These air fryer chicken drumsticks come out crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and don’t take much work to pull together. The coating is kind of like that shake and bake style, but made with simple pantry spices, and since drumsticks are usually pretty budget-friendly, it’s an easy dinner for busy nights. They cook in about 20–25 minutes in the air fryer, which makes them great for weeknights.
Why We Love Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Crispy and fun to eat – That crunchy coating helps, and the built-in “handle” makes them a little more fun… even if dinner turns into kids casually lifting drumsticks like little weights.
- Simple ingredients, no box mix – Just pantry spices you probably already have, and it all gets mixed right in a bag.
- More budget-friendly dinner – Drumsticks are usually one of the cheaper cuts, so you can make a filling dinner without spending a lot.
- Quick enough for a weeknight – It cooks in about 20 minutes, which helps on busy nights.
If your kids usually go for boneless chicken, the crispy coating here is kind of like chicken nuggets, which can help make these a little more approachable.
Ingredients For Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- chicken drumsticks
- olive oil
- bread crumbs
- flour
- salt
- paprika
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- thyme
- oregano
- black pepper
- cayenne pepper
I like to use a non-aerosal cooking spray with my air fryer because the oil doesn’t stick and buildup on the air fryer basket as easily. My favorite Chosen Foods Avocado Oil, which easily works with the high heat of the air fryer without smoking.
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
Prepping The Drumsticks
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry well with paper towels so they will get crispier. Drizzle ½ tablespoon of olive oil over the drumsticks and rub it evenly into the skin. This makes sure they are evenly coated, and helps the seasoning stick evenly.
Prepping The Breadcrumb Coating
- Open a gallon-size Zip top bag and add the bread crumbs, flour, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (optional). Seal the bag and shake until all the dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- Open the bag and pour in the remaining olive oil. Seal the bag again and shake until the seasoning mix and oil are thoroughly combined and resemble wet sand.
- Add the drumsticks to the bag, three or four at a time. Seal the bag and shake until each drumstick is well coated with the seasoning mix. Repeat with all drumsticks as needed. This helps to coat the chicken more evenly than if you add all drumsticks at once.
Cooking The Drumsticks In The Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray oil. Place the coated drumsticks in a single layer and lightly spray the drumsticks with cooking spray oil. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket. If the drumsticks touch each other too much, they may stick together and lose some of the coating.
- Air fry for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through. When finished, the chicken will be crispy and golden. Check that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit with a meat thermometer, and the chicken should no longer be pink inside. Serve and enjoy!
Tips For Crispy Air Fryer Drumsticks
A few simple tips to help them come out crispy every time:
- pat the chicken dry first
- don’t overcrowd the basket
- lightly spray the coating
- flip halfway through
When Are Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks Done?
Air fryer chicken drumsticks usually take about 20–25 minutes at 400 degrees, but the biggest thing you’re looking for is that the outside is crispy and the inside is fully cooked.
The chicken should reach 165 degrees and no longer be pink inside. Be careful not to hit the bone with the meat thermometer, as it can throw off the reading.
If the coating isn’t quite as crisp as you want, you can let them cook for a few extra minutes, they crisp up fast at the end.
How Long Will Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks Last?
Expect that these air fryer chicken drumsticks can last about 3 days if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Leftover drumsticks can quickly be reheated in the air fryer. Warm at 375 for 10-15 minutes or until warm all the way through. Chicken drumsticks can also be quickly reheated in the microwave.
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks (Cajun Style!)
These air fryer chicken drumsticks come out crispy with a simple shake and bake style coating made with spices you probably already have. It’s easy to throw together, budget-friendly, and cooks fast which helps on busy nights.
Prevent your screen from going dark
For The Chicken Drumsticks
For The Breadcrumb Coating
Prepping The Drumsticks
-
Pat the chicken drumsticks dry well with paper towels so they will get crispier. Drizzle ½ tablespoon of olive oil over the drumsticks and rub it evenly into the skin. This makes sure they are evenly coated, and helps the seasoning stick evenly.
1 1/2 pounds chicken drumsticks, 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
Prepping The Breadcrumb Coating
-
Open a gallon-size Zip top bag and add the bread crumbs, flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (optional). Seal the bag and shake until all the dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
3/4 cup bread crumbs, 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon thyme, 1/4 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
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Open the bag and pour in the remaining olive oil. Seal the bag again and shake until the seasoning mix and oil are thoroughly combined and resemble wet sand.
2 tablespoons olive oil
-
Add the drumsticks to the bag, three or four at a time. Seal the bag and shake until each drumstick is well coated with the seasoning mix. Repeat with all drumsticks. This helps to coat the chicken more evenly than if you add all drumsticks at once.
Cooking The Drumsticks In The Air Fryer
-
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes.
-
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray oil. Place the coated drumsticks in a single layer and lightly spray the drumsticks with cooking spray oil. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket. If the drumsticks touch each other too much, they may stick together and lose some of the coating.
-
Air fry for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through. When finished, the chicken will be crispy and golden. Check that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit with a meat thermometer, and the chicken should no longer be pink inside. Serve and enjoy!
Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 541mg | Potassium: 188mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 174IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg
Did You Make This?
I would love to see it! Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
