Air-Fried Bbq Chicken Legs: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Air Fryer BBQ chicken legs are a quick and easy meal to make for family dinners or get-togethers. They are deliciously saucy and sticky and can be made in under 30 minutes. This recipe uses common pantry spices and homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce. The chicken legs are seasoned, basted with BBQ sauce, and air-fried to perfection.

Choosing the right oil

When making BBQ chicken legs in an air fryer, you'll want to choose an oil with a high smoke point that won't burn at high temperatures. The smoke point of an oil is the temperature at which it starts to break down and emit smoke. If you use an oil with a low smoke point, it will start smoking before you reach the target temperature, affecting the taste of your food.

• Avocado oil: Avocado oil has a smoke point of around 520–570°F (271–300°C). It's one of the best oils for air frying due to its high smoke point and neutral flavour.
• Peanut oil: With a pleasant, nutty flavour and a high smoke point, peanut oil is a good option for air frying.
• Sunflower oil: Sunflower oil has a smoke point of 450°F (232°C) and is rich in vitamin E and unsaturated fats. It's a good choice for air frying due to its light flavour and high smoke point.
• Light olive oil: Refined olive oil, or light/extra light olive oil, has a higher smoke point than extra virgin olive oil. Look for a smoke point of at least 465–470°F (241–243°C). Its "light" designation refers to its colour and neutral flavour, not its calorie or fat content.
• Ghee (clarified butter): Ghee is butter with the milk solids and water removed. It has a smoke point of around 482–485°F (250–252°C). Unlike regular butter, ghee is suitable for air frying due to its high smoke point.
• Grapeseed oil: With a smoke point of 421°F (216°C), grapeseed oil is a good all-purpose cooking oil with a high smoke point and a clean taste.
• Refined coconut oil: If using coconut oil for air frying, opt for the refined type, which has a smoke point of 400°F (204°C), rather than unrefined coconut oil, which has a lower smoke point.

Other oils with smoke points above 400°F (204°C) include canola oil, soybean oil, and vegetable oil.

Preparing the chicken

Selecting the Chicken:

Start by choosing fresh chicken drumsticks for the best results. If you're using frozen chicken, make sure to thaw it out before cooking. The number of drumsticks you need will depend on the serving size. Most recipes suggest 6-8 drumsticks, which should be enough for 4 people with 2 drumsticks each.

Seasoning and Marinating:

Pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels. This step is important as it helps the seasoning stick to the chicken. You can then add the drumsticks to a large bowl or a ziplock bag. For the seasoning, you can use a variety of spices like black pepper, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and salt. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for an extra kick. Drizzle the chicken with olive oil or avocado oil, and then evenly coat the chicken with the seasoning and oil. Massage the seasoning into the chicken for a few minutes to enhance the flavour.

Air Frying:

Place the chicken drumsticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer, with a little space between each drumstick. This ensures even cooking and allows the air to flow properly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook the chicken in batches. Preheat your air fryer to 380-400 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your drumsticks, but generally, it should take around 10-12 minutes on one side, followed by 5-10 minutes on the other side.

Adding the BBQ Sauce:

After the initial cooking, it's time to add the BBQ sauce. Use a basting brush to coat both sides of the chicken generously with your favourite BBQ sauce. You can use a store-bought sauce or make your own. Put the chicken back in the air fryer and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes. This will allow the chicken to cook through completely and give the sauce a slightly charred, sticky texture.

Final Steps:

To check if the chicken is done, use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving. The chicken will be hot, so be careful not to burn your fingers.

Your Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs are now ready to be served! Enjoy the juicy, tender, and flavourful chicken with your choice of sides.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for BBQ chicken legs in an air fryer can vary slightly depending on the size of your drumsticks and the strength of your air fryer. However, on average, you can expect to air fry your chicken legs for around 20 minutes at 400°F.

Cooking the Chicken:

First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. While the air fryer is preheating, pat your chicken legs dry with paper towels and coat them with a mixture of oil and seasonings. You can use a variety of seasonings, such as garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.

Once your air fryer is preheated, place the chicken legs in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between each drumstick to allow for proper air circulation. Cook the chicken legs for about 10 minutes, then flip them over and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes.

Adding the BBQ Sauce:

After the initial cooking time, baste the chicken legs with BBQ sauce. You can use a store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce, depending on your preference. Put the chicken back in the air fryer and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes. This final step will allow the chicken to cook through and the sauce to char slightly.

Checking for Doneness:

To ensure that your chicken legs are fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165°F. This is the safe internal temperature for chicken, according to the USDA.

Reheating and Storing Leftovers:

If you have any leftover chicken legs, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply place the chicken legs back in the air fryer at 350°F- 400°F for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through. You can also baste them with additional BBQ sauce before serving.

BBQ sauce options

BBQ sauce is an essential ingredient in this recipe, and you can choose from a variety of options to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs.

You can opt for a store-bought BBQ sauce, and there are several brands to choose from, such as Bulls Eye, Kraft, Sweet Baby Ray's, KFC Masterpiece, Stubb's, Jim Beam, and Famous Dave's. These sauces offer a range of flavors, from traditional to smoky or spicy. If you prefer a healthier option, look for low-sugar or sugar-free varieties.

Alternatively, you can make your own BBQ sauce from scratch. This allows you to customize the flavor and control the ingredients. You can find recipes for homemade BBQ sauce online, and some even offer keto-friendly or low-sugar options.

If you want to add a smoky flavor to your sauce, you can include liquid smoke. This ingredient is easily found near the BBQ sauces in stores. However, if you're not a fan of smoky flavors, simply omit the liquid smoke from your sauce.

For a spicy kick, you can incorporate cayenne pepper into your sauce or choose a spicy BBQ sauce variety.

When making BBQ chicken legs in an air fryer, it's best to add the sauce towards the end of the cooking process to prevent burning. You can also add extra sauce before serving if desired.

Remember, the key to a successful BBQ sauce is to choose one that aligns with your taste preferences and dietary needs. You can experiment with different brands or create your own unique sauce to elevate your air-fried BBQ chicken legs.

Reheating and storing

If you're lucky enough to have any leftovers, you can store your cooked chicken legs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

When you're ready to reheat, simply place the chicken legs in an even layer in your air fryer tray and set the temperature to 350-400°F for 3-8 minutes, until warmed through. You can also baste the legs with extra BBQ sauce before serving if you want to add a bit more flavour and moisture.

And that's it! You now have perfectly reheated, juicy, and tender BBQ chicken legs.

Frequently asked questions