Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Drumsticks: Quick, Easy, Crispy!

If you're looking for a quick, easy, and delicious meal, look no further than air fryer chicken drumsticks! This recipe yields juicy meat with a crispy skin that can be made in under 30 minutes. The key to achieving the perfect crispiness is to use skin-on drumsticks and coat them with a mixture of olive oil, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and spices. By cooking the chicken at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes and flipping them halfway through, you'll get that irresistible crunchy texture. Serve these drumsticks with your favorite dipping sauces, such as ranch dressing, hot sauce, or BBQ sauce, for a mouthwatering treat.

Choosing the right oil

While making breaded chicken drumsticks in an air fryer, the type of oil you use is important. You need to consider the smoke point of the oil, the temperature you're cooking at, and the food you're cooking.

Smoke Point

The smoke point of an oil is the temperature at which it begins to break down and emit smoke. When an oil reaches its smoke point, a chemical breakdown occurs, resulting in the release of gas and other byproducts. This can cause the oil to develop an undesirable, burnt flavour, which can affect the taste of your food. Therefore, it's best to use an oil with a higher smoke point than the temperature you are cooking at.

Recommended Oils

• Avocado oil (520°F or 570°F smoke point)
• Peanut oil (450°F smoke point)
• Sunflower oil (450°F smoke point)
• Light olive oil (465-470°F or 468°F smoke point)
• Ghee (clarified butter) (482°F or 485°F smoke point)
• Grapeseed oil (421°F or 420°F smoke point)
• Coconut oil (refined has a 400°F smoke point, while unrefined has a 350°F smoke point)
• Canola oil (400-450°F smoke point)
• Vegetable oil (400°F smoke point)
• Extra virgin olive oil (320-374°F or 375°F smoke point)

Oil Quantity

When air frying, you only need a fraction of the amount of oil that you would use for deep frying or sautéing. A light coating of oil on your food is usually sufficient. You can brush or spray the food and the air fryer basket with oil. If you're using an air fryer with a non-stick surface, you may not need to oil the basket.

Oil Sprayers

You can use a non-aerosol pump-style oil sprayer with a high smoke point oil. Avoid using non-stick cooking sprays, as they can damage the lining of the air fryer basket.

Marinating the chicken

Firstly, gather your ingredients. You will need a selection of herbs and spices, such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and baking powder. You can also add some olive oil to the mix, which will help the herbs and spices stick to the chicken and promote crispiness.

Next, prepare your chicken drumsticks by patting them dry with paper towels. Removing any excess moisture is crucial, as it ensures that the marinade adheres effectively to the meat.

Now, it's time to create the marinade. Combine your chosen herbs and spices in a small bowl and mix well. You can adjust the quantities of each ingredient to suit your taste preferences and create a unique blend.

Once your marinade is ready, it's time to coat the chicken. Place the drumsticks in a large bowl or plastic bag. Drizzle them generously with olive oil, ensuring each piece is well-coated. Then, sprinkle the herb and spice mixture over the drumsticks, using your hands or a spoon to ensure an even coating.

Massage the marinade into the chicken, ensuring it reaches all the nooks and crannies. For optimal flavour, it is recommended to let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight if possible. You can store the chicken in the refrigerator during this time to prevent spoilage, especially if marinating for longer periods.

After the chicken has rested and absorbed all the delicious flavours, it's time to cook! Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature before placing it in the air fryer.

By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating mouth-watering, flavourful chicken drumsticks with a crispy exterior and juicy interior.

Preparing the air fryer

Before you begin, make sure your air fryer is clean and ready for use. Remove any leftover residue or food particles from previous cooking sessions. It is important to start with a clean slate to prevent any unwanted flavours or bacteria from affecting your dish.

Now, let's get the air fryer ready for cooking. First, preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature. Most recipes recommend preheating the air fryer to around 400°F (200°C). This step is important as it helps create the ideal cooking environment for your chicken drumsticks. Set the temperature and allow the air fryer to heat up for a few minutes.

While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your chicken drumsticks. Pat the drumsticks dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. Moisture can affect the crispiness of the final product, so it is important to ensure the drumsticks are as dry as possible. You can also lightly brush or spray the drumsticks with oil at this stage, if desired.

Once the drumsticks are prepared, it's time to season them. In a small bowl, combine your chosen herbs and spices. You can use a variety of seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Mix them well, and then generously coat the drumsticks with this spice mixture. You can also try more creative coatings, such as cornflake crumbs or flour, for an extra crispy texture.

After the drumsticks are seasoned, it's a good idea to give the air fryer basket a light coating of oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking. Brush or spray a light layer of oil or cooking spray onto the basket to ensure the chicken doesn't stick during cooking.

Now, you're almost ready to start cooking! Place the coated drumsticks into the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overlapping or stacked. Overcrowding the air fryer can affect the cooking process and prevent even crisping. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the drumsticks in batches.

Finally, set the timer and temperature according to your recipe. Most breaded chicken drumstick recipes recommend cooking at 400°F (200°C) for around 10 minutes, flipping the drumsticks halfway through, and then cooking for an additional 6-10 minutes. However, cooking times may vary depending on the size of your drumsticks and the model of your air fryer, so be sure to keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

Cooking the chicken

Now that you've prepared your chicken drumsticks, it's time to cook them in the air fryer. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Preheat your air fryer: Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). It's important to preheat the air fryer to ensure even cooking and to get that crispy skin.
• Prepare the chicken: Place the seasoned or marinated chicken drumsticks in the air fryer basket. Make sure they are in a single layer and not overlapping or stacked. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.
• Cook the chicken: Place the air fryer basket in the air fryer and cook the chicken drumsticks for about 20 minutes. For smaller chicken drumsticks, it may take closer to 18 minutes, while larger ones may take up to 22 minutes. It's a good idea to flip the drumsticks halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.
• Check for doneness: The chicken drumsticks are done when they are golden brown and crispy. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, which should reach 165°F (74°C) to be considered safe to eat. For chicken legs, you can cook them to an internal temperature of up to 185°F.
• Serve immediately: Once the chicken drumsticks are cooked, serve them immediately. They are great on their own or with your favourite dipping sauces, such as ranch dressing, hot sauce, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce.

Tips for Cooking Chicken in an Air Fryer:

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the chicken in batches if needed to ensure proper air circulation and even cooking.
• Flip the chicken drumsticks halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning and cooking.
• Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check the doneness of the chicken. This will help prevent overcooking or undercooking.
• For extra crispy skin, pat the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels before cooking, and leave the skin on during cooking.
• If you want to add sauce to your drumsticks, it's best to do so after they have cooked and crisped. You can also add sauce towards the end of the cooking time to create a crunchy "crust".

Serving suggestions

These juicy, tender, and crispy chicken drumsticks are a versatile dish that can be served with almost any side. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Spicy beans
• Air fryer French fries
• Roasted potatoes
• Quick-pickled beets
• Rice pilaf
• Stuffed baked potatoes
• Japanese potato salad
• Baked potato
• Potato wedges
• Coleslaw
• Corn on the cob
• Mac and cheese
• Air fryer roasted potatoes
• Air fryer twice-baked potatoes

If you're looking for a dipping sauce, try ranch dressing, hot sauce, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce.

For a complete meal, serve these chicken drumsticks with any of the following side dishes:

• Air Fryer Potato Wedges
• Air Fryer Baked Potato
• KFC Coleslaw
• Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
• Easy Mac and Cheese

You can also try adding a simple side salad or some roasted vegetables to round out the meal.

Frequently asked questions