Easy Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks + Video

Name: Easy Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 6 chicken drumsticks; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

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These air fryer chicken drumsticks are crispy on the outside and juicy and flavorful on the inside! This quick and easy recipe is ready in under 20 minutes and sure to be the best chicken drumsticks you’ve ever had. No breading required!

If you like air fryer chicken recipes, be sure to try my air fryer fried chicken, air fryer brown sugar chicken thighs or air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs, next!

Air fried chicken drumsticks garnished with fresh parsley on a light gray plate.

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Recipe Video:

Why You Will Love This Recipe:

Air fryer chicken legs are a dinner staple that’s quick and easy to make with just a few ingredients. These chicken drumsticks are top rated at my house, and I find myself making them almost every week because they're both kid and adult approved!
This simple recipe results in drumsticks that are juicy and tender on the inside with crispy skin on the outside without any breading or eggs needed. It’s the perfect recipe for air fryer beginners.
Pair this chicken drumsticks recipe with just about any side dish for a complete meal. I recommend air fryer corn on cob, air fryer green beans with bacon, or air fryer loaded baked potatoes just to name a few. See below for more side dish suggestions.

Cooked chicken drumsticks on a black air fryer tray.

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Plated chicken drumsticks garnished with fresh parsley.

Q&A:

Can you air fry chicken drumsticks from frozen?

Yes, see my instructions below for air fryer frozen chicken drumsticks.

Equipment Needed:

Air Fryer

Cooked chicken drumsticks in a black air fryer basket.

Ingredients: (Full recipe located in recipe card below)

Air fryer chicken drumsticks recipe ingredients in various dishes on a white marble surface: chicken drumsticks, olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder.

Chicken Drumsticks - I prefer to use chicken legs that are air chilled, antibiotic and hormone free, and vegetarian grain fed.
Olive Oil - Used to blend the seasonings together and makes the chicken skin extra crispy and delicious.
Seasonings: Smoked Paprika, Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder

Air Fryer Instructions:

1. Pat the chicken drumsticks completely dry with a paper towel.

A hand patting chicken drumsticks dry with a paper towel on a wood cutting board.

2. To a large bowl, add the olive oil, salt, pepper, smoked paprika and garlic powder. Stir until well blended.

Olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a silver mixing bowl stirred until well blended.

3. Add the chicken drumsticks to the bowl with the seasoning mixture and toss until well coated.

Chicken drumsticks added to a silver mixing bowl with an olive oil seasoning mixture and tossed until well coated.

4. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Black air fryer panel with a silver dial set to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 18 minutes.

5. Add the chicken drumsticks to the air fryer in a single layer. Cook for 10 minutes, then flip them, and cook for an additional 6 to 8 minutes until crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Seasoned chicken drumsticks added to a black air fryer basket and flipped halfway through the cooking process with pink and silver tongs.

6. Once done, remove the chicken from the air fryer, let cool, then enjoy!

Crispy chicken drumsticks with no breading on a light gray plate.

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Drumsticks:

1. To a small bowl, mix the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Set the seasoning mixture aside. Add frozen chicken drumsticks to a plastic bag and drizzle with olive oil.

2. Pour the seasoning mixture over the chicken. Close the bag and shake the bag until the chicken is evenly coated with the seasoning mixture.

3. Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Add the chicken drumsticks to the air fryer in a single layer. Cook for 15 minutes, then flip them, and cook for an additional 10 to 15 minutes until crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Once done, remove the chicken from the air fryer, let cool, then enjoy!

Crispy chicken drumsticks in a black air fryer basket on a wood cutting board.

What To Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks:

Plated air fryer crispy chicken drumsticks garnished with fresh parley.

Recipe Variations And Substitutions:

Make it spicy by adding a ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes into the seasoning mixture of this recipe.

Storage And Reheating Instructions:

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Reheat in a preheated air fryer of 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 to 5 minutes until heated thoroughly.

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes To Try:

Pro Tips:

For the best results, don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Place the chicken legs in a single layer in the air fryer and do not stack. Cook in batches if needed.
The USDA recommends that all chicken be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit as measured by an internal food thermometer.
The air fryer used in this recipe was the Instant Vortex Plus 6 quart. Since all air fryers cook differently, you may have to adjust the cook time slightly.

Air fried crispy chicken drumsticks on a black air tray.

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