Easily make the crispiest, juiciest, most perfectly delicious air fryer chicken legs at home. This healthier version of fried chicken is great for saving money and preparing just the right number of legs to feed 1 or 2 people, or even a hungry crowd.
What Makes This Recipe Great
Crispy, Crunchy Chicken. Frying chicken legs is the perfect way to enjoy nearly ever bit of the drumstick, skin included. This air fryer chicken legs recipe makes legs that are crunchy on the outside while the meat stays nice and juicy on the inside. Plus, a blend of chicken seasonings adds just the right flavor throughout.
Healthier Fried Chicken. Air fryer chicken legs require far less oil than typical deep frying. That means there is less fat and calories per serving.
Economic Dinner Meal. Chicken legs tend to be a good bit cheaper than thighs, breasts, or wings. You can usually purchase a large pack, and divide portions to cook now and freeze for later. Plus, cooking in an air fryer means using less energy versus the stovetop, oven, or deep fryer.
Perfect Portions. The air fryer chicken drumsticks recipe's serving size is for 2 chicken legs per person. Each leg is about 4 ounces total and 2 ounces of meat and skin without the bone. This is a good/recommended serving size especially with other side dishes.
Delicious Leftovers. Leftover fried chicken legs will keep well for up to 4 days in the fridge, so they are great to include in your weekly meal plan for easy lunches and dinners!
How to Make Crispy and Moist Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Using an air fryer for "frying" chicken makes this recipe practically effortless. With only a handful of simple ingredients you can create a delicious and comforting main dish in just a matter of minutes!
- Chicken Seasonings. I recommend a blend of poultry seasoning, kosher salt, and white pepper for properly seasoning air fryer chicken legs. Readymade chicken seasonings help save time, and white pepper adds a more mild pepper flavor that's great with the crispy chicken skin. Add these ingredients direct to a quart-size food storage bag and shake to combine.
- Prepare the Air Fryer and Chicken Drumsticks. First, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. To prep the legs, pat dry with a paper towel and then place in a shallow pie plate or dish. Drizzle vegetable oil or olive oil on the drumsticks, transfer the chicken legs to the bag with the seasoning and shake the bag to thoroughly coat.
- Season the Drumsticks. In a quart-size food storage bag, combine the poultry seasoning, salt and white pepper. Add 2 legs to the bag, tossing them to coat with the seasoning. Transfer legs to the air fryer basket. Repeat steps with the remaining legs. Arrange the legs in a single layer in the basket.
- Air Fry the Chicken Legs. Use tongs to transfer the prepared drumsticks to the preheated air fryer basket. Place in a single layer without overcrowding to create the crispiest skin. Alternate how you lay the thick and thin parts of the chicken to cook evenly, like in the photo below. Set the air fryer timer to 20 minutes, and turn with tongs halfway through cooking.
- Check for Doneness. Test the temperature with a thermometer - chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and the skin should be browned and crispy.
- Serve Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks. Immediately remove the cooked chicken legs from the basket (with tongs) and place on plates to serve. Enjoy warm fried chicken with your favorite southern side dishes.
Variations of Chicken Seasonings Used in This Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe
- White Pepper. I love the taste of white pepper in my chicken seasonings. It adds a unique twist that makes the seasoning perfect. I first learned about this special ingredient after seeing it used in Colonel Sanders Original Recipe. I have been adding it ever since. You can omit it if you prefer.
- Homemade Chicken Seasoning. Omit the readymade poultry seasonings suggested in this air fryer chicken legs recipe. Combine 2 teaspoons paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon ground white pepper and the kosher salt.
- Montreal Chicken Seasoning. McCormick makes a great seasoning that goes fabulously with baby back ribs. If you love McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning, you owe it to yourself to try their chicken seasoning. It is under their Grill Mates line making it perfect for air fried chicken legs.
- Italian Seasoning. Replace the poultry seasoning blend with an Italian seasoning blend. Omit the white pepper.
- Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks. Replace the poultry seasoning blend with a Lemon Pepper Seasoning blend. Omit the white pepper. Lemon Pepper is a relatively common seasoning blend that you can find in the spice section of your grocery store.
- Homemade Lemon Pepper Chicken Seasoning. Replace the suggested chicken seasonings blend with 2 tablespoons dried lemon peel, 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon onion powder. Omit the white pepper.
Suggested Sides for Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Festive Instant Pot Potato Salad
- Creamy Cheesy Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Cucumber Tomato Salad (Crisp and Refreshing)
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Golden Juicy Pan Fried Pork Chops
- Instant Pot Salmon for Two (5 Ingredients)
- Roasted Chicken Thighs (Family Friendly)
📋 Recipe
Crispy and Moist Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Easily make the crispiest, juiciest, most perfectly delicious air fryer chicken legs at home. You'll love these healthier air fryer chicken drumsticks!
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 6 chicken legs
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
- 2 tablespoons poultry seasoning
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400ºF. (Use the Air Fryer setting if your air fryer has one.)
- Pat chicken legs dry with a paper towel and transfer to a shallow plate. Drizzle oil over legs, tossing legs to coat with oil.
- In a quart-size food storage bag, combine the poultry seasoning, salt and white pepper. Add 2 legs to the bag, tossing them to coat with the seasoning. Transfer legs to the air fryer basket. Repeat steps with the remaining legs. Arrange the legs in a single layer in the basket.
- Air fry the chicken legs for 10 minutes. Using tongs, turn legs over and cook for another 10 minutes or until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken leg reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF.
- Using tongs, transfer legs to a serving plates.
Cooks Tips
- When placing the chicken legs in the air fryer, alternate the thicker and thinner part of the leg so they fit better alongside each other without crowding.
- If you don't have an instant read thermometer, you can check to see that the drumsticks are done if the juices run clear when pierced with a fork and the outside is browned.
- White Pepper: I love the taste of white pepper in my chicken seasoning. It adds a unique twist that makes the seasoning perfect. I first learned about this special ingredient after seeing it used in Colonel Sanders Original Recipe. You can omit it if you prefer.
- Homemade Chicken Seasoning: Omit the poultry seasoning. Combine 2 teaspoons paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon ground white pepper and the kosher salt.
- Montreal Chicken Seasoning: McCormick makes a great seasoning that goes fabulously with baby back ribs. If you love McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning, you owe it to yourself to try their chicken seasoning. It is under their Grill Mates line making it perfect for air fried chicken legs.
- Italian Seasoning: Replace the poultry seasoning blend with an Italian seasoning blend. Omit the white pepper.
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Drumsticks: Replace the poultry seasoning blend with a Lemon Pepper Seasoning blend. Omit the white pepper. Lemon Pepper is a relatively common seasoning blend that you can find in the spice section of your grocery store.
- Homemade Lemon Pepper Seasoning: Replace the poultry seasoning blend with 2 tablespoons dried lemon peel, 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon onion powder. Omit the white pepper.
Nutrition
Calories: 602kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 43gFat: 46gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 240mgSodium: 1767mgPotassium: 542mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 307IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 52mgIron: 3mg
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