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For those who enjoy quick and easy chicken dinners, this Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks recipe is sure to be a hit! Not only is this dish likely to be a favorite among kids, but it’s also a great option for carb-conscious adults, with only one carb per drumstick!
Don’t forget to PIN Air Fryer Drumsticks to try the recipe later!
Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks are a tasty and kid-friendly main dish that will make you fall in love with your Air Fryer! These drumsticks are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and quick and easy to make with ingredients you likely already have on hand. Plus, keeping an eye out for sales on chicken legs can make this a budget-friendly meal as well.
Kids will love this easy Air Fryer chicken that they can eat with their hands, while adults who enjoy drumsticks will appreciate the low carb content!
This recipe is so simple that you might want to double it and make extra drumsticks to have on hand for snacking or a second meal later in the week.
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
(This is just a list of ingredients; please scroll down for the complete printable recipe. Alternatively, you can use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page to go directly to the recipe.)
Can you make the Air Fryer Drumsticks spicier?
We kept the seasonings relatively mild for these Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks to cater to kids. However, if you prefer a bit more spice, consider adding a small amount of Cayenne Pepper, Old Bay Seasoning, or Buffalo Chicken Seasoning to the seasoning blend.
What is Sweet Paprika?
The term “sweet paprika” simply refers to non-spicy paprika. (If you prefer it spicy, you can use Sharp Paprika or Hot Paprika for this recipe.)
Do you need to trim the chicken drumsticks?
Trimming the skin when making Air Fryer Drumsticks is optional, but many packages of drumsticks have excess skin that can be trimmed with kitchen shears to enhance the appearance.
What Air Fryer Did I Use?
I highly recommend the Cuisinart Convection Air Fryer Toaster Oven, which is the model I use regularly. This air fryer has a spacious basket that can accommodate 8 drumsticks for this recipe. It’s easy to use and convenient to have on the counter.
Want more Low-Carb Air Fryer Recipes?
If you’re a fan of Air Fryers, check out my extensive round-up of 100 Keto Air Fryer Recipes for plenty of delicious ideas from various bloggers. You can also visit Air Fryer Recipes to explore all the Air Fryer recipes on this site.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks:
(Scroll down for the complete printable recipe with nutritional information.)
- I trimmed any loose pieces of skin with Kitchen Shears.
- Place drumsticks in a Ziploc bag in a single layer.
- Mix dry seasonings in a small prep bowl.
- Preheat Air Fryer for 5 minutes at 400F/205C (or the highest temperature if your Air Fryer doesn’t reach that).
- Sprinkle seasoning mix into the Ziploc bag, coating both sides of the chicken. Squeeze the bag to ensure all drumsticks are coated.
- Add olive oil and squeeze the bag again to coat the chicken pieces with oil.
- Arrange chicken pieces in the Air Fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook drumsticks for 8 minutes without opening the Air Fryer.
- Remove the basket, turn over each drumstick carefully with tongs.
- Return the basket to the Air Fryer and cook for another 8 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165F/75C.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
- Extra drumsticks can be refrigerated and reheated later.
Make it a low-carb meal:
Air Fryer Drumsticks are a great option for a low-carb meal. Pair them with sides like Twice Baked Cauliflower, Lemony Green Beans, Loaded Cauliflower Mock Potato Salad, Easy Cheesy Baked Keto Cauliflower, or Roasted Broccoli with Lemon and Pecorino-Romano Cheese.
Want more ideas for Air Fryer Chicken?
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks with skin
- 1 tsp. Spike Seasoning
- 1 tsp. Poultry Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp. sweet paprika (see notes)
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 2 T olive oil
Instructions
- Most chicken drumsticks will have some loose skin sticking up; I trimmed that with Kitchen Shears.
- Put the drumsticks in a Ziploc bag, arranging in a single layer as much as possible.
- Mix the Spike Seasoning, Poultry Seasoning, Paprika, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a small prep bowl. Stir together so all the seasonings are well-combined.
- Sprinkle the seasoning mix into the Ziploc bag, putting some seasoning on both sides of the chicken. Then squeeze the bag so all the chicken drumsticks are well-coated with spices.
- Then add the olive oil and squeeze bag again until chicken pieces are all somewhat coated with the oil.
- Arrange chicken pieces in the Air Fryer basket in a single layer. (If your Air Fryer model won’t hold this many chicken pieces cook in two batches.)
- Cook the drumsticks for 8 minutes without opening the Air Fryer.
- Then remove the basket and use tongs to carefully turn over each drumstick. (Notice the bottom side is also partly cooked at this point.)
- Put basket back in the Air Fryer and cook about 8 minutes more, or until an Instant Read Meat Thermometer registers 165F or 75C.
- Serve hot and enjoy.
- Extra drumsticks can be refrigerated and reheated later for a few minutes in the Air Fryer.
Preheat Air Fryer for about 5 minutes at 400F/205C. (If you have an Air Fryer that doesn’t get that hot, just use the highest temperature.)
Notes
Sweet Paprika simply means the paprika is not spicy, and it may just be called Paprika for some brands.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8
Serving Size
1
Amount Per Serving
Calories 200Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 8gCholesterol 116mgSodium 425mgCarbohydrates 1gFiber 0gSugar 0gProtein 22g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Air Fryer Drumsticks are a good main dish for any low-carb or Low-Glycemic diet, including Keto. Chicken Drumsticks aren’t recommended for the original South Beach Diet, due to the fat in the skin.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Air Fryer Recipes to see more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
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