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Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

Golden and crispy on the outside, moist and tender on the inside—these air fryer chicken drumsticks are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Serve them up with your favorite side dishes for a meal you’ll be thinking about long after it’s gone.
Course Chicken, Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword air fryer chicken, air fryer drumsticks, air fryer recipes, chicken drumsticks
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 32 minutes
Servings 6 drumsticks
Calories 124kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 chicken drumsticks (patted down with paper towels)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • .50 teaspoon onion powder
  • .50 teaspoon smoked paprika (or regular)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon tarragon
  • 1/4 teaspoon cumin

Instructions

  • Place chicken in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, tarragon and cumin.
  • Mix with a rubber spatula until all the drumsticks are coated.
  • If you have a tray type of air fryer, remove before preheating. If you have the basket type, proceed as you normally would.
  • Preheat air fryer on 380 F and set the timer to 22 minutes (see notes for smaller drumsticks).
  • Place coated drumsticks on the trays. I alternate them so they don't touch.
  • When the air fryer beeps that it is done preheating, add the trays to the oven. Or if you have the basket type, add food. Make sure the drumsticks are not touching and depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to do them in batches.
  • At 11 minutes, turn the drumsticks over if you have the basket type. If you have the tray type like I do, place the top tray on the bottom and the bottom on the top.
  • When the air fryer beeps that it is done, take a thermometer and stick it in the thickest part of the chicken. The drumsticks are done if the temperature reads 165 degrees F.
  • Eat
  • Smile
  • Enjoy

Notes

Helpful tips
  • Don't wash your poultry before cooking. The reason that you don't is there is a higher risk of spreading bacteria around in the sink, on the counters and even on your hands. What I do is pat the chicken down with paper towels and then discard them.
  • My air fryer is the Instant Vortex Pro and is a tray kind of fryer. This recipe will also work in the basket type but you may have to do it in batches.
  • My drumsticks are on the large size so they cooked for 22 minutes. If you have smaller drumsticks, check them after 20 minutes. The internal temperature should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • If your chicken is below the 165 degree F mark, cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1drumstick | Calories: 124kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 467mg | Potassium: 192mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 132IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg