These Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Drumsticks are perfect for weeknight family dinners! Juicy chicken with a crispy, breaded skin that the kids love!
We love fried chicken but not the mess that comes with a deep fryer! And baked chicken doesn’t always give you that crispy goodness we’re looking for.
Enter the air fryer. It gets the job done every time, like in our air fryer fried chicken! Perfectly crispy chicken that’s healthier than deep fried and crispier and tastier than oven baked.
We coat these breaded drumsticks in flour and seasoning, beaten egg, and Panko breadcrumbs for a crispy chicken leg experience that my family can’t get enough of. These are prepped and cooked in as little as 30-40 minutes, making them a great option for busy nights.
If you enjoy crispy fried chicken as much as we do you’ll also want to check out our air fryer chicken katsu, or this easy shake and bake chicken which is not actually baked.
Ingredient Notes:
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Chicken Drumsticks – You can usually find a pretty good deal on these at the supermarket! Chicken legs are inexpensive and just about everyone loves them!
Flour & Seasoning – The chicken will first get coated in a mixture of flour and seasoning. We’re using garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Plus some cayenne pepper for a bit of heat, but it is optional!
Eggs – After coating the chicken in the flour and seasoning they get dipped into some beaten eggs. It’ll help the breadcrumbs stick in place!
Panko Bread Crumbs – We love the light and crispy texture of panko.
Oil – You can use a cooking spray or spritz the chicken with your preferred oil. We like avocado or olive oil.
We love to serve this crispy chicken drumstick recipe for weeknight dinners! They’re quick and easy to prepare, everyone loves them, and you can usually find chicken legs for cheap at the supermarket which makes them budget friendly.
How to Make Breaded Drumsticks in the Air Fryer:
Combine the flour and seasonings in a shallow dish and coat each drumstick in the flour.
Beat the eggs in a second dish and coat the floured drumsticks in the egg.
Add the panko to a third dish and coat the chicken in the panko. Make sure to press the panko in so that it adheres nicely to the chicken.
Spritz the chicken liberally with oil spray and then air fry at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes at 400 degrees, turning once halfway through cooking. They’re ready when golden brown and crispy and the internal temp has reached 165 degrees!
Recipe Tips!
We love extra crispy chicken so feel free to use more of the breading! You can double dip each chicken leg in the flour and eggs twice over and then coat in the panko to get a thicker, crispier fried chicken leg!
Spraying the chicken well with oil spray will ensure you don’t have dry spots of breading on the chicken. You can spritz again halfway through cooking if you think the chicken needs it.
Shop our Favorite Air Fryers!
We’ve tested loads of air fryers over the years and narrowed it down to the best of the best! Whether you’re looking for a basket style air fryer that fits nicely on your countertop or you want the toaster oven style air fryer, we’ve got the recommendation for you!
Serving Suggestions:
These crispy air fryer chicken legs can be served with all kinds of good stuff! For dipping we prefer our homemade BBQ sauce, honey mustard dressing, or ranch dressing!
And there’s all kinds of great sides that’ll go well with fried chicken too. These air fryer red potatoes or air fryer corn on the cob are tasty sides that pair well with crispy fried chicken too! These air fryer vegetables are another easy air fryer side dish.
Reheating & Storage Instructions:
You can keep any leftover air fried chicken legs stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days. Let it cool completely before storing and line the container with some paper towels to soak up any condensation. This will help keep the skin crispy!
Reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees for about 5 minutes or until heated through and the breading has crisped back up.
Recipe FAQ:
The time needed to air fry chicken will depend on how large the chicken legs are. Ours took about 20 to 25 minutes to get golden brown and crispy but the only way to really be sure if they are done is to check the temp with a meat thermometer. Chicken is safe at 165 degrees!
This really depends on what cut of chicken you are using and how long you are cooking it for. We’re air frying these chicken legs at 400 degrees to get nice and crispy breading and skin!
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- In a shallow dish, mix the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, if using.
- In a second shallow dish, beat the eggs until smooth.
- In a third shallow dish, place the panko breadcrumbs.
- Coat each drumstick in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
- Dip the floured drumstick into the egg mixture, ensuring it is completely coated.
- Finally, roll the drumstick in the breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Set aside on a plate.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for about 5 minutes.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they do not touch each other. If there is not enough space, cook them in separate batches.
- Spray the drumsticks with cooking spray to help them crisp up.
- Air fry at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, turning the drumsticks halfway through the cooking time. They are done when they are golden brown and crispy, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
VZ says
Can this recipe be done in the ovens that have a “AIRFRY” selection??
Karly Campbell says
I’m sure they could, though I haven’t tested it. The timing might be a bit different, but I’m sure they’ll still be delicious.
Valerie says
Could you do this using boneless, skinless chicken also?
Karly Campbell says
Yes, we have a similar recipe for boneless skinless chicken thighs here: https://airfried.com/air-fryer-chicken-katsu/
sheila ann doiron says
would the time be the same for the toaster style air fryer
Karly Campbell says
Timing will vary between different styles and models, but it should be very similar. Keep an eye on it and check for doneness with a meat thermometer. 🙂