How to Cook Chicken Drumsticks in the Air Fryer: Step-by-Step Guide

Achieving perfectly crispy and juicy air fryer chicken drumsticks is surprisingly easy with these simple steps. Follow along to transform your raw chicken into a golden-brown masterpiece.

1. Prepare the Chicken: Begin by thoroughly patting the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. This crucial step removes surface moisture, which is the key to achieving that incredibly crispy skin. Once dry, brush each drumstick with a light, even coating of olive oil.

2. Season and Coat: Place the oiled drumsticks into a large Ziploc bag. In a separate small bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, and onion powder. Seal the bag, ensuring no air escapes, and then shake vigorously until all the drumsticks are evenly coated with the spice mixture. This method ensures every inch of chicken gets seasoned without a mess.

3. Load the Air Fryer: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, or brush a thin coating of olive oil to prevent sticking. Carefully place the seasoned drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket. It’s essential that they do not overlap or touch, as this allows for proper air circulation, which is vital for even cooking and maximum crispiness. You may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

4. Air Fry to Perfection: Cook the drumsticks in the air fryer at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 20 minutes. Be sure to flip them halfway through the cooking time (at about 10 minutes) to ensure both sides brown and crisp up evenly. The chicken is perfectly done when it reaches a beautiful golden-brown color, is visibly crispy, and an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part (without touching the bone) registers an internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Expert Tips for Perfectly Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

Achieving restaurant-quality crispy and juicy chicken drumsticks in your air fryer is simple when you follow these expert tips. These small details can make a big difference in your results!

• Pat Dry, Always: This cannot be stressed enough – removing as much moisture from the chicken skin as possible is the absolute key to crispiness. Excess moisture creates steam, which leads to soggy skin. Give your drumsticks a thorough pat-down with paper towels before applying oil and seasoning.
• Baking Powder, Not Baking Soda: This is truly the “secret weapon” for an unbelievably crispy exterior. Baking powder, when combined with salt, creates tiny air bubbles on the chicken’s surface. As the chicken cooks, these bubbles expand, increasing the surface area and drying out the skin, resulting in an incredibly crunchy crust. Ensure you’re using baking powder, as baking soda will leave an unpleasant metallic taste.
• Preheat Your Air Fryer: Just like a conventional oven, preheating your air fryer is crucial. A preheated air fryer allows the chicken to start cooking immediately at the desired high temperature, promoting a quick crisping of the skin and ensuring a more even cook throughout.
• Don’t Overcrowd the Basket: Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food. If the basket is too full, air cannot circulate properly, leading to uneven cooking and steaming instead of crisping. Always arrange drumsticks in a single layer without them touching. If you’re cooking for a crowd, cook in batches.
• Flip Halfway Through: Turning the chicken drumsticks halfway through the cooking time ensures that both sides are exposed to the direct hot air, allowing them to cook evenly and develop a consistent golden-brown, crispy crust.
• Check Doneness with a Thermometer: For food safety and to prevent dry, tough chicken, always use an instant-read meat thermometer. Insert it into the thickest part of the drumstick (avoiding the bone) to ensure it reaches a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Overcooking even by a few minutes can significantly impact juiciness.
• Adjust for Smaller Drumettes: If you’re using smaller drumettes (the mini drumsticks often found in wing sections), you will need to reduce the cooking time. Start checking for doneness around 12-15 minutes, always using your meat thermometer. For other small chicken pieces, this air fryer chicken wings recipe might be more suitable.
• Rest the Chicken: Once cooked, allow the drumsticks to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every bite is as tender and juicy as possible.

These crispy air fryer drumsticks are truly a standalone delight, but they also complement a variety of vegetable sides beautifully. Try serving them with air fryer green beans for a simple, healthy accompaniment or our crispy air fryer smashed potatoes for a hearty and satisfying meal.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers for Best Results

Don’t let any delicious crispy air fryer chicken drumsticks go to waste! Proper storage and reheating techniques will ensure your leftovers are almost as good as fresh.

To store any cooked drumsticks, allow them to cool completely to room temperature (this prevents condensation and sogginess). Then, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. For optimal freshness and to prevent them from drying out, try to consume them within this timeframe.

When it comes to reheating, the air fryer is your best friend for bringing back that coveted crispy texture. To reheat them, place the drumsticks back into a preheated air fryer at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 5-7 minutes. Keep an eye on them and cook until they are heated through and the skin has re-crisped to your liking. This method works wonderfully to revitalize the crunch without drying out the meat. While reheating in the microwave is possible for convenience, be aware that the drumsticks will likely lose their crispiness and may become a bit softer in texture.

Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks FAQs

Baking powder is truly the secret ingredient for achieving exceptionally crispy chicken skin. It works by creating a higher pH on the chicken’s surface, which breaks down proteins in the skin. This process, combined with its moisture-absorbing properties, helps to dry out the skin more effectively, leading to a much crispier result when cooked. As the chicken heats, the baking powder also creates tiny bubbles, further increasing the surface area for maximum crunch, all while ensuring the inside stays wonderfully juicy. Just make sure you’re using baking powder and not baking soda, which has a different chemical composition and can leave a bitter taste.

Yes, you can absolutely cook frozen chicken drumsticks straight from the freezer in your air fryer! The convenience is a huge plus. However, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time significantly. Generally, add an additional 5-10 minutes to the total cook time, or even up to 15-20 minutes depending on the size and thickness of the drumsticks. It’s crucial to ensure that the internal temperature reaches a safe 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) using an instant-read meat thermometer. For the best texture, most even seasoning, and guaranteed crispiness, thawing the chicken drumsticks in the refrigerator overnight before cooking is always recommended. This also allows the seasonings to adhere better and penetrate the meat more deeply.

To prevent sticking, always lightly spray or brush your air fryer basket with cooking oil before placing the chicken. Ensure you use an oil with a high smoke point, like avocado oil or grapeseed oil, or a dedicated air fryer cooking spray. Avoid aerosol sprays that can damage the non-stick coating of your air fryer over time. Also, making sure your basket is clean before cooking can help, as leftover residue can cause sticking.

Several factors can affect crispiness. First, ensure you thoroughly pat the chicken dry before seasoning. Second, verify you used baking powder, not baking soda. Third, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket; drumsticks need space for air to circulate. If they’re still not crispy after the recommended cooking time, try increasing the temperature to 400°F (200°C) for an additional 3-5 minutes, flipping them once, until they reach your desired crispness and internal temperature.