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golden crisp air fried chicken drumsticks close up
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5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

Air fryer drumsticks: Crispy, flavorful chicken delights without the guilt of deep frying.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time18 minutes
Total Time23 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Servings: 4
Author: Melissa Griffiths

Ingredients

  • 8 chicken drumsticks with skin on
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (or melted butter, cooled)
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch (a little goes a long way, don’t overuse cornstarch, as it will lead to a chalky final flavor)
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon smoked Paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper (I often substitute with lemon pepper seasoning)

Instructions

  • Place all chicken drumsticks on a tray or big plate. (I like to put them on a platter or cooking dish. This step makes coating them with oil easier and ensures everyone gets the right amount of seasoning.)
  • Coat each drumstick with olive oil.
  • Mix the cornstarch, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, smoked Paprika, and ground pepper in a small bowl.
  • Sprinkle the seasonings over the chicken drumsticks. Evenly covering them on all sides.
  • Place the chicken drumsticks in the air fryer basket, single layer, and make sure not to overcrowd the basket.
  • *NOTE* When placing the drumsticks in the air fryer with space in between each will make for a more even cooking.
  • Air Fry at 390 degrees F for 18 minutes. Turn them halfway through the cook.
  • *NOTE* The chicken drumsticks are cooked when the internal temperature has reached 175 to 185 degrees F. I prefer mine at 185 degrees F, they are very tender.
  • Serve and Enjoy!

Notes

  • If you need to make multiple batches, warm up the oven to 200 degrees F and place the cooked chicken drumsticks on a cookie sheet. Keep the raw chicken drumsticks in the fridge until they are ready to be cooked.
  • Make sure when you place the chicken drumsticks in the air fryer they are in a single layer and enough space in between each to allow for an even cook.
  • This recipe was photographed using a Ninja Speedi, but if using a Cosori, increase the temperature to 400 degrees F. Time may vary according to the Air Fryer used.
  • I use an instant-read thermometer to ensure they are cooked.
  • Storage: Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
  • Re-warm: place back into the air fryer at 350 degrees F for 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Have fun with the recipe: Make it spicy: Change the seasonings (red pepper flakes, chili powder are my favorite) or use spicy oil.
  • Serve with fun dips: Ranch, Avocado Ranch, Honey Mustard, BBQ sauce (sweet or spicy)
  • Make it Deluxe: 2 minutes before they are cooked, coat them with BBQ sauce. When finished cooking, it will caramelize the sauce. Sprinkle some cheese and serve with more BBQ sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 2 of 8 drumsticks | Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 139mg | Sodium: 741mg | Potassium: 367mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 317IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg

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