This is the BEST recipe for tender and juicy chicken drumsticks in the air fryer. You get that deliciously crispy skin, with a garlic and paprika seasoning in just 20 minutes. Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks are a quick and easy weeknight meal that the whole family will love.
About Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
If you didn't know that you could air fry chicken drumsticks, then you are missing out! Just a little oil and seasoning and then 20 minutes in the air fryer and you have the most perfectly cooked chicken drumsticks.
Air fryer drumsticks are going to change the way you usually cook them. This is seriously the most perfectly cooked chicken!
Air fried chicken drumsticks are succulent and the meat just falls off the bone, but you still have that crisp skin. All of the flavour from roasting/frying, but with less of the oil.
Looking for more air fryer chicken recipes? Why not try our delicious Air Fryer Chicken Katsu, easy Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken, delicious Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas or a kid's favourite, our Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Chicken - Pick the best quality chicken drumsticks that you can and make sure that they are fully thawed if they have been frozen.
- Oil - This is what makes the air fryer chicken nice and crispy without having to add breading to it. We used olive oil.
- Garlic and paprika - Not only does this add a lovely flavour, but the paprika also adds to the colour of the chicken when cooked. We have given other options for seasoning below.
- Salt and pepper - Generously season.
Variations
These air fryer chicken drumsticks are pretty simple, which is what we love about them. So, there is not much you can change. However, you can adapt the seasoning that is used.
We used paprika and garlic, however you could use a Fajita Seasoning for a kick of heat or even and Italian Seasoning for something with lots of herbs.
If you want BBQ air fryer chicken drumsticks, then once they are cooked, you can toss them in our Homemade Healthy BBQ Sauce and then put them back in the air fryer for 2 minutes. You could also do this with buffalo sauce too.
How to Cook Chicken Drumsticks in Air Fryer - Step by Step
- Step 1: Put all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix well to coat all of the chicken.
- Step 2: Put the coated drumsticks into your air fryer. Depending on the size, you may need to cook in batches.
- Step 3: Cook at 200°C for 10 minutes.
- Step 4: Flip the drumsticks over and cook for a further 10 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
It has to be chicken drumsticks and some kind of dip, right? The perfect party/game day food. Our dip of choice is always going to be ranch and why not try our Healthy Ranch Dressing, mixed with some buffalo sauce like in our photo?
Other dips that go well with chicken drumsticks in air fryer are our creamy Blue Cheese Dip, our delicious Whipped Feta or our super easy Garlic Sauce.
But, for more of a full meal, then serve these air fryer drumsticks with our Air Fryer Potato Wedges and The BEST Homemade Coleslaw.
We also love cooking up a big batch of this air fryer chicken drumsticks recipe and taking them out for a picnic. The kids love them, so it's something easy for them to grab and eat in between running around.
Storage
Store: You can store air fryer chicken drumsticks in an air tight container for up to 4 days. Make sure it is fully cooled first. We like to shred all the meat off leftovers and store it to add to salads and sandwiches.
Freeze: These will keep in a freezer container for up to 3 months. Make sure it is fully cooled before going in the freezer.
Defrost: You can defrost them in the fridge overnight.
Reheat: You can reheat them in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes, but we like leftovers cold.
Extra Tips
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry first so that you have gotten rid of any excess moisture, as this makes it easier for the oil and seasoning to stick to them.
- Make sure you use your hands to rub all the oil and seasoning over the chicken so that everything is covered and it all gets crispy.
- Check your air fryer instructions, as some need to be pre-heated for a couple of minutes before you add the food.
- Don't overcrowd your air fryer and make sure the chicken drumsticks are not layered. You want the air to circulate so that everything cooks evenly and the skin gets crispy.
- Make sure you flip the chicken drumsticks halfway through so that they cook evenly.
- For some extra crispiness, you could toss them with some grated Parmesan and then put them back in the air fryer for 2 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
We really can't rate the Ninja Foodi Max Duel highly enough. It has a huge 9.5 litre capacity, that allows you to cook two different things at once and it has 6 different cooking functions. It is 65% more efficient than an oven and uses 75% less fat than traditional cooking. And, it is also dishwasher safe.
All air fryers cook differently, so it's best to check before serving. Our fryer cooks these in just 20 minutes, but yours might take 25 minutes or be done in as little as 18 minutes.
The best way to ensure that it is cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. Chicken is cooked when it has an internal temperature of 75°C/167°F at the thickest part of the meat.
If they are still not crispy enough for you, then put them on for an extra 5 minute, but you don't want to overcook the inside and for them to become dry.
Yes, you can, but they won't get as crispy. Still delicious though.
More Chicken Recipes
If you’ve tried these air fried chicken drumsticks, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 8 Chicken drumsticks
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Garlic granules
- 1 pinch Sea salt
- 1 pinch Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Put all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and mix well to coat all of the chicken.
- Put the coated drumsticks into your air fryer. Depending on the size, you may need to cook in batches.
- Cook at 200°C/400°F for 10 minutes.
- Flip the drumsticks over and cook for a further 10 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry first so that you have gotten rid of any excess moisture, as this makes it easier for the oil and seasoning to stick to them.
- Make sure you use your hands to rub all the oil and seasoning over the chicken so that everything is covered and it all gets crispy.
- Check your air fryer instructions, as some need to be pre-heated for a couple of minutes before you add the food.
- Don't overcrowd your air fryer and make sure the chicken drumsticks are not layered. You want the air to circulate so that everything cooks evenly and the skin gets crispy.
- Make sure you flip the chicken drumsticks halfway through so that they cook evenly.
- For some extra crispiness, you could toss them with some grated Parmesan and then put them back in the air fryer for 2 minutes.
Nutritional Information
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Donalyn says
These are the best - so flavorful and crispy. Great recipe!
dana says
These turned out beautifully! So crispy and flavorful. Air fryer recipes never ever disappoint!
Charah says
These Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks are a game-changer. Easy to make and irresistibly delicious. Thanks for sharing, will definitely try this!
TAYLER ROSS says
I made these drumsticks for dinner last night and they came out perfectly! My new go to recipe
Patricia says
Mmmm! These sound so good! I don't have a countertop air fryer but my stove has the air fryer mode to it. I haven't tried anything that way yet, so these may be a first! Thanks for sharing!