Kitchen notes · a little help before you start
Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)
Lemon pepper and paprika give these chicken drumsticks a savory, fragrant coating, with browned skin around the tender meat. The seasoning is simple enough to let the chicken flavor come through, making the crisp edges especially appealing.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Original yield
- Serves 4
- Ingredients
- 5 listed
Make it part of your week
Recipe categories & planning details
- Meal type
- Appetizers · Appetizers & snacks · Main course
- Primary protein
- Chicken
- Cuisine
- American
- Cooking method
- Air fryer
- Preparation & total time
- Prep: 15 minutes or less · Total: 30 minutes or less
A few quick notes
1. Pat the legs dry
Dry the chicken legs with paper towels before placing them in the bowl and sprinkling on the seasoning.
2. Preheat first
Give the air fryer five minutes to preheat at 400 degrees before putting the chicken in the basket.
3. Check the temperature
Use a thermometer to check for 165 degrees, adding the stated extra cooking time if needed.
Get to know the ingredients
Drumsticks
Use bone in, skin on chicken legs for this recipe and turn them halfway through the cooking time.
Lemon pepper
Mix the lemon pepper with paprika, garlic powder and salt before sprinkling the blend over the chicken.
Paprika
Paprika joins the dry seasoning blend before it is distributed over the patted dry drumsticks.
Let’s make it
Choose your servings, then check things off as you go.
Original recipe: Serves 4. Original quantities shown.
Check ingredients as you prepare them. These checks stay on this page.
How to make it
0 of 5 steps completeMake room for Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)
Review ingredients in your pantry before anything is added. Meal plans use your household size; grocery-only additions use the servings selected above.
The last little job
Remove from the basket
Take the cooked drumsticks out of the basket once they reach temperature and serve hot or at room temperature.
A little more help as you go
Turn halfway
Flip the drumsticks after the first ten minutes so both sides spend time facing the hot circulating air.
Allow extra time when needed
If the chicken has not reached 165 degrees, continue cooking for another three to five minutes.
A few questions you might have
Do I need to preheat the air fryer?
Yes. Preheat it at 400 degrees for five minutes before adding the seasoned chicken legs.
When should I flip the drumsticks?
Turn them after the first ten minutes, then cook for another ten minutes before checking the temperature.
What temperature should the chicken reach?
The drumsticks are done at 165 degrees internally; check with a thermometer and add cooking time if necessary.
What if they are not done when the timer ends?
Continue cooking for three to five more minutes if the chicken has not yet reached 165 degrees.
What kind of chicken legs are listed?
The ingredients call for bone in, skin on chicken legs, patted dry before the seasonings are added.
Storage & reheating safety
For cooked, perishable leftovers, refrigerate within 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F), using shallow containers for prompt cooling. Keep the refrigerator at 40°F or below, use refrigerated leftovers within 3–4 days, and reheat hot leftovers to 165°F, checked with a food thermometer. Follow any shorter package limit.
These are general safety limits, not a tested storage or freezing recommendation for this particular dish. USDA leftovers guidance · Safe cooking temperatures
Recipe source: asouthernsoul.com. Ingredient names and quantities may be adapted for the pantry.
Preparation notes follow the recipe shown here.