Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks are an easy, super family-friendly weeknight dinner choice. They’re ready in under 30 minutes and require a fraction of the oil called for in other methods.
Not only does your air fryer make quick work of creating these tasty air fried chicken drumsticks, you won’t believe the result! They have the delicious crunchy skin and moist meat of deep fried chicken legs without all the added fat.
They’re just perfect for an easy dinner and they reheat nicely if you like to meal prep! And as an added bonus, the cleanup is SO much easier than traditional pan fry methods.
The air fryer is quickly becoming one of my favorite small appliances! It not only speeds up cooking time for recipes, it reduces calories by greatly reducing the amount of oil needed. It is also great for reheating and re-crisping leftovers.
Chicken legs, chicken wings, steak, bacon (yes, air fryer bacon!), and so many other foods are cooked quickly, easily, and with far less oil in the air fryer.
Ingredients
The simple list of ingredients is easy to stock and can be modified to suit your taste.
- You’ll need 6 skin-on chicken drumsticks for this recipe.
- A blend of seasonings including salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and paprika adds great classic flavor and color. For BBQ flavored drumsticks, substitute chili powder (regular or chipotle) for the Italian seasoning and smoked paprika for the regular paprika and serve them with your favorite BBQ sauce for dipping.
- When air frying, you want to use a high smoke point oil like vegetable oil. Extra virgin olive oil has a lower smoke point and although a healthy choice, it is not the best choice for air frying. For a healthy fat oil with a higher smoke point, give avocado oil a try.
How to Make Chicken Drumsticks in the Air Fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Place the chicken drumsticks and oil in a gallon-sized plastic storage bag, and move the chicken around until it is completely coated with the oil.
- Combine the herbs and spices in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture into the bag, seal and shake until the chicken is completely coated.
- Place the drumsticks into the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes.
- Flip and cook for another 9 to 10 minutes, or until the chicken comes to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F when measured in the meatiest portion of the drumstick.
- Allow the chicken to cool for 5 minutes before eating. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Chicken Drumsticks
For a wholesome, low-carb meal, pair these Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks with a vegetable like my Instant Pot Broccoli, or my delicious Keto Broccoli and Cheese Casserole. They are also delicious served along a crisp, cool Chickpea Salad with Cucumbers and Tomatoes.
More Quick and Easy Weeknight Meals
- Low Sodium Spanish Rice and Beans
- Turkey Tacos
- Instant Pot Chicken Curry
- Loaded Taco Skillet
- Ground Pork Stir Fry with Zucchini and Mushrooms
- Coconut Milk Chicken Thighs with Creamy Tomato Sauce
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings – 3 Ways
- Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
- Air Fryer Crunchy Coconut Shrimp
- Air Fryer Bagels
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 chicken drumsticks, skin-on
- 1 tablespoon oil, like vegetable or avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Place the chicken and oil in a gallon-sized plastic storage bag. Move the chicken around inside the bag until completely coated with oil.
- In a small bowl add the herbs and spices and combine well. Sprinkle the mixture into the bag, seal, and shake until the drumsticks are completely coated.
- Put the drumsticks into the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes. Flip the pieces over and then cook for another 9 to 10 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F when measured in the meatiest portion of the drumstick.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For BBQ flavored drumsticks, substitute chili powder (regular or chipotle) for the Italian seasoning and smoked paprika for the regular paprika and serve them with your favorite BBQ sauce for dipping.
- When air frying, you want to use a high smoke point oil like vegetable oil. Extra virgin olive oil has a lower smoke point and although a healthy choice, it is not the best choice for air frying. For a healthy fat oil with a higher smoke point, give avocado oil a try.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home. All information provided regarding nutrition on this website is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Content related to nutrition is not medical advice nor is it intended to replace medical advice. The website is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, condition, illness, or injury. Before beginning any diet program, modifying your diet, or making changes to the diet of a child in your care, including following the nutrition information available on the website, you should seek advice from a licensed professional.
