I've tested these air fryer chicken drumsticks a bunch of times in both my air fryer baskets and air fryer ovens and they always come out perfect! It's one of my family's favorite meals.
QUICK AND EASY AIR FRYER CHICKEN DRUMSTICK RECIPE
The first time we made chicken drumsticks in the air fryer was unbelievable. They are crispy on the outside while juicy and tender on the inside.
Making them in the air fryer is quick and easy and can be done in less than 20 minutes.
Each bite has juicy meat with crispy skin. They are easy to grab and eat on the go and perfect for busy weeknight meals.
INGREDIENTS FOR AIR FRYER CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS
- chicken drumsticks-for a crispier drumstick, leave the skin on
- olive oil - perfect to brush the drumsticks with before coating.
- all purpose flour - for crispy skin.
- baking powder- or corn starch
- paprika - for a slight earthy flavor.
- onion powder- for slightly different flavor, you can substitute garlic powder
- salt- I prefer to use kosher salt
- black pepper - gives everything a little spice.
- optional spices: for an extra spicy drumstick, you can substitute chili powder for onion powder. If you like them hot, use a bit of cayenne pepper.
- Optional Garnish- parsley flakes
HOW TO COOK CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS IN THE AIR FRYER
STEP 1 - First, pat the drumsticks dry with a paper towel, then brush with a light coating of olive oil. Place the drumsticks in a large Ziploc bag.
STEP 2 - Next, in a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Shake the bag until the drumsticks are covered with the spice mixture.
STEP 3 - Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray, or brush a light coating of olive oil over the basket to prevent the drumsticks from sticking.
STEP 4 - Transfer the coated drumsticks from the bag to the air fryer basket, placing them in a single layer, without overlapping or stacking.
STEP 5 - Air fry at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
STEP 6 - Chicken will be done when it is golden brown and crispy, and when an instant read meat thermometer reaches an internal temperature of 165° degrees.
TIPS FOR THE BEST AIR FRYER CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS
- Leaving chicken drumsticks skin on helps the chicken become crispy. Skinless chicken will be delicious, too, but not as crispy.
- Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check for doneness when cooking meat in the air fryer. Because a thermometer can quickly and easily confirm doneness, you can prevent overcooking or dry or tough meat.
- Use a silicone liner for easy cleanup.
- Prepare the chicken in batches. In order to get the skin crunchy, avoid overlapping or having drumsticks touch in the basket.
CHICKEN DRUMSTICK VARIATIONS
- Chicken drumsticks are easy to grab by the bone and eat as they are, or you can serve them with your favorite dipping sauces, such as Ranch dressing, hot sauce, honey mustard, or even BBQ sauce, for dipping.
- Add seasonings such as Ranch or Italian seasoning to the flour before cooking for more flavor.
CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS IN THE AIR FRYER FAQs
Chicken legs and drumsticks are both dark meat. However, the legs of the chicken have the thigh as part of the piece, while drumsticks are the lower part of the leg, without the thigh. Drumsticks are one of the least expensive but delicious meats, which is why they are perfect for feeding larger families.
Allow the drumsticks to cool before storing. Once they have cooled to room temperature, place them in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
To reheat air-fried chicken drumsticks, return them to the air fryer and air fry at 400 degrees F for 3-5 minutes until heated through and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
I flip the chicken to rotate the top, which is closest to the fan in my oven. This ensures they cook evenly.
Chicken Drumsticks are an easy dinner recipe because can be served with almost any favorite side dish. Air fryer roasted potatoes, air fryer French fries, or air fryer twice baked potatoes, would all be delicious.
MORE AIR FRYER DINNER IDEAS
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4 chicken drumsticks
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder or corn starch
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Pat the drumsticks dry with a paper towel, then brush with a light coating of olive oil. Place the drumsticks in a large Ziploc bag
- In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Shake the bag until the drumsticks are covered with the spice mixture.
- Lightly spray the basket with cooking spray, or brush a light coating of olive oil over basket to prevent drumsticks from sticking.
- Transfer the drumsticks from the bag to the air fryer basket, placing them in a single layer, without overlapping or stacking.
- Air fry at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes. Flip chicken drumsticks halfway through the cooking time.
- Chicken will be done when it is golden brown and crispy, and when an instant read meat thermometer reaches an internal temperature of 165° degrees F.
Notes
- Leaving chicken drumsticks skin on helps the chicken to become crispy. Skinless chicken will be delicious too, just not as crispy.
- Use an instant read meat thermometer to check for doneness when cooking meat in the air fryer. A thermometer can quickly and easily confirm doneness and prevent overcooking.
- I make this recipe in my Cosori air fryer and 20 minutes cook time was perfect. Because all air fryers are different, you may need to adjust cooking time by 2-5 minutes.
- If making more than 4-6 drumsticks, prepare the chicken in batches. To get the crunchy skin, avoid overlapping or having drumsticks touch in the basket.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.
©AirFryingFoodie 2024
James Vielbig
This is a really great recipe
Thank you! So glad you liked it!
Nancy
Can you use Bisquick instead of flour
Hi James. I'm not sure if it would cook the same because there are other ingredients in Bisquick. If you try it, let me know how it turns out.
Ron
Looked good so I tryed it so far it's great thank u for sharing
TRBB
Endorsed.
Jay moon
Great recipe. I have a Chapman air fryer. Had to adjust time to 30 mins. At 400 to get done on inside.
Jasmine
Love the recipe, made it tonight for my family!! The only down side mine didn’t brown up as well as your did. Can you guide me on how to get them nice a brown like this . I have a ninja foodi xl grill 6-in-1 and A innsky oven I used both at the same time due to the amount I made.
Jay Mc
I will try this today, BUT: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS rinse raw chicken in cold water before preparing THEN: Wash your hands and preps area completely after handling raw chicken,
Tay
Cooked perfectly. PERFECTLY. Flavorful, crispy, quick, little cleanup.
Ibk
Fast and tasty chicken drumsticks. Thank you!
Thank you! So glad you liked them!
Mary Lebeau
Very tasty, and smelled so good while it was cooking!
Thank you for the feedback! So glad you liked it!
Glenn
Have cooked twice, best tasting drumsticks we've had yet, and we are 60 years old. Lol
That's so awesome! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Kathy Sowers Perry
My husband and I loves wings/drummettes but it’s expensive to eat out at wing places so I started looking for an Air Fryer recipe to make them at home. I’ve tried several and this is the best recipe I’ve found. I even make him the Garlic Parm Hot sauce he likes at the restaurants & he’s a happy camper! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Thank you for the feedback! I'm so glad you liked them!
CJ
I am new to air frying - like haven't even used it yet new, lol - I was just wondering, do you spray the chicken lightly with oil after it's coated in the seasoning?
Yes! If you give the chicken a light spray of olive oil, it will help prevent sticking and give it a little crisp. Let us know how it goes!
Richard
as an executive Chef at a Michelin 2 Starred Restaurant, I peruse the net looking for new simple ideas. I think that after trying this particular recipe, that the spice profile is right on for a "rustic" dish. Obviously I couldn't serve it professionally but for myself it was a very good supper..... I would serve to my friends. I brought the temp up slightly to get a little more crisp for the first few minutes and turned twice and backed it down to 205c. great job !!!!