Easy Air Fryer Chicken Legs with Dry Rub
Make this flavorful Air Fryer Chicken Legs with Dry Rub recipe in under 30 minutes. You only need two ingredients chicken legs and our homemade dry rub seasoning. This is a super affordable air fryer dinner idea!
Air Fryer Chicken Legs with Dry Rub
Making homemade seasonings is incredibly easy! Not only are they convenient to have on hand, but they’ll save you money in the long run!
I love how crispy the skin comes out when I cook my chicken legs in the air fryer. Talk about perfection.
This Homemade Keto Dry Rub Seasoning has been a game changer in our household. I’ve used it on chicken breasts, Chicken Wings, and Chicken Leg Quarters.
❤️ Why you’ll love this easy air fryer recipe
- Budget-friendly – Chicken legs are very affordable. They are much cheaper per pound than chicken breast or chicken tenders.
- Easy Recipe – This drumstick recipe has only a few steps and a few ingredients. It’s super easy to follow along.
- Paleo and Keto Recipe – These chicken drumsticks have 0.2g carbs per chicken leg.
Ingredients
- Chicken Legs: I like to use chicken legs with the skin on. Crispy chicken skin is the best! Plus, the seasoning sticks better to the skin than to the chicken meat itself.
- Chicken Dry Rub Seasoning – you’ll love this simple chicken seasoning. It’s super flavorful and makes the chicken skin taste delicious!
✳️ Tips & Tricks
- If you don’t like your chicken drumsticks crispy, you can tent the chicken legs with foil and block them from direct heat. Personally, I prefer crispy chicken skin.
- Some of the chicken drumsticks need the skin to be pulled or stretched to cover the leg to hold onto the seasoning better. This ensures you don’t get a mouthful of skin and no meat when you bite into it.
- Once the timer goes off, remove the chicken right away once it has reached 165F. This ensures you don’t dry out the chicken.
Tools to make this Chicken Legs with Dry Rub 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 drumsticks
- Meat thermometer – You always want to ensure the internal temperature of ANY chicken is 165F.
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Legs with Keto Dry Rub
- First, pull the skin to cover the drumsticks as much as possible.
- Then, transfer the drumsticks into the Ziploc bag.
- Next, add in your dry rub seasoning and seal the bag. Shake the bag carefully, making sure the drumsticks are coated evenly.
- Place the aluminum foil in the air fryer basket, ensuring you have enough to tent the top. Spray the aluminum foil with avocado oil.
- Remove the drumsticks from the bag and place them into the air fryer basket. Cover the top of the chicken legs with the aluminum foil loosely.
- Cook at 390F for 14 minutes. Flip 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.
- Carefully stretch the chicken skin on the legs if needed.
- Place the chicken drumsticks into a ziplock bag and add in the dry rub 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 baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray with oil, and place the chicken drumsticks onto the baking 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.
If you don’t want to make our homemade chicken dry rub, you can use your favorite store-bought brand.
What to serve with Air Fryer Chicken Legs With Dry Rub Seasoning
These drumsticks will pair perfectly with baked beans for a Southern-inspired meal. You could also serve them with potato salad or macaroni salad for a backyard BBQ-themed meal.
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 it to a microwave-safe plate to warm up.
If you want to warm this up in your air fryer, cook it for 2-3 minutes at 400F.
❓FAQs
Can you use dry rubs in an air fryer?
Yes, you can use your dry rub seasoning in your air fryer.
Do you put seasoning on before or after air frying?
You would put your seasoning on before you cook your chicken in the air fryer.
Do you put oil on before dry rub?
You can use oil on these chicken legs, but it is not needed.
More Air Fryer Chicken Leg Recipes
If you loved these air fryer chicken legs with dry rub seasoning, check out these other chicken leg recipes.
- Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Legs
- Crispy Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Legs
- Crispy Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Legs
- Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Legs
- Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Legs
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs
Air Fryer Chicken Legs With Keto Dry Rub
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 3 Chicken Legs
- 1 tbsp chicken dry rub seasoning
Instructions
- Transfer the drumstick into the ziplock bag and toss them around.
- Add in your dry rub seasoning. Make sure the drumsticks are coated.
- Place the aluminum foil in the air fryer basket making sure you have enough to tint the top. Spray the aluminum foil with avocado oil.
- Remove the drumsticks from the bag and place into the air fryer basket. Doing a single layer. Cover the top with 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.
Nutrition
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These air fryer chicken legs are so tender and flavorful. The dry rub is a game-changer. It has the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and spicy. I love how the air fryer makes the skin crispy and the meat moist. This is my new favorite way to cook chicken legs