).
- Transfer the cooked drumsticks to a wire cooling rack to rest for a few minutes before serving warm.
Repeat for remaining batches
- Repeat the cooking process with any remaining batches of chicken drumsticks.
Notes
For optimal juiciness, target an internal temperature of 175°F, removing the chicken at 170-172°F to account for residual heat. Actual cooking times can vary based on your air fryer model and the size of the drumsticks.