These Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks) are packed with flavor and the perfect addition to your dinner table!
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Air Fryer Chicken Legs (also called drumsticks) are a delicious and healthy alternative to traditionally fried chicken legs. They’re coated with a flavorful seasoning and are a perfect mixture of juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside.
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- This recipe takes about half the time as traditional baked chicken legs.
- Thanks to a special ingredient addition, these drumsticks are extra-crispy on the outside!
- This recipe makes a small batch of four legs, but it can be easily doubled if needed.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Ingredient quantities for homemade chicken legs are located in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Chicken legs (drumsticks)
- Olive oil
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Pepper
- Cumin
- Salt
- Baking powder
Air Fryer Needed for This Recipe
To make this recipe, you will need an air fryer of your choosing. While there are a wide variety of air fryers out there, I personally use the Ninja Foodi because it has twelve different cooking functions, including an air fryer and an electric pressure cooker (I replaced my Instant Pot!).
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
How to Make Air Fryer Drumsticks {Quick Overview}
This is just a quick overview of some of the steps involved in making the low carb drumsticks. For the recipe in detail, including exact measurements used at each step, scroll to the recipe card at the end of the post.
If your air fryer has a preheat function, preheat to 400 F.
In a small bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
Place chicken legs (drumsticks) on a clean plate. Pat them dry, then coat them evenly with olive oil.
Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly onto the chicken legs and rub in to coat evenly.
Place the chicken legs into the basket of the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes.
Use tongs to flip the chicken legs over and cook for an additional 6-10 minutes until the outside is browned and crispy.
Using a meat thermometer, check the internal temperature to ensure a temperature of at least 175 F.
TIP: The chicken is technically “done” at 175 F, but some prefer to heat to 185-195 F for the best taste. If needed, cook for an additional 2-5 minutes.
Serve warm and enjoy!
What is the difference between chicken legs and drumsticks?
The terms “chicken leg” and “drumstick” are often used interchangeably to refer to the smaller, calf portion of the chicken.
While the term “chicken leg” is extremely common, it’s not technically correct. The “chicken leg” is actually both the calf (drumstick) and the top part of the leg (thigh).
I personally call them drumsticks, but I know a lot of people call them chicken legs, so I’ve included both terms in this recipe. 🙂
More Keto Chicken Recipes
Each of these recipes are low carb family meals that are also keto-friendly.
- Learn how to make chicken crust pizza keto-friendly.
- Enjoy some Italian with a gluten free chicken Alfredo recipe, it is creamy and delicious!
- You can make keto broccoli chicken casserole and even your kids will thank you.
- Everyone wants to eat gluten free king ranch chicken casserole after they try is just once!
- Enjoy this keto chicken stir fry recipe. It is super quick to make!
- Learn how to make sheet pan chicken thighs and you’ll wonder why you ever bought boneless!
Nutrition Facts for This Easy Keto Chicken Recipe
Per chicken leg (4 total):
- 157 calories
- 11g fat
- 14g protein
- 1.7g net carbs
What Keto Sides Are Good with Air Fryer Drumsticks?
- Learn how to make gluten free mac and cheese. Your kids will love this dish!
- Keep it healthy without realizing it when you make healthy roasted vegetables. The flavor will blow your mind!
- Make a healthy antipasto salad that is gluten free.
- Enjoy keto French fries on your diet. You can barely tell you aren’t eating regular fries!
- Learn how to make wilted salad with a surprise ingredient. That surprise is bacon grease salad dressing and it tastes wonderful!
- Creamy and delicious, make sugar free cucumber salad.
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Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)
Ingredients
- 4 chicken legs (drumsticks) approx. 1 lb
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tbsp baking powder
Instructions
- If an option on your air fryer, preheat air fryer to 400 F.
- In a small bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
- Place chicken legs (drumsticks) on a clean plate. Pat them dry, then coat them evenly with olive oil.
- Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly onto the chicken legs and rub in to coat evenly.
- Place the chicken legs into the basket of the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes.
- Use tongs to flip the chicken legs over and cook for an additional 6-10 minutes until the outside is browned and crispy.
- Using a meat thermometer, check the internal temperature to ensure a temperature of at least 175 F. (The chicken is technically “done” at this point, but some prefer to heat to 185-195 F for the best taste.) If needed, cook for an additional 2-5 minutes.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutrition facts are included as a courtesy only. They are accurate to the best of our knowledge based on the ingredients and brands used, but their accuracy is not guaranteed. If applicable, sugar alcohols have already been removed from the total carb count.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Is bacon keto? You bet it is! Enjoy this delicious recipe when you make your bacon in the air fryer Ninja Foodi.
On this site, you will find keto, low carb, gluten-free, and healthy recipes that don’t sacrifice flavor. 🍰 Thanks for visiting!
The chicken legs rub is amazing! Instructions worked perfectly. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much, Tom! 🙂
Holy Cow! Your chicken recipe is better than any chicken recipe I have ever made!
Wow, what a delicious recipe! The chicken turned out so crispy! I’ll be trying the air fryer chicken thighs recipe next, I can’t wait…
I truly appreciate how delicious this recipe is. Great instructions for how to air fry the chicken legs, they came out crispy!
Wonderful recipe!
This tastes amazing! Hubby called the recipe a “keeper”.
Thank you so much, Barbie! I’m so glad you and your hubby like the recipe!