Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken Drumsticks are the number one food I make in my Air Fryer. I make them at least once a week, and I can't believe I still have not shared this recipe with you.
My recipe is extremely easy. I mean, a kid can make it. But they always turn out amazingly delicious and juicy. The secret is the perfect balance of seasonings and the air fryer temperature and time. I only use some basic seasonings that you always have in your pantry. But you can always get creative around it and make the recipe your own. I will also give you some variations that I do to this recipe, so each time I make it, you can make it a little different and exciting.
Air Fryer Time for Chicken Drumsticks
The time that you need to cook chicken drumsticks in an Air Fryer can vary depending on how thick the drumsticks are, and also depends on the Air Fryer brand and model. I now use a large Nuvawe air fryer, but I used to cook with 3 more air fryers (both compact and large) before this. Each time I make chicken drumsticks, I have to adjust the time by a few minutes slightly. Compact air fryers usually cook a little faster than large air fryers.
Unlike chicken breasts, chicken drumsticks stay moist and juicy even if you cook them a little longer. Use the given time in the recipe as the base and adjust the time accordingly. The best way to figure out if your chicken is cooked to perfection is to use an Instant Thermometer. The cooked temperature for chicken is 165°F/74°C.
Seasonings:
I use a very simple blend of seasonings, but this mixture works amazingly well and has a really good balance of flavor. That being said, you can customize the mixture to your liking as well. For example, if you prefer your chicken drumsticks to be spicier, you can add cayenne pepper. To add more peppery flavor, add more black pepper. You can also use herbs of your liking. Rosemary, Thyme, and oregano are good choices. I also like to add some curry powder or cumin powder sometimes. Yogurt is also another good addition for flavor, as well as to tenderize the meat.
Serving Ideas:
- I can think of endless ways to serve these Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks. I personally like to have it for dinner with a side of yellow rice and roasted veggies or a quick salad.
- It goes well with fried rice as well, and I think this would be a good choice for kids.
- You can also serve it along with some pasta or Mac & cheese.
- You can also shred the chicken when they are done and use it in soups, wraps, and quesadillas.
- To make it more like BBQ style, you can brush the chicken drumsticks with BBQ sauce, 3 minutes before they are done cooking, and serve them along with your favorite BBQ sides.
My go-to, super-easy Air Fryer Chicken Drumstick recipe that I make every week.
- 2 tsp Avocado oil/Olive oil
- 1 tsp Lime juice
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Granulated garlic/garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp Granulated onion/onion powder
- 4 Chicken drumsticks
Mix oil, lime juice, salt, black pepper, paprika, granulated garlic and onion in a small bowl to make a spice mixture. If it looks too dry, you can add a little bit more oil.
Pat-dry the chicken drumsticks with paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
Coat the chicken drumsticks with the spice mixture. You can either use a brush or rub the spices with your hands. Marinate the chicken for at least 15-30 minutes on the counter or overnight in the fridge. (The longer you marinate, the better they taste)
Arrange them in the air fryer basket/tray in one layer. Air Fry at 390°F/200 °C for 20 minutes. Flip the chicken drumsticks halfway through for even browning.
