Air-fried chicken legs are a welcome alternative to deep-fried chicken breasts or drumsticks. The chicken legs will have less fat and will be delicious and juicy on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Frying chicken legs in an air fryer is fast, less messy, and simpler compared to deep frying. But how long to air fry chicken legs in your air fryer? Keep reading to find out the answer and learn much more.
How Long to Air Fry Chicken Legs?
If you have never used your air fryer to make chicken legs, it is time to try it. The entire process is easy, and you will end up with delicious drumsticks you can serve with rice or vegetables. The main advantage of air frying chicken legs is to ensure you use less oil. This will help you save money and ensure you don’t take too many unhealthy oils that can affect your health.
The entire cooking process, from preparation to finish, will take around 30 minutes. Typically, it will take around 20 minutes to air fry chicken legs at 380 degrees F. But cooking time will depend on the number of chicken legs you are cooking in the air fryer basket at a time. If you put too many chicken legs in the air fryer basket, you will require more time. Please note that you should not overcrowd the fryer basket.
The cooking time will also depend on the thickness of the drumsticks and the cooking temperatures. If the drumsticks are thicker, you should cook them a little longer. If the chicken legs are thin, you should cook them for around 20 minutes. You can know that they are ready by using one of the best digital meat thermometers to get the internal temperatures of the drumsticks. If the thermometer reads 165 degrees F or more, know that they are done.
How to Air Fry Drumsticks?
Now that we have learned how long to air fry chicken legs, let’s now get into how to make delicious air fryer drumsticks. The process involves gathering the ingredients, mixing them, and marinating the chicken legs. You should then get your air fryer, preheat it, and air fry the drumstick at 380 degrees F for 18-20 minutes.
Air Fryer Drumsticks Recipe
For perfectly cooked drumsticks with juicy inside and crispy outside, try this recipe.
Prep Time: 5 Minutes (excluding at least 1 hour to let the drumsticks marinate in the refrigerator)
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 chicken legs
- 2 tbsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1tsp ground black pepper
- 1tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
Directions
- Coat the chicken legs with oil.
- Add all dry ingredients into a zip-top bag and shake to mix. Put the drumsticks in the bag and shake to coat.
- Put the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour to marinate. Please note that the longer it stays in the refrigerator, the better.
- Preheat your Power Airfryer XL to 380 degrees F for 3 minutes.
- Add the drumsticks to the air fryer basket, and cook for 20 minutes. Turn the drumsticks halfway through. Use a meat thermometer to check if the internal temperature of the thickest drumstick is 165 degrees F or more. If it is below that, cook for additional 4-5 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
Note: You can use any other airy fryer model or brand to make the drumsticks, but follow this procedure.
How to Air Fry Drumsticks in the Oven
If you want to prepare many drumsticks, you can use your oven for the task. You should prepare the drumsticks and mix seasoning ingredients in a bowl. Seasoning ingredients are garlic powder, smoked paprika, ground pepper, and some salt.
First, you should preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Then spray the pan with nonstick spray and line the drumsticks in the pan, ensuring you space them evenly. Sprinkle the seasoning over the drumsticks and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the thickest drumstick reaches at least 165 degrees F. Lastly, remove the drumsticks from the oven, and let them rest for 5 minutes before serving.
How Long Do Drumsticks Take in Air Fryer?
Drumsticks take 20 minutes in the air fryer at 380 degrees F. However, if you cook at 400 degrees F, the drumsticks can be ready in 18 minutes. But cooking time will depend on the thickness of the drumsticks. If you cook thick drumsticks, ensure to extend the cooking time. Remember to turn the chicken legs halfway through so that they can cook evenly.
How Long Does Chicken Take in the Air Fryer?
Chicken legs will take at least 20 minutes to cook in the air fryer at 380 degrees F. However, if you are air frying a whole chicken, you should cook it for 1 hour at 360 degrees F. But if the chicken is larger, you can cook for additional 10-15 minutes until the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches at least 165 degrees F.
At What Temperature Do You Cook Chicken in an Air Fryer?
360 – 380 degrees F is the appropriate cooking temperature when air frying chicken legs, breast, or even when cooking a whole chicken. Please note that a temperature above 400 degrees F can easily make the chicken’s outer parts burn even when the chicken is not done. So always set your air fryer at 360 or 380 degrees F.
Final Words
If you want your family to enjoy juicy and healthier chicken legs, you should air fry them. You just need an air fryer, seasonings, and a few teaspoonfuls of vegetable oil to get it done. The above information will help you know how long to air fry chicken legs. It will also help you prepare/marinate the chicken legs and cook them in your air fryer quickly. The cooking process will be simpler and quicker than cooking in the oven or the deep fryer. After enjoying the drumsticks, don’t forget to clean the air fryer so it can serve you better and last longer.
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