These Air Fryer Drumsticks are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. No breading needed! Turn to this foolproof cooking method when you need a quick dinner or protein for meal prep.
In a small bowl combine the salt and spices with oil to create a paste. Coat chicken drumsticks with the paste.
Preheat the air fryer to 380-degrees.
Spray basket with cooking oil and place a single layer of chicken legs in the air fryer basket and cook for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. (You will need to work in batches)
Increase the temperature to 400-degrees and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
Enjoy!
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Notes
Take the drumsticks out of the fridge 10 to 15 minutes before cooking. Tempering the meat helps it cook quicker and more evenly.
Before applying the seasoning paste, pat the legs completely dry with a paper towel. This not only helps the seasonings stick to the outside of the chicken but also prevents steaming (which stops the skin from crisping).
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. The hot air must fully circulate around each drumstick to achieve crispy skin. Work in batches if you need to.
Let the drumsticks rest for 5 minutes after cooking. This helps every bit of juice and flavor soak into the meat.