Easy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Legs

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Legs are super juicy and have just the right amount of kick to them. These chicken legs only have two ingredients, so they’re incredibly easy to make in your air fryer. Our easy air fryer buffalo chicken legs recipe redefines easy chicken dinner ideas with quick cooking times and crispy, saucy bites.

Easy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Legs

I honestly forgot how good chicken legs in the air fryer are.

It’s been a couple of months since I made some air fryer chicken legs, and boy, did I play myself.

Buffalo sauce isn’t my first go-to, but these buffalo chicken legs had the perfect amount of kick.

I also used my Homemade Ranch Seasoning to make a ranch dressing, which also helped control the heat.

Did you know that these Trader Joe’s Chicken Burritos are made with chicken leg meat? If you are ever in a time crunch, or just want something simple, these should be your go-to.

If you are looking for more delicious chicken leg recipes, check out the following: Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Legs, Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Legs, and Air Fryer Chicken Legs with Dry Rub Seasoning.

❤️ Why you’ll love this easy air fryer recipe

• Budget Friendly – Chicken legs are very cheap per pound. Plus, you can buy the family pack version and save even more per pound, typically. Just freeze the rest until you’re ready to use them.
• Easy Recipe – With only two ingredients, this recipe is super easy.
• Meal Prep – these buffalo chicken legs are great for meal prep! Whip up some of your favorite vegetables to serve with it.
• Delicious – This recipe is super good!

Ingredients

• Chicken Legs – you can also use chicken leg quarters if you can’t find chicken legs
• Buffalo Sauce – I used Sweet Baby Rays Mild Buffalo because it isn’t as spicy. But you can use any kind of buffalo sauce or hot sauce you prefer.

✳️ Tips & Tricks

• Some of the chicken legs need the skin pulled/stretched to cover the leg. This ensures you don’t get a mouthful of skin and no meat when you bite into it.
• Once the timer on the air fryer goes off, make sure the internal temperature is 165F.
• You always want to remove the chicken right away to prevent it from drying out.

Tools to make Buffalo Chicken Legs 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
• Basting Brush – A basting brush will help you apply the buffalo sauce without making a mess.
• Meat thermometer – You always want to make sure the internal temperature of ANY chicken 165F.

How to make Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Legs

1. If needed, stretch the chicken leg’s skin over the chicken.
2. Place the chicken legs into a ziplock bag.
3. Pour the buffalo sauce over the chicken. Seal the bag, making sure to remove all the air. Toss the chicken around to make sure they all get coated in the sauce.
4. Transfer to the air fryer basket and cook at 390F for 14 minutes, flipping halfway through.
5. Grab a basting brush and add more buffalo sauce to the chicken, and cook at 390F for another 3 minutes. Flip the chicken and add buffalo sauce to the other side. Cook for another 3 minutes.
6. Once the timer goes off, make sure the internal temperature is 165F.
7. Remove from the air fryer and serve.

Oven Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400F degrees.
2. Carefully stretch the chicken skin on the legs if needed.
3. Place the chicken legs into a ziplock bag and add the buffalo sauce.
4. Remove the air from the bag and seal it. Toss the chicken legs to coat them in the sauce.
5. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, spray it with oil, and place the chicken legs on the sheet.
6. Transfer to the oven and cook for 40 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165F.
7. 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 Buffalo Chicken Legs

I served these air fryer buffalo chicken drumsticks with air fryer carrots. Everyone loved them, and it gave the dish a great pop of color!

If you’re trying to make it a meal, you can serve these with your favorite sides. Or if these are part of an appetizer, serve them with celery and carrot sticks.

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-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

More Air Fryer Chicken Leg Recipes

If you loved these air fryer buffalo chicken drumsticks, check out these other delicious air fryer chicken leg recipes.

• Blackened Chicken Legs
• Teriyaki Chicken Legs
• Ranch Chicken Legs
• Chicken Legs with Dry Rub Seasoning

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Legs

Our easy air fryer buffalo chicken legs recipe redefines easy chicken dinner ideas with quick cooking times and crispy, saucy bites.

4.95 from 37 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 4 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 24 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Calories 551 kcal

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 4 Chicken Legs
• 1 Cup Buffalo Sauce

Instructions

 

• If needed stretch the chicken leg’s skin over the chicken.
• Place the chicken legs into a ziplock bag.
• Pour the buffalo sauce over the chicken. Seal the bag making sure you remove the air from the bag. Toss the chicken around to make sure they all get coated in the sauce.
• Transfer to the air fryer basket and cook at 390F for 14 minutes flipping halfway through.
• Grab a basting brush and add more buffalo sauce to the chicken and cook at 390F for another 3 minutes. Flip the chicken and add buffalo sauce to the other side. Cook For another 3 minutes.
• Once the timer goes off make sure the internal temperature is 165F.
• Remove from the air fryer and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 551kcalCarbohydrates: 0.4gProtein: 42gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 240mgSodium: 3896mgPotassium: 523mgVitamin A: 237IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 2mg

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