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!
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. 🙂