This crispy air fryer chicken legs recipe is a flavor-packed recipe with minimal fuss. Perfect for busy weeknights, this easy recipe comes out with juicy meat and a delicious blend of spices every time. Plus, they’re healthier than traditional frying methods!
Air frying chicken legs not only shaves off unnecessary calories and fats by minimizing oil usage, but it also retains the juicy deliciousness of the chicken with a crispy finish. My own switch to air frying has transformed how I enjoy fried foods, making it a guilt-free pleasure during even the busiest of weeknights.
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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- Quick & Easy: With just minutes of prep time and 30 minutes in the air fryer, dinner is served!
- Healthier Option: Air frying uses less oil, which means less fat without compromising on the crispy skin we all love.
- Perfectly Seasoned: A robust mix of spices ensures each bite is bursting with flavor.
- Versatile: These chicken legs are a hit on their own or paired with your favorite sides and sauces.
🗝️ Key ingredients & substitutions
- Chicken: You’ll need bone-in skin-on chicken legs. Note: Chicken legs and chicken drumsticks are two different things. Chicken legs include both the drumstick and the chicken thigh, a chicken drumstick is just a chicken drumstick. If you’re looking to air fry chicken drumsticks, try this recipe!
- Black Pepper: Adds a mild heat. Freshly ground gives the best flavor, but pre-ground is just fine in a pinch!
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors; sea salt or kosher salt are great choices.
- Smoked Paprika: This gives a hint of smokiness. If you’re out, try regular paprika with a pinch of cumin.
- Garlic Powder & Onion Powder: These provide deep, savory notes.
- Chili Powder: Adjust the amount for more or less kick. A dash of cayenne can also up the spice if you’re out of chili powder, or you can omit it if you don’t want the heat.
🥣 How to cook chicken legs in an air fryer
- Preheat Your Air Fryer: Start by heating your air fryer to 200 degrees C (390 degrees F).
- Dry the Chicken: Pat the chicken legs dry with a paper towel. This step is crucial for getting that extra crispy skin.
- Mix the Spices: In a small bowl, combine black pepper, salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder.
- Season the Chicken: Sprinkle the spice mix over the chicken legs in a large bowl, then toss them with a wooden spoon to coat evenly.
- Arrange in Air Fryer: Place the chicken legs in a single layer in the air fryer basket. No stacking! Air flow is key to air frying.
- Cook: Air fry for 15 minutes, then flip the legs using tongs and continue to air fry for another 15 minutes.
- Check Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 73°C (165°F).
- Rest Before Serving: Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking. This little pause helps keep all the juicy goodness right where it should be—in the meat!
- Enjoy: Serve hot and crispy from the air fryer!
🪄 Recipe notes & tips
- Don’t overcrowd: Make sure to place the chicken legs in a single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- Temperature check: Always check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked through to 165°F (73°C).
- Resting time: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking. This helps the juices redistribute, making your chicken legs even more succulent.
- Spice it up: Feel free to adjust the spices to suit your taste. More chili powder for heat, or maybe a bit of brown sugar for a sweet kick!
🫙 Storage Instructions
- Cool and airtight: Allow them to cool to room temperature before packing them away, and store the leftover chicken legs in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
- Refrigerate: Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- Reheat: To re-crisp the skin, reheat leftovers in the air fryer. Check out this post on How to Reheat Chicken Legs in an Air Fryer for step-by-step instructions.
✨ Variations
- BBQ Style: Brush your chicken legs with your favorite BBQ sauce in the last few minutes of cooking.
- Smoky BBQ: Mix a bit of liquid smoke into your spice blend for a deep, smoky flavor without the grill.
- Lemon Pepper: Swap out chili powder for lemon pepper seasoning for a zesty, vibrant flavor.
- Herb: Mix dried Italian herbs into the spice mix for an aromatic experience.
- Spicy: Add cayenne pepper or increase the chili powder for chicken legs that pack a punch.
- Sweet and Spicy: Combine a little brown sugar with the spices to create a caramelized, crispy coating.
- Garlic: Double the garlic powder, or add minced fresh garlic for a more intense garlic flavor.
🍽️ What to serve with this recipe
- Dips: BBQ sauce, buffalo sauce, ranch, keto ranch, spicy ketchup, garlic mayonnaise, spicy mayo, hot sauce, green taco sauce.
- Sides: Potato salad, coleslaw, pickled beet salad, french fries, sweet potato fries, curly fries, mashed potatoes.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen chicken legs for this recipe?
Absolutely! Just add a few extra minutes to the cooking time, no need to thaw them first.
How do I know the chicken is cooked without a thermometer?
The juices should run clear when you pierce the thickest part of the leg. If they’re still pinkish, give them a bit more time.
Is this recipe suitable for a keto diet?
Yes, this recipe is low in carbs and fits well within a keto diet plan.
😋 More air fryer chicken recipes you will love
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (No Breading)
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- How to Reheat Chicken Thighs in an Air Fryer
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe
This crispy air fryer chicken legs recipe is a flavor-packed recipe with minimal fuss. Perfect for busy weeknights, this easy recipe comes out with juicy meat and a delicious blend of spices every time. Plus, they're healthier than traditional frying methods!
Ingredients
- 6 chicken legs bone-in, skin-on (see note 1 for drumsticks)
- 1 1/4 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3/4 tespoon garlic powder
- 3/4 tespoon onion powder
- 3/4 teaspoon chili powder more or less to taste
Instructions
- Begin by preheating the air fryer to 200 degrees C/ 390 degrees F.
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and place it into a large bowl.6 chicken legs
- Add all the spices to a small bowl and mix them together. Sprinkles the spices over the raw chicken and mix it well with a wooden spoon.1 1/4 teaspoons ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 3/4 tespoon garlic powder, 3/4 tespoon onion powder, 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
- Place the chicken legs into the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, flip the chicken over with a pair of tongs and continue to air fry for 15 more minutes.
- Check the air-fried chicken is cooked all the way through by inserting an analog or digital meat thermometer into the thickest part of the dark meat. When the thermometer reads 73°C/165°F it is ready and safe to eat.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving to lock in the moisture.
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd: Make sure to place the chicken legs in a single layer in the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
- Temperature check: Always check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked through to 165°F (73°C).
- Resting time: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after cooking. This helps the juices redistribute, making your chicken legs even more succulent.
- Spice it up: Feel free to adjust the spices to suit your taste. More chili powder for heat, or maybe a bit of brown sugar for a sweet kick!
Storage Instructions
- Cool and airtight: Allow them to cool to room temperature before packing them away, and store the leftover chicken legs in an airtight container to keep them fresh.
- Refrigerate: Leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- Reheat: To re-crisp the skin, reheat leftovers in the air fryer. Check out this post on How to Reheat Chicken Legs in an Air Fryer for step-by-step instructions.
Nutrition
Calories: 367kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 35gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.05gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 392mgPotassium: 19mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 241IUVitamin C: 0.03mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 0.2mg
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