Easy, crunchy, and juicy chicken drumsticks that are bursting with flavor straight from the air fryer for a healthy fried chicken the whole family will love!
If you've never had air fried chicken, it might sound a bit funny, because food in an air fryer isn't actually fried.
Air fryer food is more like ultra-convection broiled.
This means you can use just a tiny bit of oil and still get delicious crispy chicken.
Air fryers are awesomely easy to clean (some even pop into the dishwasher) - and so simple to use, making it the perfect tool to use for cooking drumsticks.
Simply add drumsticks to marinade, shake, place in basket, and cook - and you're on your way.
If you're looking for a spicy kick, try our Air Fried Piri Piri Chicken which is a spin off this method, too - or our baked honey mustard chicken drumsticks recipe that is loaded with out of this world flavor.
This delicious recipe will quickly become one of your very favorite dishes to make - I hope you love it as much as we do!
At Sweet C's, we have lots of types of readers: those who'd like more information to feel more comfortable in the kitchen, those who'd just like the recipe, and some who want a bit of info before getting straight to it.
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Table of contents
This recipe is gluten free, dairy free, and keto diet compliant -as well as heart healthy with a little olive oil.
If you're on a low-calorie diet, a low-carb diet, or other healthy eating plan, you can work chicken legs into your meal planning, especially when air-fried.
Air fryers are awesomely easy to clean (some even pop into the dishwasher) - and so simple to use.
Simply add drumsticks to soak in marinade, then place in basket, and cook - and you're on your way to a delicious, perfectly juicy chicken drumsticks with crispy skin!
Air Fried Chicken Legs
This air fryer recipe gets deliciously crisp drumsticks with crunchy skin that tastes fried- without all the oil from deep frying.
The only oil we’re using in this recipe is a tiny bit - about two tablespoons - of heart healthy avocado or olive oil.
You’ll be using just enough oil to coat the drumsticks, not enough to actually fry them.
Since traditional fried chicken is cooked in hot oil, it can be coated.
This recipe is keto diet compatible and low carb because we’re not breading it at all.
The air fryer's fans and heat will help give us a fried chicken taste - without the extra work and calories.
And it makes it as easy as prep, dump in air fryer basket, and go about working on the rest of your meal!
This recipe goes from the fridge to the table in less than 30 minutes - and will soon become your favorite gluten free way to cook drumsticks and even wings.
Try this method with my Air fryer Nando's wings - the sauce works really well on this recipe, too.
How To Cook Chicken Drumsticks in the Air Fryer
Cooking drumsticks in an air fryer is a delicious, easy way to get crunchy, juicy, deep-fried chicken flavor without all the extra oil or carb-y breading.
If you love crunchy chicken drumsticks, be sure to check my top tips for perfect air fried chicken legs below:
Preheat air fryer
Run your air fryer for a few minutes before adding the food so it is hot and ready to go when you go to air fry your chicken drumsticks.
This is optional, but I feel it helps the skin to puff up and get a crispy "fried" texture.
Sauce at the End
If you’re going to sauce your drumsticks, wait until they have cooked and crisped to toss in sauce.
You also can layer the sauce on to get a crunchy "crust" throughout the cooking, similar to my baked BBQ Chicken drumsticks.
The baked recipe involves baking with a BBQ sauce - which does require a bit of modification.
To add a BBQ sauce "crust" with this recipe, simply baste with BBQ sauce every 5 minutes as the drumsticks air fry.
Don't Open Too Often
Since air fryers are completely sealed off, it’s hard to judge your chicken’s doneness by the look of it.
Don’t open your air fryer constantly, letting heat escape - trust in the timing of the recipe, and a handy rapid-read digital meat thermometer.
Check the temperature of the chicken when you're already opening the air fryer to flip them - don't open it just to check the temperature or too much heat will escape.
Use a Digital Thermometer
When your timer is done, immediately test the temperature of the chicken pieces with a digital thermometer inserted into the middle of the thickest part of the chicken drumstick without touching bone.
Chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees internally.
If chicken has not met 165 degrees internally, add another 2-5 minutes to cook time.
Don’t crowd basket
Air fryers help get hot air to circulate around the chicken drumstick to get a heat so high it makes meat taste fried - and to do that, it helps to not crowd the pan.
Put the chicken in your air fryer pan in a way they aren’t crowding each other - it makes a huge difference.
Instant Pot Air Fried Chicken Drumsticks
If you have a crisping lid for your Instant pot, or an Instant Pot Duo crisp, you can also use your Instant Pot to air fry chicken!
If you need an air fryer crisplid for your Instant Pot, click here.
If you'd like to buy an Instant Pot with pressure cook and air fry functions, click here.
Use the method below to make these chicken drumsticks in your Instant Pot:
Instant Pot Air Fried Chicken Legs
- Prep chicken legs as called for in recipe below.
- Place the chicken drumsticks in the CrispLid basket.
- Place the trivet and the basket inside the inner steel pot.
- Place the Crisplid on the Instant Pot.
- Set to 425°F and follow instructions in recipe below.
This recipe was designed to work with different types of air fryers - so the time listed is an estimate. Your air fryer might take a bit longer than time listed.
Check the temperature of your chicken legs often while cooking - chicken is fully cooked at 175 degrees internal temperature.
This recipe was designed after testing in the Instant Pot Air fryer, Instant Pot with Crisping Lid broiler function, Ninja Foodi + Broiler lid, and the Phillips Air Fryer.
Cooktime was slightly different with each appliance, but each resulted in perfect air fryer fries. Check chicken legs as you cook to make sure they are done to your preference!
I personally always marinate chicken before cooking - even just 30 minutes in some olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs can infuse a ton of flavor into your chicken. This recipe was designed to boost flavor regardless, so if you don't have time to marinate, no worries!
The Best Air Fried Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
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The Best Air Fried Chicken Drumsticks
Easy, crunchy, and juicy chicken drumsticks that are bursting with fried chicken flavor straight from the air fryer.
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp celtic sea salt
- 1 tsp fresh cracked pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cumin
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine herbs and spices.
- Set aside.
- Place drumsticks in a bowl or a plastic bag and drizzle with olive oil.
- Toss to coat.
- Sprinkle herbs and spices all over drumsticks to coat them.
- Preheat air fryer at 400 for 2-10 minutes.
- Place drumsticks in air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes on 400.
- Remove basket and flip chicken drumsticks.
- Cook at 400 for another 10 minutes.
- If chicken is not 165 degrees internally, add another 5 minutes of cook-time.
- Time can vary based on drumstick size, so do check the temperature with a digital thermometer after cooking to prevent over or under cooking.
- When chicken has reached 165 degrees internally, serve immediately.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 201Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 116mgSodium 381mgCarbohydrates 1gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 22g
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Tasha
This was so simple to prepare and came out perfectly crispy and flavorful. Thanks!
Malaz
I gave it a shot (with loose measurements) and for the first time I got some nice crispy drumsticks from the air fryer. Thanks a bunch. It's fair to note it took me 4 extra minutes in there.
Courtney ODell
Yea, the cook time can really vary especially since so many air fryers work differently. So glad the recipe worked well for you!
Chris
What a great recipe, thank you for this! Had my air fryer for 2 years and neglected it. Friends guilted me into using and chicken drumsticks were on my mind, so voila, google brought me here and thank goodness! I followed it to a T, 10 minutes each side was PERFECT! The only thing I did was add some cayenne pepper as I am a spice head, and it gave me that little bit of heat. I feel like leaving that out would have still been a Grand Slam for me. Fantastic steps and recipe, thanks again!
Kathy
Just made this recipe. Sooooo good!!! Can't wait to try more! Thank you!
Jo Anne Harris
This was easy and delicious. This is the first dish I have made with my air fryer lid Thank you!
Paula Humphrey
Trying this recipe tonight. Hope it’s good.
Brian
Thanks for posting this recipe but it was much too salty.
I would suggest you halve it.
All the best,
Brian.
Patricia
Very good and simple as described. I did need to cook them longer and like it was expressed, that can just be because of the variants. Thank you for sharing.
Linda Evans
I am new to air frying and this was my first attempt at air fried chicken. This is the BEST recipe ever and will be my go-to in the future! Crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. I’m making it again tonight. Yum!
Jill
Could I ask you which air frier you used? I'm thinking of buying one, but having trouble deciding which. some of the advertising can't always be trusted.
Courtney ODell
So - I have the Phillips air fryer, but I also have the Ninja Foodi - I think I like the Foodi better because it air fries, but also does other things as well!
Shirley Chan
I made this today with the ninja air fryer and my husband and kids love it. Awesome recipe. Thanks for sharing.
shailesh
amazing recipe.. I am a food lover and food blogger..
I am addicted to exploring new food..
This is my 2nd time visit here, and
I want to thank u because I have tried this
recipe on my first visit to GrandMaa and the best
thing is she liked it so much..
thanks for this great recipe.. well written..!!
Neda
Thanks for sharing your recipe. The taste turned out great. Just it was not golden like your picture but brownish but that’s fine
Stacey Thompson
This looks amazing but what wattage do you use on the air fryer
Bailey
This looks so good and delicious. Its easy to make that's why I will definitely try this. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Moss
Would this recipe work with frozen drumsticks or should they be thawed first?
Thanks.
Courtney ODell
For best results I'd thaw them first so they can crisp properly.
April A
I have used frozen drumsticks and it worked great, just did 26 min and flipped half way thru, still very crispy, Hope this helps!
Sue Tawwater
Yes, it was the best chicken. Surprised as I was....my grandchildren LOVED it and said they really LOVED it. WOW.
Just received the air fryer for Christmas, but already making changes in eating habits around here. Thank you for taking the time to publish and share this recipe.
Suzie
These were awesome! Thanks for the recipe!
Caeles
Best drumsticks ever and so easy! Crispy and juicy. My family ate them all up. 20 min was a little too long. Our Cuisinart Fryer/Oven is powerful.
L
Charlie
Morning:
Sounds like a great recipe. I really like cumin.
I have an air fryer, and my chicken comes out very crispy without the oil.
Molly
Made this recipe tonight and my husband said after his first bite: "Oh, you have to make the chicken like this EVERY time". Such a good recipe. Crispy on the outside and juicy inside. I have a toaster oven/air-fryer combo and I didn't need to adjust the recipe at all. Def will make these again.
Robyn
If I ever make my legs any other way I want somebody to slap me! I was sooo skeptical at first, but let me tell you when I took that first bite I made the immediate decision to never make them any other way then this way! For the first time my food came out looking like the picture on the recipe and it was so freaking good!
Cynthia
We loved the chicken recipe!
Jenn
These were so good, even the kids liked them which is always a win in my book.
Taylor
SO crispy and delicious! YUM!
Sommer
Love the way these drumsticks turn out!
Becky Hardin
I bet these are so juicy and have a nice crispy outside. Yum!
krissy
These turned out so crispy on the outside yet so juicy on the inside. My family loved these!
Steph
These drumsticks were so easy to make in the air fryer and everyone at our game night loved them!
don huff
Please remove me from you notifications.
Courtney ODell
HI Don,
I know notifications can be frustrating when you cant get them off - to turn the notifications off your computer, please follow this process:
https://documentation.onesignal.com/docs/opt-out-of-web-push
Since it is an opt-in on your computer I can't actually turn it off.
Diane
I have made these so many times and they are great. Somehow I end up with huge drumsticks so I start with 12 minutes per side and often add a little more. I've also used this recipe on bone in thighs (12 minutes per side or more) and that is also super yummy, though I only cook 4-5 in my basket. The extra cook time is worth it for leftovers.