Chicken legs and air fryers are a perfect pair. The hot air method of "frying" assures that your chicken will be cooked through, leaving you with juicy chicken legs and crispy skin. Try these Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer for the best crispy drumsticks you've ever tasted.
We like to prepare our chicken drumsticks in the French way, by removing the skin on the legs, exposing the bone, and cutting a bit off the top so that the drumsticks stand on end. I first saw this method on social media and the Food Network.
If you don't have time for all that, this recipe works just as well without the additional prep. Just use chicken drumsticks as-is. Add a couple of extra minutes cook time.
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Why You'll Love This Air Fryer Recipe
- Cooking chicken in an air fryer saves time, calories, and fat, but the easy clean-up and reduced cooking time are the biggest draws for me.
- Air frying is a game changer for an aging person living alone. My 97 year old Dad uses his constantly. I worry a lot less than if he were using hot grease for frying.
- Whatever your reason for air frying, if you like juicy chicken drumsticks, you need this great recipe in your list of chicken recipes.
Ingredients
- Chicken legs - look for medium-large chicken drumsticks, uniformly sized with skin on.
- Olive oil - Extra virgin is best.
- Ketchup
- Lemon
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Paprika - I love Sweet Hungarian Paprika but whatever you have will work fine.
- Chili Powder - or Cayenne pepper
- Salt
Full ingredients list & measurements provided in the recipe card.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare chicken legs (French) if making lollipop legs. Skip to step 2 if not. See video on procedure.
Place the chicken legs in a large bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well to cover legs.
Place legs in air fryer. Bake for 10 minutes at 370˚F then turn legs over.
Cook for 10 minutes. Chicken is done when it reaches 165˚F on the inside.
Variations of my Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe.
- The best way to play around with this easy dinner recipe is to use other chicken parts. Try air fryer chicken breast with the same seasoning just using chicken breasts instead of legs.
- How about air fryer chicken thighs or a whole chicken.
- Change up the spice mixture.
- Add honey or brown sugar for a sweet and sticky skin.
- Swap out the ketchup for BBQ sauce.
Need Chicken Wing Recipes?
If you crave unique, flavorful chickens, look no further.
Equipment
- Sharp chef's knife
- Cutting Board
- Air Fryer
- Large bowl
- Paper towels
Perfect Pairings
The whole family will love air fry chicken legs with French fries or potato salad. These would be great at a party or in an airtight container inside a cooler at a picnic. Pick them up with your fingers. No utensils needed!
Recipe
Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer
Equipment
- Sharp chef's knife
- Cutting Board
- Air Fryer
- Large bowl
Ingredients
- 6 chicken legs
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or onion powder if you add the garlic bulb
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- garlic bulb optional
Instructions
- Wash chicken legs and pat dry with a paper towel. Cut off a phalanx with a sharp knife, make cuts where the flesh and bone are attached. Forcefully pry away the flesh. This will make it easier to eat.
- Put prepared legs in a bowl and add remaining ingredients. Stir everything together and you're ready to cook.
- Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer. If you add a head of garlic, it will be even more flavorful. Bake the legs at 370˚F for 10 minutes.
- Flip the chicken pieces and cook for another 10 minutes.
- To check readiness, cut off a piece at the widest part. The juices released should be clear. Safest is to use a meat thermometer to check for internal temperature of 165˚F.
- Serve the chicken legs hot with rice, vegetables, garlic paste from the roasted garlic bulb.
Nutrition
Approximate nutrition information is provided as a convenience and courtesy only. You are encouraged to do your own calculations if precise data is required.
We take every effort to ensure that the estimated meal cost per serving is accurate. We use a meal cost analysis application that estimates the cost of a recipe based on groceries purchased at a Walmart store in my geographical area, northern California.
Erin says
These look amazing!
Nancy says
Nice easy meal in the air fryer. I love minimum cleanups
Mary says
Don't we all? 🙂