Chicken Drumsticks Air Fryer

Introduction

When you need a quick, flavorful main dish that’s crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, Chicken Drumsticks in the Air Fryer are an unbeatable choice. This recipe delivers the golden crunch of fried chicken with only a fraction of the oil—perfect for busy weeknights, family dinners, or easy meal prep that doesn’t sacrifice on flavor.

Why Make Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks?

Air frying transforms simple chicken drumsticks into a crowd-pleasing meal with minimal effort. The hot circulating air yields irresistibly crispy skin without deep frying and locks in all the juicy flavor. Seasoned simply with pantry staples, these drumsticks come together fast, making them perfect for both last-minute dinners and planned meal prep.

Perfectly Seasoned Every Time

This foolproof seasoning blend enhances the natural richness of the chicken. Feel free to tweak the spices to suit your taste or experiment with global flavors—think Cajun, barbecue, or a hint of curry powder for a new twist each week. Coat the drumsticks thoroughly for maximum flavor and let the air fryer do the rest!

How to Cook Chicken Drumsticks in the Air Fryer

Arrange your drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they’re not crowded so the hot air can circulate freely. Halfway through cooking, flip the drumsticks to guarantee even crispness. No need to preheat—the air fryer gets up to temperature quickly, meaning less waiting and more eating!

Serving Suggestions for Ultimate Enjoyment

Serve these crispy drumsticks with classic sides like roasted potatoes, coleslaw, or a simple green salad. For added flair, sprinkle chopped fresh herbs or drizzle with a squeeze of lemon juice just before serving. They’re also ideal for picnics, as party snacks, or sliced over meal prep lunch bowls.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 4 servings. Each serving (2 drumsticks) contains approximately 210–250 calories, making for a protein-rich, guilt-free meal. Calories may vary based on the size of drumsticks and seasoning ingredients.

Chicken Drumsticks Air Fryer (Recap)

With a perfect crispy skin and succulent meat, these air fryer drumsticks will quickly become a family favorite. They’re fast, low-fuss, and deliver big flavor every time.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate a sorted shopping list. CookifyAI organizes all your ingredients by grocery section, making your shopping trips and meal planning faster and more organized.

Instructions

1. Pat chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. Place them in a large mixing bowl.
2. Drizzle olive oil over the drumsticks and toss to coat evenly.
3. In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne or seasoning blend. Sprinkle this spice mix over the drumsticks and toss until each piece is well coated.
4. Arrange the drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding to ensure even crisping (work in batches if needed).
5. Air fry at 400°F for 22–25 minutes, flipping the drumsticks halfway through cooking. The drumsticks are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F and the skin is golden brown and crispy.
6. Let rest for 3–5 minutes before serving. Enjoy hot!

Weekly Meal Planning

Air fryer chicken drumsticks are ideal for meal prepping! Save and schedule this recipe with CookifyAI to seamlessly add it to your weekly plan and generate smart, organized shopping lists for all your meals.

Planning Benefits:

– Consolidates all ingredients across multiple recipes
– Sorts shopping lists by store department for super easy shopping
– Helps prevent food waste by tracking ingredient overlaps
– Makes weekly meal prep more efficient than ever

Pro tip: When you schedule several recipes, CookifyAI calculates exactly how much of each ingredient you’ll need for the week. Planning chicken recipes with overlapping spices? CookifyAI keeps your shopping list tidy and eliminates duplicates.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes