This recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Legs is the best for perfectly seasoned drumsticks without heavy breading and extra oil. They are juicy on the inside with mouthwatering, crispy, crunchy skin and ready to serve in just 25 minutes.
Are Chicken Legs The Same As Drumsticks?
Most folks, including me, use the terms “drumstick” and “chicken leg” interchangeably. The chicken leg is actually the entire leg, with the thigh and drumstick combined.
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and done in under 30 minutes—these air fryer chicken legs are Southern comfort made simple. With a flavorful spice rub and easy cleanup, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner or tailgating snack that everyone will devour.
Easy Ingredients for Maximum Flavor
Olive oil or cooking spray – helps spices stick and crisps the skin
Chicken drumsticks or legs – skin-on, bone-in for best texture
Spice rub – kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, optional cayenne for heat
How To Cook Chicken Legs In The Air Fryer
- Take the chicken out of the packaging and pat dry.
- Place the chicken legs in a bowl and mix up the seasoning.
- Sprinkle the chicken liberally with the seasoning.
- Place in the air fryer and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Success Tip
Do not overcrowd the air fryer. The air must circulate around the chicken so it cooks evenly and the skin gets crispy. If necessary, work in batches.
How Long To Cook Drumsticks In The Air Fryer
Set the air fryer temperature to 400 degrees. Preheat for 5 minutes, then place the chicken legs in the basket. Cook for 10 minutes, flip the chicken, and continue to cook for 10 minutes. If the chicken has not reached 165 degrees, cook for 3-5 minutes at 400 degrees.
Commonly Asked Questions
The chicken legs should reach an internal temperature of 165°F to be safe to eat.
Flipping the chicken legs halfway through the cooking time is recommended to ensure even cooking and crispy chicken skin. You can also shake the air fryer basket to help crispy up the chicken skin.
Yes—thighs need 3–5 minutes more, wings need less time (flip when halfway done).
Pat chicken very dry, avoid overcrowding, and finish at a higher temp.
Make-Ahead & Reheating Tips
Freeze option – store fully cooked legs in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months; thaw and re-crisp in the air fryer.
Prep-ready – season ahead and refrigerate up to 4 hours.
Reheat leftovers – warm at 375°F in the air fryer for 5–7 minutes or in the oven until crispy again.
Serving Suggestions
- Best Caprese Pasta Salad (Fresh and Easy)
- Crock Pot Maple Bacon Green Beans
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Spaghetti Salad
- Easy Roasted Broccoli
- Classic Scalloped Potatoes
Tips For Making The Best Air Fried Chicken Legs
- Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels before coating them with olive oil and spices. This will help the seasoning stick better to the chicken and also help to keep the skin crispy.
- If you want to make the chicken legs healthier, remove the skin before cooking them, or use skinless chicken breasts.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature to ensure the chicken legs are cooked to the right temperature.
Ready to discover even more possibilities with your air fryer? Don’t miss my ultimate list of Amazing Air Fryer Recipes!
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If you tried this Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4-6 chicken legs bone-in/skin-on
- 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Remove chicken legs from packaging, pat dry, and place in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, add lemon pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Mix together and sprinkle over chicken legs.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 5 minutes. Place the chicken in the basket of the air fryer. Cook for 10 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
- Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. If not reached, when the timer goes off, continue to cook for 3-5 more minutes.
- Remove chicken from the basket of the air fryer and serve hot or at room temperature.
Nutrition
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OMG!!!! I maded these but I used thighs wow they were so good. This is my new way to fry chicken. I did add a bit of It bread crumbs to mine and they were wonderful…………………
Thank you so much Dianne! I’m thrilled you are cooking with me.
~Donya
When doing these Air Fryer Recipes I don’t have a basket air fryer I have the oven. Is there a difference in the heat or timing of cooking? Maybe more people might have this same question?
The simplest and yet the best air fried chicken recipe I have tried.This is the best chicken! I did take the suggestion of yours and cooked them just a few minutes longer on each side. They are juicy, crispy and flavorful! Thank you for the recipe!
Hey there Manoj!
Wow! I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, I totally agree with you that it’s best to leave them in a few extra minutes to let the chicken legs get extra crispy on the outside! If you enjoyed this recipe, you should check out my ‘Air Fryer Chicken Wings’ recipe, it’s just as simple to make as this recipe and it’s great for entertaining. Thank you so much for your kind words of support, if you ever have any questions about a recipe please don’t hesitate to ask!
~Donya
Danya, love your recipes. Are there regular oven baking instructions?
Hey there!
Thank you so much, I am so happy to hear that you’ve been enjoying my recipes! If you want to make this recipe in the oven instead of the air fryer, I would recommend baking them at 400 degree for 20-25 minutes or until they are nice and crispy on the outside, they should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. I hope this helps, let me know how everything turns out if you give this recipe a try, I’d love to hear what you think!
~Donya
Superb spice rub, Donya, so savory and delicious! You saved dinner tonight because I did not plan ahead (!!) I needed to cook pronto and was brain dead for a quick idea. Your recipe was so simple and produced quantum results, even though half of ours was thighs along with the drumsticks. Thank you for sharing your knowledge the way you do!
Hey there Jackie!
My goodness, reading this has made my day! I am so happy to hear that this recipe came in handy, Air Fryer main dishes are definitely the way to go when you need to get dinner on the table quickly. If you enjoyed this recipe, you should check out Midweek Menu 176, it has a whole meal plan with easy to make sides that you can serve with Air Fryer Roasted Turkey, you actually end up getting several meals out of it. Thank you so much for your kind words and your fantastic rating, your support means the world to me! If you ever have any questions about a recipe please don’t hesitate to ask!
~Donya