Description
A straightforward approach to getting chicken legs that stay juicy inside while turning golden and crispy on the outside in your air fryer. Season your pieces simply, let the hot air do the work for about 25 minutes, and you’ve got dinner ready without the mess of traditional frying.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 chicken legs (drumsticks with thighs attached)
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Heat your air fryer to 380°F for 5 minutes so it’s ready when you need it.
- Use paper towels to pat your 4 chicken legs completely dry on all sides.
- Combine 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, and 1/2 tsp onion powder in a bowl and stir until blended.
- Rub this mixture all over each of your 4 chicken legs until they’re covered evenly.
- Arrange your chicken legs skin-side up in a single layer in your air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 380°F for 12 minutes without opening the basket.
- Flip each of your 4 chicken legs over and continue cooking at 380°F for another 10 to 12 minutes until a meat thermometer reads 165°F at the thickest part.
- Transfer your chicken legs to a plate and let them rest for 5 minutes before you serve them.
Notes
- Pat your chicken legs completely dry before seasoning, since moisture prevents the skin from crisping up properly in the air fryer.
- Don’t skip preheating your air fryer to 380°F, as this ensures even cooking and helps the exterior brown while keeping the inside juicy.
- Arrange your chicken legs in a single layer with space between each piece so hot air circulates freely and cooks them uniformly.
- Check the internal temperature at the thickest part of the thigh to confirm doneness, and if your pieces are particularly large, add a few extra minutes to the second cooking phase.
- For a vegetarian adaptation, coat cauliflower florets or portobello mushroom caps with the same spice mixture and reduce cooking time to 10-12 minutes total, checking at the halfway point.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 22-24 minutes
- Category: Air Fryer Chicken
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg