Name: Air Fryer Drumsticks
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 2.5 lb chicken drumsticks (6); ⅓ cup lemon juice (about 2 lemons); lemon zest; 2 tbsp parsley (fresh, chopped); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 1 tsp salt; ½ tsp black pepper; ½ tsp thyme ( - dry); 1 tbsp olive oil

These easy air fryer drumsticks absolutely are one of the crowd-favorite chicken recipes. Crispy, perfectly seasoned, and tender.

Air fryer does a much better, and faster, job of making crispy skin while keeping the chicken meat tender and juicy, and all of it while using much less oil than cooking on the stovetop or oven.

Gina’s Recipe Rundown:

Texture: Air Fryer Drumsticks have a wonderfully crispy, golden-brown exterior with a juicy, tender interior. The skin is crackly and flavorful, while the meat remains moist and succulent. The air fryer’s circulation of hot air gives them a satisfying crunch without the need for excess oil.

Taste: The skin is crispy and slightly smoky, while the meat is juicy and tender with a blend of spices like garlic, paprika, and pepper. A hint of salt enhances the natural chicken taste, and optional marinades or rubs can add a touch of heat, sweetness, or tanginess. Every bite delivers satisfying, bold flavors!

Ease: Air Fryer Drumsticks are incredibly easy to make! Simply season the chicken, place it in the air fryer, and cook until crispy and golden. There’s no need for excessive oil or messy frying—just a quick prep and the air fryer does the rest. Perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute meals!

Why I love it: They’re quick, easy, and versatile—perfect for busy weeknights or game day snacks. Plus, you can switch up the seasonings and marinades to keep things exciting every time!

Plus, chicken is a universal protein. It is the staple meat for cheap weeknight dinners, but you can make it so many other ways and serve it with so many different sides and garnishes that it never gets boring!

Table of Contents

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Healthier cooked chicken legs – with less oil
Finger-licking good and crispy air fryer chicken drumsticks!
Minimal prep time and hands-off cooking.
Great recipe for weekly meal prep, including keto diet.
Easy to customize: you can use any spice mixture you want from herbs to spicy rubs! All taste delicious. It is very hard to ruin air fryer drumsticks.

Ingredients Notes

Chicken drumsticks. You can put raw chicken legs in an air fryer, no problem. The dark meat of the chicken legs is very juicy and tender. You can use both fresh or frozen chicken (thaw it first). Keep the skin on and bones in. Boneless chicken meat will take a bit less time to cook.
Lemon juice. I always recommend freshly squeezed juice, to get the amount we need for 2.5 lb of chicken meat, you need about 2 lemons.
Olive oil.
Lemon zest.
Fresh parsley
Minced garlic or garlic powder
Seasoning mixture: salt, black pepper, and dried thyme

Kitchen Equipment

Your trusted Air Fryer
A large bowl if you want to mix the spices and dunk the chicken legs in it, or a small bowl if you prefer to mix the seasoning and brush it over the chicken. For easier clean up you can also use a regular zip-lock bag to marinate the chicken.
Optional, meat thermometer

How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

1: Marinate The Chicken Legs

Whisk the olive oil, dry thyme, pepper, salt, minced garlic, chopped parsley, lemon zest, and lemon juice in a large mixing bowl.
You can pre-mix the seasoning mixture 1 day ahead.
Pat the chicken dry to get rid of any excess moisture. Add chicken and toss to coat. I prefer to coat or spray the oil over the chicken rather than in the air fryer basket to avoid waste and for easier cleanup.
Cover, refrigerate, and let the chicken marinate in the seasoning mixture for about 30 minutes.

2: Air Fry Chicken Legs

Preheat the air fryer to 350F.
Place the chicken in a single layer in the preheated air fryer. Layering is best if you want to get crispy chicken legs. If you remove the skins, you can also make the drumsticks stand in the air fryer basket.
Cook drumsticks in the air fryer for 16-18 minutes, flipping halfway through. The internal temperature should reach 165F. Because all air fryers cook differently, always base your cooking time on temperature first. If the temp is not there yet, cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Serve immediately with a choice of carbs and sides (potato salad, coleslaw, mashed potatoes with bacon, some ranch, honey mustard, BBQ sauce, or hot sauce. These crispy chicken legs pair well with air-fried or roasted veggies too, my fav is asparagus and broccoli.

Storage

Leftover air fryer chicken drumsticks can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

To freeze air fryer chicken drumsticks, let them cool and store them in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer for 3 months.

How To Reheat Air Fried Chicken Drumsticks

For optimal crispiness, reheat drumsticks in the air fryer at 350°F (180°C) for about 5 minutes. This helps maintain the initial crispy texture.

You can reheat on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Covering them with foil initially can prevent excessive drying.

Substitutions & Variations

Flavor add-ons for marinade: onion powder, different dried herbs, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper or chili powder (for a little kick), Italian seasoning, chutney, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, ground mustard, brown sugar, and honey.
You can add sauces to the chicken drumsticks in the air fryer too, just wait until it is about 3 minutes before the end of cooking time.
Of course, you can swap chicken drumsticks with chicken thighs or chicken breasts. The white meat in the breasts is trickier to cook perfectly as it tends to dry out and become rubbery.
Breaded chicken legs. Simply mix some breadcrumbs and egg to make the coating. Then add all the seasoning. It is not a marinade, just coat and air fry.
Try these juicy chicken legs with buffalo sauce, dipping sauce, barbecue sauce, a dry rub, or your favorite seasoning blend.

Expert Tips To Make The Air Fryer Drumsticks Recipe Easy

Do not crowd the basket, if you have a smaller air fryer, better work in batches.
Please do not use cooking spray in the air fryer. It will leave a film on your basket that is nearly impossible to remove and eventually smoke each time it is heated with the hot air while cooking. For best results, try using a spritz of avocado oil or a bit of olive oil instead.
Do not skip patting the chicken legs dry with a paper towel. A mix of oils and seasonings will stick better to dry chicken skin.
Aluminum foil comes in handy when making air fryer chicken legs. Two ways to use it: you can use it as a liner for easier clean-up, and/or you can use it to cover air-fried chicken drumsticks to let them rest for about 5 minutes. It gives incredibly juicy meat!
If drumsticks are browning too fast, you can reduce the heat when you flip them to 325F.
The best chicken is when I marinate it first, but you don’t actually have to. You can simply coat it in seasoning and load the basket.
No Air fryer? Make these chicken legs in the oven. Same temperature – 350F, but longer cooking time, around 25 minutes.

More Chicken Leg Recipes

Grilled Chicken Drumsticks

Air Fryer Apricot-Glazed Chicken Drumsticks

Air Fryer Chicken Legs

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