Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks

An overhead view shows six buffalo chicken drumsticks arranged in a single layer inside an air fryer basket.

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Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks

I'm a sucker for buffalo wings, but buffalo chicken drumsticks might be even better! More meaty, easier to eat, and just a huge hit with everyone we serve them too!

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Chicken, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 641kcal

Author: Karly Campbell

Ingredients

For the drumsticks:

8 chicken drumsticks
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon chili powder

For the buffalo sauce:

1/3 cup hot sauce
¼ cup butter
1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional

Instructions

To make the chicken:

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
While the air fryer preheats, remove any moisture from the chicken skin by blotting with a paper towel.
Place the drumsticks in a large mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil, tossing to coat evenly.
Whisk the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper, and chili powder together. Sprinkle over the drumsticks and then toss to make sure all the chicken is seasoned evenly.
Arrange the drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer, being sure to leave space between each piece for air to flow. You may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

Keep the cooked drumsticks on a plate covered with foil while the next batch cooks!

Air fry for 20 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through cooking to really crisp the skin.

To make the sauce:

In the last 5 minutes of the chicken cooking, make the buffalo sauce. Add the hot sauce, butter, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and cayenne to a small sauce pan and heat over medium-low until the butter melts and the sauce is smooth.

Taste the sauce before adding the cayenne, if you're sensitive to heat. You can skip it completely or add more for extra spice!

When the chicken is finished cooking, place into a large mixing bowl and drizzle the sauce over the drumsticks. Coat all the chicken with the sauce and toss so it’s evenly distributed. Serve immediately.

Notes

The buffalo sauce adds some heat but if you like it really spicy you can add more cayenne pepper to the hot sauce and spice rub! Skip the cayenne entirely for a more mild sauce.

For a sweet and spicy sauce, add in a tablespoon or two of honey or brown sugar to the sauce.

Make sure that you check that the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F but around 175°F will make the legs even more tender and fall off the bone.

Nutrition