These crispy air fryer buffalo chicken legs are packed with flavor and made in only 30 minutes. They are perfect as an appetizer, snack or main course.
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I must confess, I am obsessed with preparing chicken legs in my air fryer. The air fryer uses air pressure to fry the chicken perfect, and the result is amazing with crispy chicken skin and juicy meat with no need to use any oil.
Paired with my obsession for buffalo chicken, this recipe was completely meant to be. Buffalo chicken drumsticks are spicy, crispy, juicy and absolutely delicious.
🥘 Ingredients
This recipe only requires 3 ingredients: chicken legs, butter and hot sauce. If you have a premade buffalo sauce available, you can use this instead of the butter and hot sauce.
Additionally, you will need an air fryer! Buffalo chicken legs can also be made in the oven if you don't have an air fryer available.
🔪 How to make air fryer buffalo chicken legs
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F or 200°C for a few minutes.
Add the chicken legs to the air fryer. Make sure to leave some space between each leg, so not to overcrowd the air fryer tray or basket.
Air fry the legs for 15 minutes, then flip and cook for another 10 minutes.
Melt the butter, and combine the butter and hot sauce in a bowl to create buffalo sauce. Dip the cooked chicken legs in the sauce and coat them thoroughly. Add them back to the air fryer, and cook for another 5 minutes.
Check with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the legs that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F or 75°C. Remove the buffalo chicken legs from the air fryer and serve.
🔪 Oven baked method
Although I highly recommend the air fryer method, you can also make buffalo chicken legs in the oven.
Preheat the oven to 400°F or 200°C. Melt the butter, and combine butter and hot sauce in a bowl to form a buffalo sauce. Coat the chicken legs in the buffalo sauce, before placing them on a baking tray.
Bake the chicken legs in the oven for approximately 30 minutes, flipping them once halfway through the cooking. Check that the chicken has reached the correct internal temperature before removing it from the oven to serve.
🐓 Buffalo chicken
Buffalo sauce and chicken are like made for each other. Buffalo sauce is essentially made by combining hot sauce with melted butter, creating, as you'd expect, a buttery hot sauce. You can also buy buffalo sauce in many supermarkets from various brands.
In this recipe we use chicken legs, but you can also follow the same instructions to cook air fryer chicken thighs, breasts or wings. Keep in mind that various cuts of chicken might require shorter or longer cooking times. Always ensure that the chicken has reached the appropriate temperature before serving it, regardless of which cut of chicken you use.
💭 Top tips
Here is all my best advice for how you can make the BEST air fryer buffalo chicken legs:
- Your chicken legs might cook faster or slower than the time suggested. Always check with a meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F or 75°C before removing it from the air fryer.
- If you have a smaller air fryer, you might have to cook the chicken legs in several batches. Avoid overcrowding the basket in order to cook it all in one go, as this will prevent the chicken from cooking evenly.
🥗 Serving suggestions
Serve buffalo chicken legs as a snack or appetizer with ranch dip, or as a main course served with sweet potato fries, potato wedges or other tasty side dishes.
I also love to add chicken legs to any summer BBQ, potluck or other buffet tables. Consider serving them with other American favorites like BBQ chicken, meatballs or burgers.
🍲 Leftovers
Leftover air fried chicken legs can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Keep in mind that the chicken skin will be soft and not crispy after being stored.
I highly recommend reheating the chicken before serving it. Alternatively, you can remove the chicken skin and bones and shred the meat to use in other dishes.
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📋 Frequently asked questions
Can I use frozen chicken legs? - Absolutely! Add 5-10 minutes extra cooking time if you are using frozen chicken legs.
Is this recipe suitable for my diet? - Depending on which hot sauce or buffalo sauce you use, this recipe is suitable for most diets including slimming world, weight watchers, keto and low carb. Use diet friendly buffalo suce options to make it suitable for whole30 and paleo. It is also low calorie, low carb and sugar free.
Are buffalo chicken legs allergy friendly? - You will have to check the nutrition label on the sauce you use, but in general this recipe is gluten free, egg free, nut free and soy free.
Recipe
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Legs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken legs (1 kg)
- 2 tablespoon butter (melted)
- ½ cup Frank's Redhot Original Sauce (120 ml - or any other hot sauce)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F or 200°C for a few minutes.
- Add the chicken legs to the air fryer. Make sure to leave some space between each leg, so not to overcrowd the air fryer tray or basket.
- Air fry the legs for 15 minutes, then flip and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Melt the butter, and combine the butter and hot sauce in a bowl to create buffalo sauce. Dip the cooked chicken legs in the sauce and coat them thoroughly. Add them back to the air fryer, and cook for another 5 minutes.
- Check with a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the legs that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F or 75°C. Remove the buffalo chicken legs from the air fryer and serve.
Notes
Leftovers
Leftover air fried chicken legs can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. Keep in mind that the chicken skin will be soft and not crispy after being stored. I highly recommend reheating the chicken before serving it. Alternatively, you can remove the chicken skin and bones and shred the meat to use in other dishes.Top tips
Here is all my best advice for how you can make the BEST air fryer buffalo chicken legs:- Your chicken legs might cook faster or slower than the time suggested. Always check with a meat thermometer to ensure that the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F or 75°C before removing it from the air fryer.
- If you have a smaller air fryer, you might have to cook the chicken legs in several batches. Avoid overcrowding the basket in order to cook it all in one go, as this will prevent the chicken from cooking evenly.
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