Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks) are quick, easy and seriously delicious! Seasoned for maximum flavor with succulent, fall off the bone chicken!
Recipes like our Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks, Air Fryer Chicken Skewers or Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Wings are too easy!
Pair the Air Fryer Roast Chicken with the Quick Potato Bake or Air Fryer Corn on the Cob for a complete meal!
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Recipe highlights
No fork or knife needed, simply picking up a chicken leg and chowing down on the succulent meat, gets me every single time!
With herbs and a little oil, these drumsticks are Air Fried to perfection in record speed.
This is an easy recipe to turn to time and time again!
Ingredients
The ingredients you need are shown in the photo below, they are all simple and can be found at the local shop (you might already have some of them!)
As you can see, the recipe calls for:
- Chicken legs (drumsticks)
- Chicken seasoning
- Olive oil
This simple combination is all that is needed.
How long do drumsticks take in the Air Fryer
Raw (unfrozen) chicken legs will take 30 minutes to cook in an Air Fryer.
Seasoning the chicken legs with dried herbs and a little oil ensures tasty, flavored deliciousness!
Can you stack chicken legs in an Air Fryer
To cook the chicken legs, lay them in one flat layer.
They can be slighly touching if needed, but don't stack them.
We need the air to flow freely around the chicken, so they need some space to cook.
Stacking them is not recommend at all.
Rather, if needed, you can work in batches to cook a higher volume of chicken legs.
For this recipe, I am using a 7 litre Air Fryer and the chicken is a 1.5 kg chicken.
Instructions
As you can see in the photos below, the whole recipe involves quick, easy steps!
- Use paper towel to pat chicken dry (Photo 1)
- Spray chicken legs with olive oil (Photo 2)
- Sprinkle over seasoning (Photo 3)
- Lay the legs flat in one layer (Photo 4)
I recommend spraying the legs with oil for 2 reasons. The 1st is so that the chicken legs don't dry out. The 2nd is that it helps 'stick' the seasoning to the chicken.
Some ingredients are known to 'fly off' in Air Fryer cooking. You don't want to waste tasty seasoning in the basket, so spray to ensure it stays!'
- Cook the legs for 10 mins (Photo 5)
- Then flip and season other side, continue cooking (Photo 6)
I find the best method to cook chicken legs in the Air Fryer is to let them cook initially for 10mins, then during the final 20 minutes turn then every so often.
This ensures the drumsticks are cooked (and skin dried perfectly) in a rotated fashion for full coverage.
If you want to combine the seasoning and oil to start, then massage over the chicken that will work too. Have a look at that method in my Air Fryer Whole Chicken recipe.
The Air Fryer just does the job so well! Every bite of the chicken is super delicious and cooked to perfection! Some crispy Air Fryer Chips are the perfect pairing!
Frequently asked questions
- The recipe is for 5 drumsticks
- The seasoning is dried, sprinkled over the oil legs
- Lay the legs in one flat layer
- It takes 35 mins hour from start to finish for the recipe
- My Air Fryer is a 7 litre basket version
- The chicken can't be stacked, work in batches if needed
- This recipe is perfect for a quick meal!
- The oil ensures the seasoning sticks and chicken isn't dry
To serve, try pairing with a Quick Potato Bake, Duck Fat Roast Potatoes or Creamy Garlic Potatoes.
Or have a look at all Roasted Potato Side Dishes.
Expert tips
This is what I have learnt that will help you master the recipe from the 1st time and every following time:
- Ensure you pat the chicken legs dry to start
- Spray and season (or combine and massage over legs)
- Pull the basket out by the handle to check how the chicken is cooking in the 1st 10 mins to ensure the legs are flat with a little space
- There are so many sizes and types of Air Fryers that some will cook faster or slower depending on the model.
- More chicken legs will take longer to cook, give them space (not stacked)
More Air Fryer recipes
If you love Air Frying, then check out the following recipes for inspiration:
- Family favorite Air Fryer Roast Chicken
- Honey Lime Chicken
- Air Fryer Spatchcock Chicken
- Easy Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
- Super cute Air Fryer Mini Hot Dogs
- Air Fryer Portobello Mushroom Pizza
- Air Fryer Stuffed Jalapenos
- Quick Air Fryer Roasted Red Peppers
- Air Fryer Portobello Mushrooms
- Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
- Simple Air Fryer Sausage rolls (perfect party food!)
- Air Fryer Cheese on Toast
Or read through all Air Fryer recipes on the blog.
The sauces (that make a match for the chicken) are my fav Herbed Yogurt Sauce (shown in photos) or Cilantro Lime Yogurt Sauce.
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)
- 5 chicken legs
- 2 tablespoon chicken seasoning
- spray olive oil
Instructions
Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)
- Turn the air fryer on to 180°C/350 F for 35 mins (5 mins pre time to season chicken)
- Pat the chicken legs dry using paper towel
- Place the chicken legs into the Air Fryer in one flat layer (touching ok, not stacked)
- Spray the legs with cooking oil, then sprinkle with seasoning
- Cook for 10 mins, then use tongs to flip spray and season then cook for a further 20 mins
- Test the drumsticks by inserting a skewer into the thickest part of one of the. Note 1
Notes
- Note 1 If the juices run clear, then are cooked. If the juices are a little pink, continue to cook for a further 5 mins. Then retest to ensure the juices are clear and chicken is thoroughly cooked. You can also use a thermometer to check the chicken, however, the visual juice method is my preferred.
- Note Nutritional information provided is per 1 chicken leg.
Nutrition
Chicken legs or drumsticks
In my mind, most people are either a 'leg person' or a 'drumstick' person.
I couldn't decide, so I hedged my bets.
Hope you know, I would LOVE to hear your feedback in the comments below, please let me know if you make the recipe!
You, me, a drumstick or 2 and chowing on down?
Adrianne x
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
Such an easy and healthy dish! I love using the air-fryer when I don't feel like heating up my oven. Thanks!
Adrianne says
Thanks Cynthia, yes same here. Too hot sometimes for the oven, especially in an Australian summer!
Cathleen says
I really have to start using my air fryer more, because these chicken legs look perfect! I am saving this for after my road trip to give them a go. Thank you so much for the recipe! 🙂
Adrianne says
Cheers Catherine, I enjoyed reading your comment.
Seema says
I am getting started on the airfryer and seeing your step by step is actually giving me more confidence to try more recipes.
Adrianne says
Thanks Seema. That is great to hear!