Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

This Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks recipe is the perfect easy main dish - crispy skin, tender & juicy meat, made from fresh or frozen chicken!

Course Chicken, Main Dish

Cuisine air fryer, Easy

Keyword Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Servings servings

Calories 260kcal

Author Chrissie

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

8 chicken drumsticks bone-in and skin-on
Spray oil

For the Basic Spice Mix

1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground pepper
2 teaspoon garlic powder

For the BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

½- 1 tsp chili powder optional
2 tsp smoked paprika add these spices to the basic spice mix if making the BBQ drumsticks
1/3 cup barbecue sauce or Homemade Honey Garlic Barbecue Sauce

For the Honey Mustard Drumsticks

2 tbsp dijon mustard
1 tbsp honey

For the Italian Herbs Drumsticks

1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
½- 1 tsp chili powder optional
2 tsp Italian seasoning

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit) until you get all the ingredients ready.
Dry the drumsticks with a paper towel and remove any loose skin or excess bits.
Mix the basic spice mix ingredients in a small bowl, adding the dry spices from whichever flavour variation you want to make. Spray about 1-2 tbsp of oil on all your drumsticks until evenly coated and rub the spice mix on them.
Arrange the drumsticks in your air fryer basket without overlapping them. (you might have to cook them in batches)
Air fry at 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit) for 10 minutes and flip. If the recipe calls for a liquid coating (honey mustard mixture / BBQ sauce), brush it on and air fry for another 9-12 minutes or until the internal temperature of your chicken drumsticks reaches 74 degrees Celsius (165 degrees Fahrenheit).
Take your chicken out and rest it on a plate covered with tin foil while you air fry the remaining drumsticks (if cooking in batches).
Garnish with some fresh parsley and enjoy!

Video

Notes

How to make this recipe with frozen drumsticks

Preheat your air fryer to 180 degrees Celsius (360 degrees Fahrenheit) until you get all the ingredients ready.
Take the raw chicken drumsticks out of the freezer. If there’s a lot of ice on them, rinse them under the tap for a little while. Dry with a paper towel. Separate them from one another, place them in a bowl.
Add the olive oil and spice mix and rub them in.
Arrange the drumsticks in your air fryer basket without overlapping them (you might have to cook them in batches).
Air fry at 180 degrees Celsius (360 degrees Fahrenheit) for 13 minutes and flip. If the recipe calls for a liquid coating (honey mustard mixture / BBQ sauce), brush it on and air fry for another 8-12 minutes or until the internal temperature of your chicken drumsticks registers 74 C.
Take the chicken out and rest it on a plate covered well with tin foil. Air fry the remaining drumsticks.

Storage Instructions

These drumsticks will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.

Reheating Instructions

Place your drumsticks in your air fryer and run it at 175 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit) for 5-6 minutes, shaking the basket/tray halfway through cooking.

Nutrition