If you're looking for an easy dinner recipe, try the Best Air Fryer Chicken Legs! They are juicy and crispy. Tossed in seasonings and mayonnaise, they're full of flavor and absolutely delicious!
Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Air Fryer Chicken Legs is one of our favorite super-simple weeknight dinner recipe! At my place, we adults call them chicken legs and the kids; chicken drumsticks. Whatever you call them, this cut of chicken is so juicy, moist and very forgiving when you overcook them!
Cooking chicken legs in the Air fryer is so easy! With little prep and marinating time, you'll have absolutely delicious chicken dinner in no time. The circulating hot air in the fryer makes the chicken legs perfectly crispy!
The chicken is tossed in spices and mayonnaise. Normally I'd use olive oil but with chicken, I opt for using mayonnaise to give more flavor with less marinating time. You can air fry the chicken right away but I suggest you marinate at least for thirty minutes or one hour for maximum flavor.
These air fryer chicken legs are juicy, moist, and full of flavor with crispy skin. I love how I can get charred skin on top without turning on my grill or oven! This is a recipe your whole family will love and keep coming to over and over!
This chicken legs recipe tastes delicious without a sauce thanks to the spice mixture and marinade. If you want to use your favorite, like BBQ sauce, you can brush the chicken drumsticks with the sauce in the last five minutes.
Serve the Air fried chicken legs warm with your favorite sides. Check my Air Fryer Recipe collection for our favorite Air fryer side dishes like Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli Or Air Fryer Crispy Roast Potatoes.
Why we love this Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe:
- Crispy skin
- Juicy and moist
- Full of flavor and delicious
- Quick and easy dinner
INGREDIENTS
You only need a few pantry staples to make these delicious air fryer chicken legs.
- Chicken legs - around 8 to 10 legs, weighing about 1.5 pounds. Leave the skin on.
- Salt
- Pepper
- Oregano
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cayenne pepper or red chili powder -swap for smoked paprika if you need to reduce the heat.
- Mayonnaise
- Lemon juice
Step by step process
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Cooking drumsticks in the Air fryer couldn't be any easier. Here's how to do it.
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Make 2 cuts in the thickest part of the chicken leg and one cut on the other side. This will help spices seep into the chicken.
- In a small mixing bowl, add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cayenne, lemon juice and mayonnaise. Whisk until combined.
- Toss the chicken legs with the spice mixture until well coated. Leave it to marinade for at least 30 minutes or one hour.
- Preheat the Air fryer at 400℉ for 3 to 5 minutes. Line the Air fryer basket with foil for easy clean up.
- Place the chicken legs on the air fryer basket. Don't overcrowd. Cook in batches if needed.
- Cook for 15 minutes. Flip chicken drumsticks and cook for another 5 minutes. You can also check for doneness by using an instant read thermometer. Look for an internal temperature of 165℉ for cooked chicken.
- Serve warm with you favorite side dish.
Best Tips For Flavorful Chicken
- Leave the skin on for crispy air fryer chicken legs.
- Pat the chicken dry thoroughly.
- Make cuts in the thickest part of the flesh for flavors to seep in.
- Let the chicken marinate for an hour.
- Preheat the Air fryer for 3 or 5 minutes according to manufacturer's instruction.
- Line the Air fryer basket with foil for easy clean up.
- Don't overcrowd the Air fryer basket. Cook in batches if the air fryer is small or reduce the quantity.
- No sauce needed for this recipe. If you must use a sauce, brush the chicken with sauce in the last 5 minutes.
What Air Fryer To Use
I use a Cosori 5.8 quart basket type and is perfect for our family! I can cook around 8 chicken drumsticks in it!
How To Prep/Store/Freeze
Air fryer chicken legs are great to make ahead and is ideal for meal prep. Store the marinated chicken in the fridge, covered, for one day.
You can also freeze them in a zip lock bag in the freezer for 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and cook in the Air fryer.
Store the leftover chicken legs in an air tight container in the fridge for 3 days. Reheat them in the oven or Air fryer.
What To With Serve Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Serve them with fluffy mashed potatoes and a side of salad.
We also like them with crispy potatoes in the Air fryer. These Air fryer chicken legs are great with any sides or on their own. That's how my kids eat it most of the time!
Check more air fryer sides below!
More Air Fryer Recipes You Might Enjoy:
Air Fryer Mains:
- Air Fryer Shrimp
- Air Fryer Garlic Steak Bites
- Crispy and Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Air Fryer Side Dishes:
- Air Fryer Crispy Roast Potatoes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
- Air Fryer Carrots
- Best Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Perfect Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli
Air Fryer Desserts and Snacks:
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If you like this recipe, I’d love it if you can give me a rating and comment! Share it with your family and friends! ❤️
Best Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs chicken legs (around 8 to 10) skin on
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper or red chili powder
- 3 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
- Make 2 cuts in the thickest part of the chicken leg and one cut on the other side. This will help spices seep into the chicken.
- In a small mixing bowl, add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, cayenne, lemon juice and mayonnaise. Whisk until combined.
- Toss the chicken legs with the spice mixture until well coated. Leave it to marinade for at least 30 minutes or one hour.
- Preheat the Air fryer at 400℉ for 3 to 5 minutes. Line the Air fryer basket with foil for easy clean up.
- Place the chicken legs on the air fryer basket. Don't overcrowd. Cook in batches if needed.
- Cook for 15 minutes. Flip chicken drumsticks and cook for another 5 minutes. You can also check for doneness by using an instant read thermometer. Look for an internal temperature of 165℉ for cooked chicken.
- Serve warm with you favorite side dish.
Notes
- Meal Prep - store the marinated chicken in the fridge for one day. In the freezer in a zip lock bag for 3 months.
- Thaw in the fridge and cook in the Air fryer as per the recipe.
- Store - leftover chicken in an air tight container for 3 days in the fridge. Reheat them in the oven or in the Air fryer.
Betty Hardy says
they sure are the best chicken legs its the spices that make them so yummy
Farwin says
Thank you! Yes, spices make all the difference.
Jo Nell Hall says
Have not tried them but they sound easy! And good!
Farwin says
Thank you! Yes, they are so easy and you'll love it!
Delia Gooding says
Very easy and yummy.
Molly Luff says
Tasty and no fuss. Love it. Thank you
Farwin says
Awesome! I'm glad you liked it.
Anna M Wallace says
Looks delish! Doesn't the foil defeat the purpose of air circulating?
Farwin says
Thanks Anna! Not exactly. circulating air will heat up the foil in turn heating up the food on it. Same concept as in the oven. In this case, foil makes clean up easier.
Barbara E Bosco says
just made this recipe. Absolutely the best 'chicken' in general I have made to date. Just loved it!
Farwin says
Thank you so much Barbara! You made my day!
Nydia says
These turned out well! Thank you Barbara
Farwin says
I'm glad to hear that barbara. Thank you 🙂
Sue says
I don't usually leave comments for recipes, but this was so good (and easy to make), I just had to. Easily one of the best marinades I've made for drumsticks and didn't even have to marinate for long. A delicious option for weeknight dinner!
Farwin says
Thank you so much, Sue! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Felix says
Wow! 10 legs and plenty of coating to do all of them; :left in fridge for an hour, lined air fryer and followed the time and temperature. Poultry seasoning that I had contained all of the ingredients and I added powdered garlic and onion. Lime juice instead of lemon and I never thought that a non cooking man like myself could please my wife and kids so much. They want more.
Farwin says
That's awesome, Felix!
Laverla Pipke says
This is the very best marinate I use it not only for chicken legs but any chicken, I do substitute oregano with Italian seasoning and leave out the garlic. I am going to try it on shrimp I bet it will be great as well. Thanks
Farwin says
Hi Laverla, that's nice to hear. We love this marinade as well. It'll be great with shrimp too.