Air Fryer Fried Chicken Drumsticks
Juicy and crunchy Air Fryer Fried Chicken Drumsticks are a healthier alternative to fried chicken drumsticks. You have that same crunchy battered coating that makes you weak in the knees. Straight from the Air Fryer and bursting with amazing flavor in every single bite.
I love fried chicken, but I also hate all the grease and oil used. I wanted to create a homemade Air Fryer Fried Chicken recipe that would eliminate the oil in the recipe. This recipe uses no oil to fry in, just the hot air that circulates all around the chicken in the Air Fryer to give you that crispy and crunchy texture like fried chicken.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Drumsticks
I also love how the Air Fryer preheats so much faster, so I can have dinner on the table a lot quicker. Also, if you own a Ninja Foodi, you can also use that, on the Air Fryer setting. Both machines will work great at air frying your chicken exactly how you want it to be.
What Is An Air Fryer
An Air Fryer is a kitchen appliance that is really picking up steam. It allows you to get that deep-fried texture without using the oil like you used to. It has a way of crisping up food by circulating hot air all around the cooking basket, cooking every area of the food in the basket. You can make fries, stuffed Oreos, appetizers, and so much more in an Air Fryer.
Can I Use Other Cuts Of Chicken For This Fried Chicken Recipe
Yes. Feel free to use wings, thighs, breasts, or whatever you prefer. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time to the size of your chicken. I recommend using a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken reaches the appropriate internal temperature.
What To Serve With Air Fried Chicken
Serve up any of your favorite fried chicken sides. We love a handful of recipes, and I will share them below for you to consider!
- Potato salad
- French Fries
- Coleslaw
- Green salad
- Steamed vegetables
- Mashed potatoes and gravy
- Biscuits
- Air Fried Okra or Zucchini
As you can see you can reach for truly any side that fits your fancy. Depending on what I have on hand will depend on what gets served up.
Can I Stack Chicken In The Air Fryer
No. You need to ensure you leave room in between each piece of chicken. The reason being is the Air Fryer heats up and circulates hot air to cook and crisp up the chicken. If you have pieces of chicken touching it will stay gooey and uncooked. So make sure to never have any pieces of chicken touching each other. Batch cook if you need be.
How to Store Leftover Air Fried Chicken
Store any leftovers you may have in the fridge for up to three days. It is best fresh but still tastes okay when eaten cold or reheated. It will lose some of the crunch factor, but that is to be expected.
Best Way To Reheat Air Fried Chicken
I like to place it on a baking sheet and pop it into the oven at 350 degrees. Then I heat it until it is warmed all the way through. This helps to preserve that crunchy texture on the outside. Or if you want fast, toss in the microwave. It will soften the outside a bit, but still, tastes delicious.
Have you ever tried air fryer fried chicken?
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Drumsticks
Juicy and crunchy Air Fryer Fried Chicken Drumsticks are a healthier alternative to fried chicken drumsticks. You have that same crunchy battered coating that makes you weak in the knees. Straight from the Air Fryer and bursting with amazing flavor in every single bite.
Ingredients
- 6-8 Chicken legs
- ½ tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp. cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- ¾ tsp. black pepper
- 2 cups of Panko crumbs
- 4 eggs beaten
Instructions
- Stir together panko, cayenne pepper, cajun seasoning, salt and pepper,
- In a separate small bowl, beat your eggs until fully mixed.
- Add chicken (two pieces at a time), to egg mixture and coat evenly on both sides.
- Now place the chicken into panko crumbs crumbs
- Set each one aside once coated in panko crumbs.
- Air fry chicken on power level high or 380 for 25 minutes.
- For thicker / larger chicken legs it may need 4-5 minutes longer. (make sure the internal temperature is 165 degrees)
- Let chicken rest with top on or door closed for 1-2 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 826Total Fat: 36gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 561mgSodium: 1580mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 92g
This is a really good recipe. I added a little regular mustard to the eggs and it gives it a nice extra flavour. Thanks.
My kids said this was the best fried chicken ever! (We also used gluten free panko and it was awesome!)
I used thighs, and served with collard greens. The chicken was crunchy, delicious, and juicy! Thanks!
4 eggs for 6-8 legs is more than I’d have needed for 12 legs, so i used only 2 eggs (especially is 2022 egg prices!) and was out of Panko crumbs so used a mix of Italian breadcrumbs and crushes potato chips and it was very good. Flipped chicken legs twice in the air fryer and it was decently crunchy. Bookmarked