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These Air Fryer Chicken Legs are cooked to perfection with crispy, flavorful skin and juicy, tender meat. Seasoned with simple pantry spices and ready in less than 20 minutes, this recipe is so easy and the absolute BEST way to cook chicken drumsticks!
I cook chicken legs in my air fryer at least once a week. They’re my go-to weeknight dinner hero for busy nights. They’re literally the easiest thing you’ll ever make.
Tossed in a blend of simple pantry spices, these air fryer chicken legs cook to absolute perfection. The meat stays tender and juicy, while the skin gets nice and crispy (the best part!)
This recipe is very similar to my Baked Chicken Legs, except it cooks in almost half the time that it would to bake them in the oven, and it uses a different seasoning blend. They’re the absolute best weeknight dinner and a tried-and-true family favorite.
5-Star Reader Comment
Love this recipe! Have made it multiple times and it is quick, easy and delicious!!
– Dawn
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
These air fryer chicken legs come together with just a handful of simple ingredients. Here’s what you need:
- Chicken Legs: Drumsticks are ideal for the air fryer because they stay juicy while developing crispy skin. You can also use chicken thighs or chicken quarters; just be sure to adjust the cooking time, as larger cuts will take longer to cook.
- Olive Oil: A light coating of oil helps the skin crisp up and ensures the seasoning sticks. Any neutral cooking oil, such as avocado oil or canola oil, can be used as a substitute.
- Seasoning and Spices: A simple blend of pantry spices gives the chicken bold flavor without marinating. This recipe uses homemade Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Please note, you can find the full list of ingredients + measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Cooking Time + Temperature Guide
Cooking times for chicken legs in the air fryer can vary depending on the temperature you choose. Lower temperatures take a bit longer and give you juicier meat, while higher temperatures cook faster and deliver crispier skin. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide which setting works best for you.
- 350°F (175°C): Cook for 25 to 28 minutes. The chicken will be tender and juicy, but the skin will be softer rather than crispy.
- 370°F (188°C): Cook for 22 to 24 minutes. A nice balance of juicy meat and lightly crisp skin.
- 400°F (200°C): Cook for 18 to 20 minutes. The sweet spot for crispy skin and juicy chicken; flip halfway through.
- 425°F (220°C): Cook for 16 to 18 minutes. Extra crispy skin in less time, but watch closely to prevent the seasoning from burning.
No matter which temperature you choose, always check with a digital meat thermometer that the chicken is fully cooked to (165°F (74°C).
How to Cook Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer
To begin, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F and spray the inside basket of your air fryer with non-stick cooking spray.
As the air fryer heats, pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels and place them in a large bowl. Drizzle with a little olive oil – not too much! Just enough to lightly coat each piece of chicken.
Then, in a small bowl, combine the Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken and toss until the drumsticks are well coated.
Arrange the chicken legs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between each piece for proper air circulation.
Cook at 400°F for 10 minutes, then flip the drumsticks over and continue cooking for an additional 10 minutes, or until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F.
Serve immediately with your favorite sides. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Dry the chicken well: Chicken tends to be a little soggy when it’s first removed from the packaging. Removing excess moisture is key to achieving crisp skin, so remember to pat the drumsticks thoroughly with paper towels before seasoning.
- Use oil sparingly: A light coating is all you need. Too much oil can leave the skin greasy instead of crispy.
- Season wisely: Dry rubs and spice blends work best. Avoid wet marinades if you want crispy skin, as the added moisture prevents proper browning.
- Change the flavor: Mix up the flavor of your chicken legs with different seasoning blends. Some of my favorites include homemade Cajun seasoning, adobo seasoning, blackening seasoning, and homemade ranch seasoning mix.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket: Arrange the chicken in a single layer with space between each of the pieces. You may need to cook the chicken in two batches.
Serving Ideas
On a typical, busy weeknight I like to serve these chicken legs with a light lettuce and tomato salad and a fruit salad depending on the season. A few of my other favorite go-to side dishes include:
And if you have a few extra minutes, surprise your family with a dipping sauce. My family loves it when I make this honey mustard dipping sauce or chipotle ranch dressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
I use the Cosori Air Fryer for almost all of the air fryer recipes I’ve shared here on TFS. It works great!
Yes, you can cook frozen chicken legs in the air fryer, just know they’ll need a little extra time. Place the frozen drumsticks directly into the air fryer basket (no need to thaw) and cook at 380°F (193°C) for 25 to 28 minutes, flipping halfway through. Always check the internal temperature with a digital thermometer to make sure they reach at least 165°F (74°C). For best results, lightly coat the frozen chicken with oil and season halfway through cooking (once they’ve started to thaw and the surface is less icy). This helps the spices stick and ensures crispier skin.
Absolutely! Head over to my Baked Chicken Legs Recipe for all the details.
Leftovers and Reheating
- Storage: Allow the chicken legs to cool completely, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
- Freezing: Freeze in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: For the crispiest results, reheat in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 4 to 6 minutes, or until warmed through. You can also reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 to 12 minutes. The microwave works in a pinch, but the skin won t stay crisp.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken legs
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
- As the air fryer preheats, pat the chicken legs dry with a paper towel and transfer them to a large bowl. Drizzle the chicken legs with olive oil and use a pastry brush or your hands to evenly coat the entire surface of each drumstick with oil.
- In a small bowl combine the Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken legs and mix well to evenly coat in the seasoning.
- Transfer the chicken legs to the air fryer basket in a single, non-overlapping layer (see notes). Air fry for 10 minutes at 400 degrees f, then rotate the drumsticks 180° (flip them over) and cook for an additional 10 minutes. You know your chicken legs are fully cooked when the internal temperature registers 165 degrees f.
Notes
- For crispy skin, do not overlap the drumsticks. Even better, leave a little space between each drumstick. This allows for ample air circulation in the basket. You may need to air fry the chicken in two batches.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Love this recipe I have made it 3 times. So good!
That makes my day—thank you! I’m so glad you’re loving the recipe and have made it more than once. It’s one of my go-tos too! 😊🍗
Love this recipe! Have made it multiple times and it is quick, easy and delicious!!
Thanks for coming back to provide the feedback and rating, Dawn 🙂
Awesome chicken!!!
Excellent recipe!! Very delicious. Try adding smoked paprika and ground ginger for a surprisingly good twist.
Thanks for the rating, feedback, and recommendation Mike 🙂
Just tried your recipe ,no complaints here!!!
I make these for my wife with some AirFryer potatoes diced up with almost the same ingredients on them. She absolutely loves them! So glad I found this recipe. I use it for chicken thighs a lot more than legs and they turn great.
Thanks for the great feedback and rating, Tommy 🙂
Thank you so much! My first time cooking chicken in the air fryer and this was perfect! I appreciate you so much!
I am happy to hear it came out perfect, Julia 😀
Made these chicken legs with all the seasonings. The only ad lib. was the Worchester sauce. They came out so good very fun for a quick dinner as we both work full-time and get home very late.
Delicious and super easy – it’s a keeper!
Thanks for the delicious feedback, Betsie 😀