Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Chicken Drumsticks)

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Chicken drumsticks are often overlooked in favor of chicken breasts or thighs. Yet they are cheaper and super tasty, especially when you air fry them!

You really don’t need much beyond some chicken drumsticks, a little oil and some seasoning… but you know me, I like to mess around.

So these are tequila lime chicken drumsticks – Margarita drumsticks if you like 🙂 This simple marinade adds tons of flavor and keeps your taste buds on their toes.

And if cooking with alcohol is not for you, this air fryer chicken leg recipe works just as well without it. They are truly delicious, quick and easy to prepare.

Air Fried Chicken Drumsticks Grocery List

I used my Cosori air fryer for this recipe. Please note that air fryers are all slightly different so you may need to adjust the cooking time or temperature settings slightly to suit your model.

Apart from the chicken drumsticks (thawed if frozen) we will be making a zesty marinade using:

• Freshly squeezed lime Juice
• Rapeseed, avocado or light olive oil
• Tequila or mescal for a lovely smoky edge – but, as I said, you can leave this out or use it in a Margarita instead. Not a deal breaker!
• Honey
• Brown sugar or Sukrin Gold sweetener
• Fresh thyme leaves
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Minced garlic or you can use garlic powder or onion powder

How to  Make Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

↓ For the full ingredients and detailed method, jump to the recipe card.

Combine the marinade ingredients in a Pyrex dish, bowl (or even a large ziplock bag). Add the chicken legs and turn a few times to coat in the marinade. You can marinate for as little as 30 minutes or up to a couple of hours.

Preheat your air fryer at 200°C / 400°F. Add the chicken drumsticks in a single layer if possible and cook for 9 minutes. Meanwhile pour the marinade in a ramekin or similar oven safe container.

Flip the chicken legs over and tuck the container with the marinade into the air fryer basket. Continue to cook for a further 9 minutes.

Brush the chicken with the marinade and cook for 2-5 minutes or until the chicken registers an internal temperature of 75°C / 175°F on a meat thermometer.

The skin should be golden and crispy while the meat should be juicy and tender. Meanwhile the fat from the skin will have rendered and drained into the air fryer basket, making these a much healthier option than fried chicken.

Serve with lime wedges, with any of the remaining marinade and a side salad (such as my Corn and Avocado salad), smashed potatoes or potato salad.

Recipe Tips and FAQs

• My Greek marinade is another excellent choice for juicy chicken drumsticks. It contains lemon juice, vinegar, oil, paprika, cumin and garlic powder – take a look at the recipe here.
• You can also simply drizzle chicken drumsticks with oil (or mist them with spray oil) and add your favorite store-bought seasoning mix such as Cajun, Peri Peri and so on.

• Air fryer chicken thighs can also be cooked in the same way but may need a few more minutes if they are on the bone.
• These chicken drumsticks are best devoured as soon as they are cool enough to handle. They will keep for a few days in the refrigerator and you can reheat them in the air fryer.

HAVE YOU MADE MY AIR FRYER CHICKEN LEG RECIPE? Please leave a rating, post a photo on my Facebook page, share it on Instagram with @supergolden88 and the tag #Nusde and make my day!