Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Legs | Super Juicy!
Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Legs are a delicious and easy dinner idea. They’re super flavorful and a little spicy. If you enjoyed our blackened chicken breast you have to give this a try!
Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Legs
Do you remember the Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Breast recipe I made a little while ago? It was perfect for healthy meal prepped lunches!
I’ve been really into dark meat more recently. These Katsu Chicken Thighs, OMG I like even more than the Air Fryer Chicken Katsu Breasts. And these Easy Air Fryer Chicken Leg Quarters and Teriyaki Chicken Legs, if you haven’t made them yet you’re missing out!
With just a few simple steps, you’ll have this recipe done in no time at all! The crispness of the skin is my favorite part. Always packed full of flavor. The inside is always so juicy!
If you loved how simple this was make sure to check out these other super easy chicken legs; Chicken Legs with Dry Rub, BBQ Chicken Legs, Buffalo Chicken Legs, Teriyaki Chicken Legs, Ranch Chicken Legs and Lemon Pepper Chicken Legs.
❤️ Why you’ll love this easy air fryer recipe
- Budget Friendly – As you know, Aldi’s is always my go-to! When I went to Mejier’s, they had drumsticks on BOGO! Talk about a steal.
- Easy Recipe – This drumstick recipe only has a few steps. Super easy to follow along.
- Paleo and Keto Recipe – These blackened chicken drumsticks have very low carbs. It’s a perfect dish if you’re following a low-carb or keto diet.
Ingredients
- Chicken Legs: I prefer chicken legs with their skin on
- Avocado oil or your favorite high-heat oil
- Seasonings: salt, paprika, Italian seasoning, cayenne pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder
✳️ Tips & Tricks
If you don’t like your chicken drumsticks crispy, you can line the air fryer basket with aluminum foil. Make sure you have enough aluminum foil to cover the top of the chicken drumsticks.
Some of the chicken drumsticks need the skin to be pulled or stretched to cover the leg so it holds onto more flavor. This ensures you don’t get a mouth full of skin and no meat when you bite into it.
Once the timer goes off, remove the chicken right away. This ensures you don’t dry out the chicken.
Tools to make this Blackened Chicken Drumsticks in the Air Fryer
- Cosori Air Fryer – this is my favorite air fryer. The large air fryer basket makes it so easy to cook your favorite recipes
- Tongs – tongs are easiest to remove and flip the chicken legs
- Meat thermometer – You always want to ensure the internal temperature of ANY chicken is 165F.
How to make Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Legs
- Coat the drumsticks with avocado oil.
- In a ziplock bag, add all the seasonings and mix them together.
- Transfer the drumstick into the ziplock bag and toss them around. Make sure the drumsticks are coated.
- Place the aluminum foil in the air fryer basket, ensuring you have enough to tint the top. Spray the aluminum foil with avocado oil.
- Remove the drumsticks from the bag and place them into the air fryer basket. Doing a single layer. Cover the top with the aluminum foil.
- Cook at 390F for 14 minutes. Flipping halfway through.
- Remove the aluminum foil, place the drumsticks back in the air fryer, and cook for another 7 minutes flipping halfway through. This ensures the chicken skin gets nice and crispy.
- Remove the drumsticks from the air fryer basket and serve.
Oven Directions
- Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
- Remove the chicken drumsticks from the package. Stretch the chicken skin if needed.
- Coat the chicken drumsticks with avocado oil.
- Place the chicken drumsticks into a ziplock bag and add in the seasoning.
- Remove the air from the bag and seal it. Toss the chicken drumsticks around to ensure they get coated in the seasoning.
- Line a cooking sheet with aluminum foil and place the chicken drumsticks onto the cooking sheet.
- Transfer to the oven and cook for 40 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165F.
- Once the timer goes off remove and serve.
Substitutions
If you don’t have chicken legs or chicken drumsticks, you can substitute chicken leg quarters or chicken thighs instead.
What to serve with Blackened Chicken Drumsticks
These drumsticks will pair perfectly with carrots and celery. you can even use our Homemade Ranch Seasoning and make your own dressing for the drumsticks and carrots and celery.
How to store
- Store leftovers in an airtight glass container for up to 5 days.
♨️ How to reheat
Remove the lid from the container and microwave on high for 1 to 1.5 minutes or until the chicken is warm. Alternatively, you can transfer to a microwave save plate to warm up.
If you want to warm this up in your air fryer, cook it for 2-3 minutes at 400F.
❓FAQs
How long do chicken drumsticks take in an air fryer?
Chicken drumsticks take about 18 minutes in the air fryer at 390F.
How do you stack drumsticks in an air fryer?
Do NOT stack any kind of chicken inside the air fryer. They can be slightly touching if need be, but you want all the chicken to cook evenly and you can’t do that if they are overlapping.
Do you put foil on chicken in air fryer?
This is totally up to you. Its not needed but you can use foil in the air fryer. If you don’t use foil the chicken skin will get extra crispy.
Are drumsticks good in the air fryer?
Yes, cooking chicken legs in the air fryer is honestly my favorite way to cook them. It’s so easy!
More Air Fryer Chicken Leg Recipes
If you loved these Blackened Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer, check out these other chicken drumstick recipes.
- Ranch Chicken Leg
- Teriyaki Chicken Leg
- BBQ Chicken Legs
- Buffalo Chicken Legs
- Chicken Legs with Dry Rub
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Legs
- Chicken Leg Quarters
- Fried Chicken Legs
Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- Drumsticks
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ garlic powder
- ¼ tsp cayenne
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp onion powder
Instructions
- Coat the drumsticks with avocado oil.
- In a ziplock bag add in all the seasonings and mix together.
- Transfer the drumstick into the ziplock bag and toss them around. Make sure the drumsticks are coated.
- Place the aluminum foil in the air fryer basket making sure you have enough to tint the top.
- Remove drumsticks from the bag and place into the air fryer basket. Doing a single layer. Cover the top with the aluminum foil.
- Cook at 390F for 14 minutes. Flipping halfway through.
- Remove the aluminum foil place the drumsticks back in the air fryer and cook for another 7 minutes flipping halfway through. This ensure the chicken skin gets nice and crispy.
- Remove the drumsticks from the air fryer basket and serve.
Nutrition
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