Jump to Recipe These quick and easy Air Fryer Chicken Legs are super tasty with wonderfully crisp skin and juicy, tender meat that practically falls off the bone! Since these air-fried chicken drumsticks are so simply perfect, they have become a family favorite for effortless weeknight dinners! Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe Everyone in my family loves a fried chicken dinner, and I love serving this super easy healthier version any night of the week! It takes the staple oven-roasted chicken up a notch by adding this wonderfully crispy air-fried skin! Seriously, most of my air-fried goodies rival the deliciousness of their deep-fried counterparts! For me to get this level of crispiness in oven-baked chicken legs, I would have to really crank the oven heat up and cook all of the moisture out of my chicken. No thanks!
Tasty air fryer chicken legs are super easy to make and turn out wonderfully crisp on the outside, leaving the drumsticks tender and juicy!
Jump to:Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe š„ Ingredients šŖ Step-By-Step Instructions š Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes š„ Sides š„” Storing & Reheating š More Great Air Fryer Recipes š Recipe š¬ Comments
So they’re super tasty, the chicken meat is absolutely tender, and it’s a really simple chicken seasoning. What’s not to love? But wait…there’s more! Lol. I have to add that cleaning up air fryer components is a snap. That makes your family dinners that much easier! š„ Ingredients Olive OilChicken LegsSea SaltPepperPaprikaGarlic PowderOnion Powder Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips! Want More Recipes? Enter your email below and we’ll send them straight to your inbox!
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šŖ Step-By-Step Instructions Preheat Air Fryer & Prepare Chicken Legs Preheat your air fryer to 400ĀŗF ( 205ĀŗC ) or set your cooking time if the preheat is built in. With my Instant Pot Vortex Plus, I would select ‘AIR FRY’ for 20 minutes and allow it to preheat.Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels. If your chicken legs were frozen, make sure that they are completely thawed.In a bowl ( large enough to hold your chicken legs ) or on a tray, coat the chicken legs with olive oil or spray with olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil.In a small bowl or plastic storage bag, combine the seasoning ingredients: salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Toss the chicken in the seasoning if using a bowl, or transfer the chicken into your bag of seasoning and shake to coat thoroughly.Place seasoned chicken legs onto air fryer trays or into your air fryer basket. Leave space between each and arrange the drumsticks in a single layer for even cooking. Air Fry Your Chicken Legs Cook the chicken legs at 400ĀŗF ( 205ĀŗC ) for 10 minutes. Turn the chicken drumsticks at the halfway point in the cooking time.Continue to cook an additional 5 minutes to reach extra crispy, fall-off-the-bone yummy chicken legs.Check and make sure that your chicken has a minimum safe internal temperature of 165ĀŗF ( 74ĀŗC ) before removing it from the air fryer and serving immediately. š Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes There are a few simple tips for cooking the best air fryer chicken legs. No matter your air fryer size, model, or style these things are true: Preheat your air fryer - especially anything that you will be cooking for 20 minutes or more. Smaller, quicker snacks and such can skip preheating at times, especially in smaller air fryers that heat QUICKLY.Avoid overcrowding your food - every time I’ve written up one of my air fryer recipes, I always note that foods should be placed on your air fryer racks or in the baskets in a single layer. Never stack or pile foods into your air fryer ( if it can be avoided ) as it will prevent even, rapid cooking.Prepare foods as instructed - whether it’s patting the chicken dry, coating or spraying with oils, slicing into evenly-sized pieces, etc. These are usually important steps to recreating something wonderful at home with minimal frustration or disappointment.Use a digital meat thermometer - that can read the internal meat temperature quickly. Cook the chicken legs to a minimum safe temperature of 165ĀŗF ( 74ĀŗC ) as recommended by the USDA. Or follow my rule of thumb with chicken and cook it to an internal temperature of 180ĀŗF ( 82ĀŗC ) to avoid the bloody looking areas next to the bone. Can I Add BBQ Sauce? Yes, most definitely! There are two ways to add your barbecue sauce. The first is to wait until your chicken legs are completely cooked, then coat them with the BBQ sauce. This is my suggested method for cooking the chicken legs best. The second option will get a nice bbq crusting to the chicken drumsticks. However, you will need to open the air fryer door more than I would suggest normally. With the second option, cook the drumsticks for the first ten minutes as directed. Coat the chicken legs with your favorite bbq sauce and continue to cook the chicken legs. Coat the chicken drumsticks every 5 minutes of the remaining cooking time. š„ Sides Here are some great ideas for amazing side dishes for chicken! Mac & CheeseBrussels Sprouts Roasted Carrots Parmesan Zucchini Mashed Potatoes
š„” Storing & Reheating Store any remaining air fryer chicken legs in an airtight container. The chicken legs will keep refrigerated for up to 3 -4 days but they are best used within 2 - 3 days. *No cooked chicken should be refrigerated for more than 3 - 4 days. To freeze your FULLY COOLED cooked chicken legs, wrap each leg tightly in aluminum foil. I recommend heavy-duty aluminum foil whenever you are freezing cooked foods or baked goods. Freezing the chicken as quickly as possible is the best practice for food safety. I usually place my aluminum foil-wrapped chicken legs onto a baking sheet to freeze individually. Once frozen, transfer the drumsticks to a freezer storage bag or airtight container. Your frozen air fryer chicken drumsticks can be stored in the freezer for up to 4 - 6 months, but are best used within the first 2 - 3 months. Reheating Air Fried Chicken Legs Before reheating your air fryer chicken legs, transfer the aluminum foil-wrapped pieces to your refrigerator to thaw overnight. Make sure that your chicken is fully thawed for easy reheating. The crisp chicken skin is hard to maintain after refrigerating! Therefore, the best way to reheat your chicken legs is a quick reheat in your air fryer. Set the air fryer to preheat at 400ĀŗF ( 205ĀŗC ) then place chicken legs back into the basket or trays in a single layer. Reheat for 6 - 8 minutes, or until the chicken has reached your desired temperature. š More Great Air Fryer Recipes Potato SkinsGrilled Ham & CheeseBiscuitsRotisserie ChickenHot DogsGrilled Cheese Sandwiches
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-starĀ šrating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social mediaĀ @Ā Pinterest,Ā Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!
š Recipe
Print Recipe Leave A Comment Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It! 5 from 24 reviews
Air Fryer Chicken Legs
These quick and easy Air Fryer Chicken Legs are super tasty with wonderfully crisp skin and juicy, tender meat that practically falls off the bone! Since these air fried chicken drumsticks are so simply perfect, they have become a family favorite for effortless weeknight dinners!
Author | Angela
Servings: 8 chicken legs Calories: 310kcal Prep 5 minutes Cooking 25 minutes Total Time 30 minutes
Pin Recipe Share on Facebook IngredientsĀ US CustomaryMetric1x2x3xā¢ 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin or olive oil spray - for trays and chicken drumsticks)ā¢ 8 chicken legsā¢ 1 teaspoon sea saltā¢ Ā½ teaspoon black pepperā¢ 1 teaspoon paprikaā¢ 1 teaspoon garlic powderā¢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
InstructionsPreheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F (make sure to fully preheat, about 5 minutes) and lightly spray or coat your air fryer basket or trays with olive oil.Pat the chicken dry and then either spray with olive oil spray or place the chicken legs into a small bowl and coat with olive oil.8 chicken legs, 2 tablespoon olive oilCombine salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl or plastic bag.1 teaspoon sea salt, Ā½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powderSprinkle spices over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.Place chicken legs in the air fryer basket or onto air fryer trays in a single layer with adequate spacing for even air circulation. Cook for 10 minutes, then turn the chicken and continue cooking another 10 minutes. An additional 5 minutes may be needed to reach 180 degrees F (82 degrees C) or your desired level of crispiness.Check the internal temperature of the chicken legs by using a digital meat thermometer. The chicken must be a minimum of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), but I cook my chicken to 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Serve immediately when done. Equipment You May NeedAir Fryer (basket style)Air Fryer (convection style)Silicone Kitchen Tongs NotesCoat your chicken legs with barbeque sauce once they are done and nicely crispy. OR for a crusty bbq coating you can coat with BBQ sauce after 10 minutes of cooking, then every five minutes of the remaining cooking time. *This completely goes against my advice for best air fryer cooking tips #1 don’t open the air fryer door any more than necessary. NutritionCalories: 310kcal (16%) | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 21g (42%) | Fat: 24g (37%) | Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) | Cholesterol: 120mg (40%) | Sodium: 400mg (17%) | Potassium: 272mg (8%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 1g (1%) | Vitamin A: 242IU (5%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 12mg (1%) | Iron: 1mg (6%) Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I canāt wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love! Air Fryer Chicken Legs, air fryer recipes, chicken, chicken legs, drumsticks Course Air Fryer, Chicken Dishes, Dinner Recipes, Main DishCuisine AmericanDiet Gluten FreeAngela @ BakeItWithLove.comAngela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love! bakeitwithlove.com/about/
These quick and easy Air Fryer Chicken Legs are super tasty with wonderfully crisp skin and juicy, tender meat that practically falls off the bone! Since these air-fried chicken drumsticks are so simply perfect, they have become a family favorite for effortless weeknight dinners!
Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe
Everyone in my family loves a fried chicken dinner, and I love serving this super easy healthier version any night of the week! It takes the staple oven-roasted chicken up a notch by adding this wonderfully crispy air-fried skin!
Seriously, most of my air-fried goodies rival the deliciousness of their deep-fried counterparts! For me to get this level of crispiness in oven-baked chicken legs, I would have to really crank the oven heat up and cook all of the moisture out of my chicken. No thanks!
Tasty air fryer chicken legs are super easy to make and turn out wonderfully crisp on the outside, leaving the drumsticks tender and juicy!
So they’re super tasty, the chicken meat is absolutely tender, and it’s a really simple chicken seasoning. What’s not to love?
But wait…there’s more! Lol. I have to add that cleaning up air fryer components is a snap. That makes your family dinners that much easier!
š„ Ingredients
- Olive OilChicken LegsSea SaltPepperPaprikaGarlic PowderOnion Powder
Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!
Want More Recipes? Enter your email below and we’ll send them straight to your inbox!
- indicates required
Email Address *
šŖ Step-By-Step Instructions
Preheat Air Fryer & Prepare Chicken Legs
- Preheat your air fryer to 400ĀŗF ( 205ĀŗC ) or set your cooking time if the preheat is built in. With my Instant Pot Vortex Plus, I would select ‘AIR FRY’ for 20 minutes and allow it to preheat.Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels. If your chicken legs were frozen, make sure that they are completely thawed.In a bowl ( large enough to hold your chicken legs ) or on a tray, coat the chicken legs with olive oil or spray with olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil.In a small bowl or plastic storage bag, combine the seasoning ingredients: salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Toss the chicken in the seasoning if using a bowl, or transfer the chicken into your bag of seasoning and shake to coat thoroughly.Place seasoned chicken legs onto air fryer trays or into your air fryer basket. Leave space between each and arrange the drumsticks in a single layer for even cooking.
Air Fry Your Chicken Legs
- Cook the chicken legs at 400ĀŗF ( 205ĀŗC ) for 10 minutes. Turn the chicken drumsticks at the halfway point in the cooking time.Continue to cook an additional 5 minutes to reach extra crispy, fall-off-the-bone yummy chicken legs.Check and make sure that your chicken has a minimum safe internal temperature of 165ĀŗF ( 74ĀŗC ) before removing it from the air fryer and serving immediately.
š Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes
There are a few simple tips for cooking the best air fryer chicken legs. No matter your air fryer size, model, or style these things are true:
- indicates required
Email Address *
- indicates required
Email Address *
- Preheat your air fryer - especially anything that you will be cooking for 20 minutes or more. Smaller, quicker snacks and such can skip preheating at times, especially in smaller air fryers that heat QUICKLY.Avoid overcrowding your food - every time I’ve written up one of my air fryer recipes, I always note that foods should be placed on your air fryer racks or in the baskets in a single layer. Never stack or pile foods into your air fryer ( if it can be avoided ) as it will prevent even, rapid cooking.Prepare foods as instructed - whether it’s patting the chicken dry, coating or spraying with oils, slicing into evenly-sized pieces, etc. These are usually important steps to recreating something wonderful at home with minimal frustration or disappointment.Use a digital meat thermometer - that can read the internal meat temperature quickly. Cook the chicken legs to a minimum safe temperature of 165ĀŗF ( 74ĀŗC ) as recommended by the USDA. Or follow my rule of thumb with chicken and cook it to an internal temperature of 180ĀŗF ( 82ĀŗC ) to avoid the bloody looking areas next to the bone.
Can I Add BBQ Sauce?
Yes, most definitely! There are two ways to add your barbecue sauce. The first is to wait until your chicken legs are completely cooked, then coat them with the BBQ sauce. This is my suggested method for cooking the chicken legs best.
The second option will get a nice bbq crusting to the chicken drumsticks. However, you will need to open the air fryer door more than I would suggest normally.
With the second option, cook the drumsticks for the first ten minutes as directed. Coat the chicken legs with your favorite bbq sauce and continue to cook the chicken legs. Coat the chicken drumsticks every 5 minutes of the remaining cooking time.
š„ Sides
Here are some great ideas for amazing side dishes for chicken!
- Mac & CheeseBrussels Sprouts Roasted Carrots Parmesan Zucchini Mashed Potatoes
š„” Storing & Reheating
Store any remaining air fryer chicken legs in an airtight container. The chicken legs will keep refrigerated for up to 3 -4 days but they are best used within 2 - 3 days. *No cooked chicken should be refrigerated for more than 3 - 4 days.
To freeze your FULLY COOLED cooked chicken legs, wrap each leg tightly in aluminum foil. I recommend heavy-duty aluminum foil whenever you are freezing cooked foods or baked goods.
Freezing the chicken as quickly as possible is the best practice for food safety. I usually place my aluminum foil-wrapped chicken legs onto a baking sheet to freeze individually.
Once frozen, transfer the drumsticks to a freezer storage bag or airtight container. Your frozen air fryer chicken drumsticks can be stored in the freezer for up to 4 - 6 months, but are best used within the first 2 - 3 months.
Reheating Air Fried Chicken Legs
Before reheating your air fryer chicken legs, transfer the aluminum foil-wrapped pieces to your refrigerator to thaw overnight. Make sure that your chicken is fully thawed for easy reheating.
The crisp chicken skin is hard to maintain after refrigerating! Therefore, the best way to reheat your chicken legs is a quick reheat in your air fryer. Set the air fryer to preheat at 400ĀŗF ( 205ĀŗC ) then place chicken legs back into the basket or trays in a single layer.
Reheat for 6 - 8 minutes, or until the chicken has reached your desired temperature.
š More Great Air Fryer Recipes
- Potato SkinsGrilled Ham & CheeseBiscuitsRotisserie ChickenHot DogsGrilled Cheese Sandwiches
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-starĀ šrating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social mediaĀ @Ā Pinterest,Ā Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!
š Recipe
Print Recipe Leave A Comment Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It! 5 from 24 reviews
Air Fryer Chicken Legs
These quick and easy Air Fryer Chicken Legs are super tasty with wonderfully crisp skin and juicy, tender meat that practically falls off the bone! Since these air fried chicken drumsticks are so simply perfect, they have become a family favorite for effortless weeknight dinners!
Author | Angela
Servings: 8 chicken legs Calories: 310kcal Prep 5 minutes Cooking 25 minutes Total Time 30 minutes
Pin Recipe Share on Facebook IngredientsĀ US CustomaryMetric1x2x3xā¢ 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin or olive oil spray - for trays and chicken drumsticks)ā¢ 8 chicken legsā¢ 1 teaspoon sea saltā¢ Ā½ teaspoon black pepperā¢ 1 teaspoon paprikaā¢ 1 teaspoon garlic powderā¢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
InstructionsPreheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F (make sure to fully preheat, about 5 minutes) and lightly spray or coat your air fryer basket or trays with olive oil.Pat the chicken dry and then either spray with olive oil spray or place the chicken legs into a small bowl and coat with olive oil.8 chicken legs, 2 tablespoon olive oilCombine salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl or plastic bag.1 teaspoon sea salt, Ā½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powderSprinkle spices over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.Place chicken legs in the air fryer basket or onto air fryer trays in a single layer with adequate spacing for even air circulation. Cook for 10 minutes, then turn the chicken and continue cooking another 10 minutes. An additional 5 minutes may be needed to reach 180 degrees F (82 degrees C) or your desired level of crispiness.Check the internal temperature of the chicken legs by using a digital meat thermometer. The chicken must be a minimum of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), but I cook my chicken to 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Serve immediately when done. Equipment You May NeedAir Fryer (basket style)Air Fryer (convection style)Silicone Kitchen Tongs NotesCoat your chicken legs with barbeque sauce once they are done and nicely crispy. OR for a crusty bbq coating you can coat with BBQ sauce after 10 minutes of cooking, then every five minutes of the remaining cooking time. *This completely goes against my advice for best air fryer cooking tips #1 don’t open the air fryer door any more than necessary. NutritionCalories: 310kcal (16%) | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 21g (42%) | Fat: 24g (37%) | Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) | Cholesterol: 120mg (40%) | Sodium: 400mg (17%) | Potassium: 272mg (8%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 1g (1%) | Vitamin A: 242IU (5%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 12mg (1%) | Iron: 1mg (6%) Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I canāt wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love! Air Fryer Chicken Legs, air fryer recipes, chicken, chicken legs, drumsticks Course Air Fryer, Chicken Dishes, Dinner Recipes, Main DishCuisine AmericanDiet Gluten Free
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.comAngela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma’s kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love! bakeitwithlove.com/about/
Do you love a recipe you tried? Please leave a 5-starĀ šrating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Stay in touch with me through social mediaĀ @Ā Pinterest,Ā Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes!
Love This Recipe?Click On A Star To Rate It!
5 from 24 reviews
Air Fryer Chicken Legs
These quick and easy Air Fryer Chicken Legs are super tasty with wonderfully crisp skin and juicy, tender meat that practically falls off the bone! Since these air fried chicken drumsticks are so simply perfect, they have become a family favorite for effortless weeknight dinners!
Author | Angela
Servings: 8 chicken legs
Calories: 310kcal
Prep 5 minutes
Cooking 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
IngredientsĀ US CustomaryMetric1x2x3xā¢ 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin or olive oil spray - for trays and chicken drumsticks)ā¢ 8 chicken legsā¢ 1 teaspoon sea saltā¢ Ā½ teaspoon black pepperā¢ 1 teaspoon paprikaā¢ 1 teaspoon garlic powderā¢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
InstructionsPreheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F (make sure to fully preheat, about 5 minutes) and lightly spray or coat your air fryer basket or trays with olive oil.Pat the chicken dry and then either spray with olive oil spray or place the chicken legs into a small bowl and coat with olive oil.8 chicken legs, 2 tablespoon olive oilCombine salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl or plastic bag.1 teaspoon sea salt, Ā½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powderSprinkle spices over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.Place chicken legs in the air fryer basket or onto air fryer trays in a single layer with adequate spacing for even air circulation. Cook for 10 minutes, then turn the chicken and continue cooking another 10 minutes. An additional 5 minutes may be needed to reach 180 degrees F (82 degrees C) or your desired level of crispiness.Check the internal temperature of the chicken legs by using a digital meat thermometer. The chicken must be a minimum of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), but I cook my chicken to 180 degrees F (82 degrees C). Serve immediately when done.
Equipment You May NeedAir Fryer (basket style)Air Fryer (convection style)Silicone Kitchen Tongs
NotesCoat your chicken legs with barbeque sauce once they are done and nicely crispy. OR for a crusty bbq coating you can coat with BBQ sauce after 10 minutes of cooking, then every five minutes of the remaining cooking time. *This completely goes against my advice for best air fryer cooking tips #1 don’t open the air fryer door any more than necessary.
Nutrition
Calories: 310kcal (16%) | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 21g (42%) | Fat: 24g (37%) | Saturated Fat: 6g (38%) | Cholesterol: 120mg (40%) | Sodium: 400mg (17%) | Potassium: 272mg (8%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 1g (1%) | Vitamin A: 242IU (5%) | Vitamin C: 1mg (1%) | Calcium: 12mg (1%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)
Did you try this recipe? Rate it below!I canāt wait to see your results! Mention @bake_it_with_love or tag #bake_it_with_love!
Course Air Fryer, Chicken Dishes, Dinner Recipes, Main DishCuisine AmericanDiet Gluten Free
US CustomaryMetric
