Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Crispy, well-seasoned chicken drumsticks cooked quickly in the air fryer.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Large Bowl
- Small Bowl
- kitchen towels or paper towels
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 12 chicken legs (drumsticks)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Pat the chicken legs dry with kitchen towels or paper towels and place them in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, combine the salt, black pepper, chili powder, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder to make the spice blend.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the dried chicken, then sprinkle the spice blend evenly and toss the drumsticks until well coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C).
- Arrange the chicken legs in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between pieces; work in batches if needed.
- Cook for 20 minutes total, flipping the drumsticks after 10 minutes to promote even browning and crisping.
- When the skin is crisp and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), remove the chicken and let rest a few minutes before serving.
- Serve the drumsticks warm with optional lime wedges, avocado, tomatoes, salsa, or guacamole if desired.
Notes
- Basket-style air fryers often yield the crispiest results.
- Avoid wet marinades or fresh minced garlic/onion as they can burn in the air fryer.
- Oil helps the skin crisp, so do not skip it.
- Flip the chicken halfway through cooking for even browning.
- Dry the chicken thoroughly before seasoning to ensure crisp skin.
- Thighs or whole legs can be used as alternatives to drumsticks.