The Best Crispy & Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Legs
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A homemade dry rub dowses these yummy chicken drumsticks with a touch of sweetness and just a hint of heat! Juicy and tender with a crispy coating, these finger-lickin’ good Air Fryer Chicken Legs are every bit as delicious as fried chicken — and without all the fuss!
Why you’re going to this Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe!
Look no further for tonight’s easy dinner recipe!
Toss chicken legs in a small amount of olive oil and coat with a delicious blend of spices and cornstarch. Place the chicken in a preheated air fryer basket and cook to perfection in less than 20 minutes!
You won’t find a more flavorful chicken recipe for busy weeknights than these tasty air fryer drumsticks.
Special equipment needed
To state the obvious, you’ll need an air fryer to make this recipe.
When it comes to new kitchen fads and gadgets, I’m usually not so quick to jump on the bandwagon. For one, I don’t have a lot of extra space; and two, will I use it often enough to justify the expense?
Even though my air fryer is not a kitchen appliance I use daily, I must say I do love it and use it often. Besides being healthier than frying, I think an air fryer is the ONLY way to get extra crispy frozen tater tots or fries!
With so many air fryers on the market, it’s important to consider the appliance size and how much counter or storage space you have.
Personally, I love my Nuwave 6-quart model and find it’s just right for my situation. However, if you have space for it, this kitchen counter convection oven air fryer combo looks pretty sweet!
Key ingredients and substitutions
- Chicken — I prefer to use just the drumstick, the lower part of the chicken leg for this recipe. This cut is popular among both children and adults and is best eaten with your hands! If you prefer, you may try this recipe with bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs.
- Cornstarch — During cooking, cornstarch absorbs moisture which results in crispier skin. If you are on a gluten free diet, make sure the label says 100% pure cornstarch.
- Brown sugar — Add just a touch for a balance of sweet and spice.
- Spices — Make the dry rub with chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika (either smoked or sweet), and dry mustard. If you like, add a grind or two of black pepper to the mix.
How to make crispy Chicken Legs in Air Fryer
You’ll be amazed at the juicy meat you get with this air fryer chicken legs recipe! For best results, always preheat the air fryer before you start cooking.
STEP 1 | Preheat the air fryer
Set the air fryer temperature to 400 degrees and let it preheat for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
By doing this, when the chicken is placed in the air fryer basket, it will immediately start to sizzle and be on its way to nice, crispy skin.
STEP 2 | Dry the chicken
Although washing raw chicken under running water may seem like a good way to get rid of some of the bacteria on the surface, it actually promotes cross-contamination.
It’s best to pat chicken legs dry with paper towels. Making sure the chicken is dry also helps promote crispy skin.
STEP 3 | Season the chicken
Place the chicken in a large bowl or a gallon-size ziplock bag with a small amount of canola oil. Stir or shake until the chicken is coated with the oil.
Then, in a small bowl, combine the spices until they are well mixed. Sprinkle them over the chicken and shake or stir until all the chicken skin is well coated.
STEP 4 | Cook the chicken legs
Place the seasoned chicken legs in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket and cook, flipping them midway to ensure crispiness on both sides.
tips
- If cooking in batches, place cooked chicken on a baking sheet in a preheated 250-degree oven to keep warm.
- Store cooled leftover chicken in the refrigerator within 2 hours after cooking and consume it within 2 to 3 days. Cooked chicken legs may also be frozen for up to 3 months.
- To reheat leftover chicken legs, place in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.
STEP 5 | Check for doneness
Always cook chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees to kill bacteria. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the chicken.
The most accurate way to measure the internal temperature of the chicken is with an instant-read thermometer.
Must-Have Digital Meat Thermometer
I really do love my OXO instant-read digital thermometer!
- Provides temperature readings in 2-3 seconds
- An accuracy of 0.9°F
- Water-proof body makes it easy to clean
Other ways to test doneness
- When you pierce the chicken with a fork or knife, the juices should run clear without any visible pink.
- Chicken gets smaller as it cooks. If it looks the same size as when you started, it’s not done yet.
- Chicken should be firm and not rubbery or jiggly when it is done. Also, a fork should pierce the meat with ease.
Looking for more air fryer recipes?
Skip the bagged chips and make your own air fryer sweet potato chips for a fresher, healthier snack. Or, try my healthy asparagus fries appetizer with a zesty lemon aioli dipping sauce — it’s absolutely addictive!
Frequently asked questions
If you start with a preheated air fryer, chicken legs will cook in 18 to 20 minutes.
Stacking chicken legs in an air fryer is not a good idea. Remember, an air fryer cooks by circulating air around the food so it’s important not to overcrowd the basket or rack. Give those chicken legs some breathing space!
Store cooled leftover chicken in the refrigerator within 2 hours after cooking and consume it within 2 to 3 days. Cooked chicken legs may also be frozen for up to 3 months.
To reheat leftover chicken legs, place in the air fryer on 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.
Serving suggestions
While this air fryer chicken drumsticks recipe is delicious all on its own, serve it with a side of your favorite bbq sauce or drizzled with my easy and oh-so-yummy Alabama White BBQ sauce — YUM!
Make these juicy chicken legs a complete meal by adding a tossed green salad, potato salad (or maybe this Summer squash vegetable casserole), and my 3-ingredient dinner muffins.
There you have it — a quick and easy, delicious weeknight meal!
Air Fryer Chicken Legs: behind the recipe
Fried chicken is as Southern as it gets when it comes to delicious comfort food. And while it’s one of my family’s absolute favorite dishes, it’s time-consuming and not the healthiest way to prepare chicken.
For that reason — much to my family’s dismay — fried chicken is reserved for special occasions at our house. At least, that was the case before I tried air-frying chicken!
An air fryer doesn’t fry food; instead, rapidly circulating hot air does the cooking. The amazing thing is that with little or no oil, food still gets crispy outside just as if it had been deep-fried!
Now with this easy recipe, we can enjoy air fried chicken drumsticks without the guilt or the mess — that’s a WIN, WIN!
Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 4 – 6 chicken drumsticks
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.
- Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels and place in a large bowl. Add the oil and toss to coat evenly.
- In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, salt, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and dry mustard, Sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken and gently toss until all pieces are evenly coated.
- Place the drumsticks in the air fryer skin side down, leaving space between — cook in batches if needed.
- Cook for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Flip the chicken legs over and continue cooking another 8 to 10 minutes, or until done and an instant read digital thermometer registers 165 degrees.
Notes
- If cooking in batches, place cooked chicken on a baking sheet in a preheated 250 degree oven to keep warm.
- Store cooled leftover chicken in the refrigerator within 2 hours after cooking and consume it within 2 to 3 days. Cooked chicken legs may also be frozen for up to 3 months.
- To reheat leftover chicken legs, place in the air fryer on 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
About Sheila Thigpen
Recipe Developer, Food Photographer, Food Writer
Sheila Thigpen is the publisher of Life, Love, and Good Food — a Southern food blog — and the author of Easy Chicken Cookbook and The 5-Ingredient Fresh and Easy Cookbook. After 20+ years in the publishing industry, she retired in 2018 to focus on her own creative endeavors full time. She and her husband live near the beautiful Smoky Mountains and have a precious little granddaughter who has stolen their hearts. As an influencer, Sheila has collaborated with brands like Creamette, Kroger, HERSHEY’S, Hamilton Beach, Garafalo Pasta, OXO, Smithfield, Valley Fig Growers, and more.
Delicious and crispy.
Taste was okay, but I was disappointed with the skin not being crispy at all.
Thanks to you, I feel more confident making things in my air fryer. This chicken legs recipe was a hit with my whole family, and we’ll definitely be making it again.
Another winner for my air fryer! I just got mine a couple of months ago and am still learning what I like best in it. These are definitely right up there!
My kids always fight over the drumsticks when I make chicken, and they went nuts when I told them I was ONLY making drummies last night! LOL This recipe was simple to make and everyone loved them!
I love being able to eat “fried” chicken without all the oil and bad for you ingredients. Thanks for this recipe!!
This was so delicious and perfectly crispy!!
I love my air fryer, and these chicken legs made my family happy. They even asked for more!