Try these Air Fryer Chicken Legs for a healthier alternative to fried chicken. They are crispy, crunchy and oh so delicious, without all the hassle of traditional frying. This is a delicious meal that both kids and adults can agree on.
The Whole Family Will Love These Air Fryer Chicken Legs!
If you follow me on Facebook, then you know that an Air Fryer was on the top of my Christmas list for 2017. I was talking about it so much that hubby bought me one a couple of weeks before Christmas.
(I think he was tired of hearing me drop not-too-subtle hints about it.)
In the years since then, I've become more than a little obsessed. I even wrote a cookbook.
It is such a great way to create easy weeknight meals, like these Air Fryer Chicken Legs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryers:
An air fryer is essentially a countertop convection oven. Most models are compact cylinders with perforated baskets that suspend the food in the chamber. There is a fast heating electric coil above the basket.
Hot air is circulated around the food by a fan for faster and more even cooking.
While you don't need to use a lot of oil, most foods do best with a thin layer of oil. With this, you can expect your results to come close to the crispiness of fried foods.
The intense hot air is perfect for not only frying foods, but also roasting and grilling. I have even used it successfully for baking.
No! If you stack chicken in the air fryer, it will not crisp-up.
Yes - I recommend flipping your chicken for best results.
Air Fryer Benefits
- It is easy! You are going to love the ease of air fryer cooking. Except for the occasional flip, food can mostly be left alone. The temperatures are well regulated, and many models have an automatic shut off when the cooking time is done. No more babysitting oil to ensure it maintains the proper temperature or standing over a hot stove.
- It is fast. Thanks to the convection fans, foods cook in less time than they do in the oven. Generally speaking, you can reduce the total cooking time by about 20% to 25%.
- Clean-up is a breeze. If you like easy cleanup, your air fryer will become your new best friend. You can say goodbye to oil spattered all over the kitchen, as well as having pots and pans strewn everywhere. And bonus: most air fryers have baskets that are dishwasher safe.
Recommended Equipment to Make This Recipe
- Mixing Bowl
- Air Fryer (I have had MANY air fryers and this is my favorite.)
- Breading Trays
- Oil Mister
- Instant Read Thermometer
Oven Baked Chicken Legs
- Don't have an air fryer? Preheat oven to 350. Bake for 1 hour, flipping after 30 minutes
Tips & Tricks
- Air fryers vary in their intensity, so take the recommended time as a guideline. I recommend using an instant-read thermometer. The chicken drumsticks should reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.
- For crispy chicken, make sure that you don't overcrowd it! This means cooking in batches if necessary.
- Don't skip patting the chicken dry when you remove it from the brine. Excess moisture can prevent the chicken from crisping up.
Variations for Air Fryer Fried Chicken Legs
- In place of the pickle brine, try this Rosemary Buttermilk Brine. Proceed with the rest of the recipe as normal.
- For an extra kick, add in ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the seasonings.
- Add ½ cup grated parmesan to the flour mixture.
If You Like These Air Fried Chicken Drumsticks You May Also Like:
- Smokey Chicken with Avocado Sauce
- Turmeric Chicken & Quinoa
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos with Mango Salsa
- Chicken & Bean Tostadas with Smokey Lime Sauce
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 cup pickle brine
- 2 pounds chicken drumsticks
- 1 tablespoon baking powder gluten free
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- Salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Place the pickle brine in a bowl and add the drumsticks. Allow to marinade at room temperature for 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400 degrees.
- Remove the chicken from the pickle brine and pat dry.
- In a small bowl combine the baking powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and dried rosemary. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (I used 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper.)
- Coat the chicken with the oil and then with the seasoning mixture.
- Cook in a single layer for 10 minutes. Flip and cook for another 8 to 12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165° F. (Keep in mind that air fryers vary greatly, so use an instant read thermometer to make sure your chicken is done.)
Nutrition
More Recipes To Try:
- Rotisserie Chicken from This Old Gal
- Roast Chicken from BitznGiggles
Nancy
I have never used an air fryer before but all of my friends tell me how fantastic it is. And now, here you are with this delicious chicken recipe - I gotta get on that!
meeta
I have been thinking of the air fryer for quite sometime now. These chicken legs look incredible thank you for the overview!
Blair villanueva
Looks delicious! Recently we switch to air frying coz it is more healthier and the cooking is more convenient for us.
tina grant
Oh, this is awesome, I've never heard of one of these. I don't eat fried foods, but with this, I can certainly try some great recipes that will taste just as good as fried. thanks!
Diana
I love air fried chicken very much..I will surely try this out.
Jenny
I might have to ask for an air fryer for Valentine's Day (romantic, huh?). The chicken looks so delicious and I love the idea of fried food with less fat.
Leigh Anne Borders
Wow! These look and sound delicious. I actually got an air fryer for Christmas and this would be perfect to make in it.
Fatima Torres
I've always wanted to try the air fryer. One of my friends swears by it.
Ada
These look so good. I have been wanting to get an air fryer!
Sudip Saha
Looks delicious, yummy and healthy. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Aduke Schulist
Oh wow! That looks so crispy. My mom got an air fryer recently. I'll have to have her make me some.
angie
I keep hearing about these air fryers I am going to have to get myself one thats for sure with all they can do and not as much cleanup and healthier as well I must gt one.
Hannah Marie
I would love to have air fryer because it's healthier. This looks so delicious!
Kate
I have been hearing so much about air fryers! Looking forward to when I eventually have a bigger kitchen and have space for more appliances like that!
Ruth I.
Fried chicken is a favorite here. But it is not healthy to eat every day. I should get an air fryer soon!
Monica | Nourish & Fete
These look amazing - so incredibly crunchy! I am so intrigued by the air fryer - it seems too good to be true!
Jessa
I think you just made me put an air fryer on my wish list. 🙂
Carissa
Yum! I’ve been hearing that an air fryer is a must have. I also love this recipe because chicken legs are so cheap!
Kim
I made minus the brine step, no pickle juice available. They were great! I can’t imagine how much better they will be with the brine!
Wendy Polisi
So glad that you enjoyed them! I do love the brine, but I've made these many times without because I was short on time or we didn't have pickle juice.
Shannon Graham
Well, it looks like I need an air fryer!
Tina Kernell
Do you leave the skin on?
Wendy Polisi
Yes, I did! I personally don't like chicken skin but my boys love it.
Elizabeth Bradley
I made these last night!! So delicious!! I’ve only had my air fryer a few weeks!! They were so good my hubby requested them again tonight! However, I was thinking of making them tender style. Is there any tips or things I should change to make compatible?
Wendy Polisi
So glad you enjoyed them as much as we do! I am definitely Air Fryer obsessed. You could use the coating from the Chicken Legs and the time from this recipe: https://wendypolisi.com/air-fryer-chicken-breast/
Be on the look out for lots more Air Fryer recipes in the near future.
Hanna
Found this recipe while I was thawing out chicken legs in the microwave and I just knew I had to try out the pickle brine. My husband compared it to "if chik-fil-a made regular fried chicken". I dunno if it was because the brine we had was from homemade too salty refrigerated pickles, but they got a lot of the flavor for only 45 minutes of brine. Juicy and crispy, awesome! Thanks for posting.
Wolfpackboyz
This really was so good!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed it. My hubby wants me to make it again tonight and I just made it last night. Only thing I did was cook it a tad bit longer but otherwise I followed the recipe as is.
Wendy Polisi
So glad that you enjoyed it! This is one of our favorites too.
Pat Balch
Hi Wendy,
Is it possible to brown chicken in the air fryer prior to finishing in the oven? I have several
recipes that require browning for 3 or 4 minutes per side before placing in oven to finish with
sauce.
Thank you.
Pat
Wendy Polisi
I don't see why not! I use my air fryer for everything - I can't remember the last time I reheated food any other way. I would spray it with oil before putting it in so you get a nice crispy brown.
Rhonda tate
What brand and model number is the best airfryer to cook lots of chicken legs? Please text me at 405-931-1949
Wendy Polisi
Hi Rhonda,
I like the Phillips XXL!