Air Fryer Drumsticks

Fried chicken is the best comfort food but I have never liked standing over the stove frying food. The air fryer to the rescue! Thanks to this handy kitchen gadget, our family can enjoy all that we love about fried food with little effort.

We recently made Air Fryer Chicken Breasts and it was a hit! I’m excited to show you how to make these delicious air fryer chicken drumsticks. Each bite is crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.

Drumsticks make the best weeknight meal. Try these other delicious recipes – Crockpot BBQ Ranch Drumsticks Recipe, Crockpot Drumsticks, Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks Recipe, and Crock Pot Chili Lime Chicken Drumsticks Recipe.

Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

You are going to love being able to enjoy fried chicken without the fuss. Once you try air fryer chicken drumsticks, you will want to try chicken breast and chicken thighs.

The crispy skin really makes this recipe taste like the best fried chicken. Just remember to flip the chicken in the air fryer basket.

So the next time you are craving fried chicken, skip the grease and mess and make air fryer chicken drumsticks recipe for your family. This dish is sure to be a hit!

Ingredients

• Chicken Drumsticks – Make sure that they are about the same size so they cook evenly. We used the bone in with the skin on
• Olive Oil – Use your favorite oil such as avocado oil or vegetable oil
• Paprika – If you are out, see Best Paprika Substitute
• Italian Seasoning – Learn How to Make Italian Seasoning Recipe
• Garlic Salt – If you are out, garlic powder or minced garlic can be substituted
• Pepper – Use fresh ground black pepper

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe in the recipe card.

How to Make Drumsticks in the Air Fryer

Step 1 – Put the chicken in a large bowl. Pour the olive oil and seasonings all over the chicken.

Step 2 – Place the drumsticks in the air fryer basket and then place in the preheated air fryer. The chicken needs to be in a single layer.

• Step 3 – Air Fry the chicken for 10 minutes and then flip the drumsticks and cook for another 10 minutes.
• Step 4 – Serve immediately and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Coat Chicken – You will need to stir the chicken to make sure each drumstick is well coated in seasoning. You may need to pat dry chicken with a paper towel which helps for the spices to stick.
• Prepare Air Fryer – Make sure you preheat the air fryer for 400 degrees. No worries if your air fryer does not have a preheat setting. You can let the air fryer run for 5-7 minutes at 400 degree and that will do the trick.
• Cook in a Single Layer – Please note that you may have to cook the chicken drumsticks in several batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
• Air Fryer Recommendation – If you have been on the fence about getting an air fryer, go ahead and do it. You won’t regret it. We have this air fryer and it gets a ton of use. I like the larger size so I can fit more in it.

How Long do Drumsticks Take in the Air Fryer?

The chicken needs to reach an internal temp of 165 degrees when they are finished cooking. We recommend using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.

If you check the chicken and it has not reached 165 degrees, just continue to cook the chicken in intervals of 5 minutes until it does.

Variations Ideas

• BBQ Sauce – After cooking the chicken drumsticks, brush Homemade Barbecue Sauce for the best smoky flavor.
• Lemon Pepper – Swap the spices for lemon pepper seasoning for a delicious variations.
• Asian Flavor – Combine 2 tablespoons of soy sauce and 1 tsp of garlic, ginger and a drizzle of honey for delicious Asian flavor drumsticks.
• Other Additions – You can even add these spices for even more flavor to the spice mixture. Add ½ tsp of onion powder, thyme, chili powder and brown sugar. Cayenne Pepper is also a great addition for a kick of spice.

What to Serve with Air fryer Chicken Legs?

• Roasted Green Beans
• Parmesan Pasta – only 4 ingredients and so easy!
• Air Fryer Baked Potato Recipe
• Mashed Potatoes 
• Coleslaw
• Traditional Potato Salad Recipe
• Air Fryer Tater Tots – the kids favorite!

You can also serve the chicken with dipping sauce if you prefer. We like Homemade ketchup ,  homemade bbq sauce and Ranch. Yum!

Storage and Reheating Tips

• Storing – Store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Freezing – Place the room temperature chicken drumsticks in a freezer safe container for up to 2 months.
• Reheating – For the best crispy texture, we recommend reheating in the air fryer for about 5 minutes. You can reheat in the microwave for about 30 seconds.