This amazing air fryer drumsticks recipe produces perfect chicken drumsticks with crispy skin and tender, juicy meat. They are so easy to make, and perfect for a quick and easy dinner.
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I used to only cook chicken drumsticks on the grill, but after I tried making them in my air fryer this is now my favorite way to prepare them. It's super easy, and the result is always perfect, with juicy chicken and perfect, crispy skin.
This recipe also includes my FAVORITE chicken marinade ever, which is made with Greek yogurt and plenty of seasoning. It's super simple, but really flavorful, and it gives the chicken the best texture.
I have previously shared some other air fryer chicken recipes, and I'm really excited to share this one, as it's such a staple dish in our household. We cook chicken drumsticks as a snack for game night or movie night, or for dinner served with our favorite sides.
Ingredients
To make this dish you will of course need raw chicken drumsticks. Additionally, you will need Greek yogurt, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder and chili powder.
You will of course also need an air fryer! I use this version, which comes with an air fryer basket, but any air fryer will do. You should also get some simple tongs. I use them to flip whatever I cook in the air fryer, whether it's chicken drumsticks or air fryer steaks.
Instructions
Here is how you make this super simple dish:
Combine Greek yogurt and spices in a bowl to make a marinade
Coat the chicken, and leave it to marinate in a refrigerator for 30 minutes to 3 hours.
Preheat your air fryer to 400 °F / 200 °C and place the drumsticks in the basket. Make sure not to overcrowd the basket, and leave some space between each drumstick. If you're cooking a large amount and have a small air fryer, you might have to cook the drumsticks in multiple batches.
Air fry for about 30 minutes, turning them after 15 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to keep track of the temperature of the chicken. It's cooked to perfection when the internal temperature reaches exactly 165 °F / 74 °C.
Top tips
Here are my top tips to get the chicken just right:
- Use a meat thermometer. The exact cooking time required can vary, but your meat thermometer will tell you exactly when the chicken is done, without having to worry about it being undercooked or dry. I use this one from Amazon.
- If possible, leave the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to several hours. This will give the chicken a better flavor. If you are pressed for time, you can also cook the chicken immediately.
Serving suggestions
Serve these drumsticks with a dipping sauce as a snack, or as a main for lunch or dinner. I love to serve my chicken with a healthy side dish, and these are some of my favorites:
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges - Crispy potato wedges goes PERFECT with chicken!
- French Potato Salad - This fantastic potato salad is packed with fresh herbs and a lovely dressing.
- Carrot Rice - Rice cooked with shredded carrots is so flavorful, and healthy too.
- Red Beans and Coconut Rice - One of my favorite rice recipes, this is a classic to serve with chicken.
- Mozzarella Stuffed Mushrooms - Cheesy mushrooms are incredible, and an excellent side to serve with drumsticks.
- Healthy Homemade Ranch Dip - Nothing is better than chicken dipped into ranch dressing. Make your own with this healthy, easy recipe.
Variations
The marinade in this recipe is incredible, but sometimes you might want to change it up a bit. Luckily, you can vary your drumsticks quite easily by simply changing up the ingredients you season it with. Here are some of my favorite variations:
Olive oil, dried herbs and lemon juice: Mediterranean style Greek lemon chicken is a light but flavorful version of the dish. I love to make this in the summer and serve it with some new potatoes or a salad for lunch or dinner.
Sweet and spicy: Vegetable oil, sriracha and honey make a simple but fantastic sauce which you can use as a glaze for the chicken drumsticks.
BBQ sauce: Use a homemade or store bought BBQ sauce as a marinade. You can also use the same sauce as a dipping sauce to serve with the cooked chicken!
Dairy free version: If you want to make a similar marinade, just dairy free, you can use dairy free or vegan natural yogurt. This is a great substitute for Greek yogurt.
Leftovers
Leftover air fryer chicken drumsticks can be stored in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in a microwave or air fryer, and serve them warm as lunch or dinner, or with a dipping sauce as a snack.
I also like to remove the skin and bones from any leftover chicken and shred the meat. This means you can add the chicken to other dishes such as southern style chicken salad or sandwiches.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, it's perfectly safe to add raw drumsticks to an air fryer.
The trick to get crispy skin on drumsticks is to marinate the meat and cook it on relatively high heat (but not so high that the chicken burns).
You might also like these recipes
- Moroccan Roasted Turkey Drumstick
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Chicken Spedini
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Legs
Recipe
Air Fryer Drumsticks
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken drumsticks (1 kg)
- 5 tablespoons Greek yogurt
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Combine Greek yogurt and spices in a bowl to make a marinade
- Coat the chicken, and leave it to marinate in a refrigerator for 30 minutes to 3 hours.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 °F / 200 °C and place the drumsticks in the basket. Make sure not to overcrowd the basket, and leave some space between each drumstick. If you’re cooking a large amount and have a small air fryer, you might have to cook the drumsticks in multiple batches.
- Air fry for about 30 minutes, turning them after 15 minutes. Use a meat thermometer to keep track of the temperature of the chicken. It’s cooked to perfection when the internal temperature reaches exactly 165 °F / 74 °C.
Video
Notes
- Use a meat thermometer. The exact cooking time required can vary, but your meat thermometer will tell you exactly when the chicken is done, without having to worry about it being undercooked or dry. I use this one from Amazon.
- If possible, leave the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to several hours. This will give the chicken a better flavor. If you are pressed for time, you can also cook the chicken immediately.
- Leftover air fryer chicken drumsticks can be stored in a sealed container in a refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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