Air Fryer Drumsticks

Name: Air Fryer Drumsticks
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8 chicken drumsticks; 1 Packet Dry Ranch Dressing Mix; Non-Stick Cooking Spray (such as avocado oil spray); paper toweling

Air Fryer Drumsticks are crispy and juicy – the ultimate combination. These air fryer chicken drumsticks are not only bursting with flavor but on the dinner table in under 30 minutes. A quick dinner that’s delicious and nutritious with just 2 ingredients!

Air Fryer Drumsticks showing chicken wings on a serving patter with a towel on the side all on top of a countertop.

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We are big fans of the air fryer. It has added variety to meals and is an easy and lower calorie way to get foods cripsy on the outside, quickly.

Between these air fryer chicken legs, air fryer salmon patties, and air fryer chicken thighs, we’ve got some delicious recipes on the site!

Air Fryer Drumsticks showing chicken legs on a serving platter.

HOW TO MAKE

Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees
Using a paper towel, pat the chicken dry
Season both sides with dry ranch dressing
Place onto air fryer rack
Spray top of drumsticks with non-stick cooking spray
Cook 10 minutes, flip, then cook 10 more minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees

Air Fryer Drumsticks showing raw chicken legs on a white plate with seasoning in a white glass bowl.

Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.

PRO TIP: Let the air fryer preheat for 3-5 minutes before adding your ingredients.

It is really important not to skip the preheating step. I know we have all contemplated skipping the preheated step at one point or another. Not this time! Preheating allows your chicken to cook and crisp evenly.

Using a paper towel, pat the chicken dry on both sides of each chicken leg.

This is key to a crispy piece of chicken. Patting the chicken dry allows for excess moisture to be removed. Less moisture, crisper!

Season both sides with dry ranch dressing. I go back and forth between using a packet of dry ranch dressing and making it homemade.

I prefer to use my Instant Pot for Frozen Chicken Recipes and my air fryer for thawed chicken recipes. If your looking for a slow cooker chicken leg recipe, <- that is a must-try!

Homemade Ranch Dressing makes a great dipping sauce for these chicken legs. However, the ranch seasoning gives the chicken a great flavor you honestly don’t even need a dipping sauce.

DIPPING SAUCES

One of my favorite things about eating chicken drumsticks is the dipping sauce. I love to try different sauces. Here are a few recipes for you to try!

PRO TIP: You can either dip the cooked chicken legs in a sauce or toss in a sauce before serving.

Air Fryer Drumsticks showing raw chicken legs on an air fryer rack.

Once the air fryer chicken legs are seasoned, place onto the air fryer rack. Spray the top of the chicken drumsticks with non-stick cooking spray.

Air Fryer Drumsticks showing chicken legs in a Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Oven.

HOW LONG To Cook?

Cook 10 minutes, flip, then cook 10 more minutes.

Keep in mind that each air fryer model will cook differently. I recommend using a meat thermometer to temp the chicken after cooking for 10 minutes on each side.

If not at 165 degrees Fahrenheit, cook for 5 more minutes then temp. Repeat until the internal temperature is reached.

PRO TIP: Try to limit the number of times you open the door of your air fryer while cooking. This lets the hot air escape.

If using the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Oven, or a similar air fryer, make sure to place the baking pan on the rack under the air fryer pan as the chicken will drip and the pan will catch the juices rather than having to clean them from the bottom of the air fryer.

Air Fryer Drumsticks showing fried chicken legs on an air fryer oven rack with sauces in glass bowls next to the rack all on top of a countertop.

CAN YOU COOK FROZEN DRUMSTICKS IN AIR FRYER?

You can. It is recommended that you use thawed drumsticks. You will need to add 5-10 minutes to the cooking time or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit if cooking with frozen chicken.

In my experience, cooking thawed drumsticks in the air fryer results in a crispier piece of chicken. You are able to remove more of the moisture before adding to the air fryer.

CAN YOU STACK CHICKEN IN AIR FRYER?

Unfortunately, you can not stack chicken in an air fryer. I know it can be tempting to cram multiple chicken legs on the air fryer tray. I typically fit 6-10 drumsticks on the air fryer tray depending on the size of the chicken leg.

Stacking could cause the chicken to be undercooked or not crispy. No one wants to bite into raw chicken or non-crispy fried chicken!

If you are cooking fried chicken for a crowd, we recommend making a few batches of this recipe.

ARE AIR FRYERS HEALTHY?

Deep-fried foods are typically higher in fat content compared to foods cooked using another cooking method. By using an air fryer to cook your favorite deep-fried foods, you can eliminate excess calories and fat.

Air fryers circulate hot air around the food versus requiring you to drop food into a large pot of oil to create the crispiness we all enjoy.

If you are looking to switch to a cooking method that has the potential to lower the fat and calorie content, an air fryer might be for you.

Looking for other chicken recipes?

If you enjoyed the recipe make sure to leave a comment and a star rating below! Then follow me on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe. I love seeing what you come up with!

Chicken drumsticks shown cooked and stacked on a black plate.

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