Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Prepare to be amazed by these air fryer chicken legs, seasoned to perfection with a simple blend of ingredients and cooked to absolute excellence.
These delectable drumsticks are incredibly juicy with a skin that boasts an addictively crispy texture. It’s a culinary triumph that never fails to excite me.
The harmony of flavors, precise timing, and ideal temperature come together to create a meal that’s nothing short of extraordinary. My trusty air fryer has become an indispensable kitchen companion, and recipes like this are the reason why.
Making Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Start With Simple Ingredients
I take pleasure in making recipes that requires common ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. For this particular dish, we blend brown sugar, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, onion and garlic powder, ground mustard, and a pinch of cayenne in a large zip-top bag.
Then, we add a tablespoon of vegetable oil and six chicken legs to the mix. Shake it all together thoroughly and let it marinate in the refrigerator. How long should you marinate it? If you can manage at least an hour, you won’t be disappointed.
And if you can let it marinate overnight, the results are even more impressive!
Chicken Legs Are Easy To Make In The Air Fryer
Chicken legs are easy to cook in an air fryer. The key is to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees (F). If you don’t have a quick-read kitchen thermometer, I highly recommend getting one – it’s a game-changer for cooking perfection.
The air fryer is the ideal tool for swiftly cooking chicken legs, rendering them juicy on the inside while achieving an impeccable crispy skin. The beauty of this recipe lies in the fact that you don’t need to broil or grill; simply let the air fryer and the ingredients do all the work.
How Long to Cook Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Start with a preheated air fryer, then use the “air fry” setting at 380 degrees (F) for 18-20 minutes, making sure to turn the chicken legs halfway through the cooking time.
Smaller chicken legs will be closer to 18 minutes, while larger ones may take around 20 minutes. However, always double-check with a quick-read thermometer to ensure an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees (F).
You Don’t Need to Use Sauce
For this recipe, we forgo the use of sauce during cooking. The blend of ingredients provides a delightful barbecue flavor, allowing the natural chicken flavors to shine through. If you desire extra sauciness, you can certainly add your favorite BBQ sauce during the last 5 minutes of cooking. But honestly, I doubt you’ll find it necessary.
Explore More Delectable Recipes
If you love this recipe, you’ll undoubtedly like some of our other air fryer chicken creations:
Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Legs: Take your homemade chicken legs to the next level with this carefully seasoned and air-fried wing recipe – no messy sauces required. These wings are sure to be a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs: Using boneless, skinless chicken thighs and a handful of simple ingredients, we create mouthwatering chicken thighs that are perfectly suited for the air fryer.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders: Crispy and delightful, making chicken tenders in an air fryer is the ultimate way to savor these treats. We use a straightforward breading and boneless, skinless chicken breasts to craft tenders that rival those served in restaurants.
Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 chicken legs
- 3 tbs brown sugar
- 1.5 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbs vegetable oil
Instructions
- Add all dry ingredients to a large zip top bag and shake to mix well. Add chicken to bag with vegetable oil and shake until all the chicken in coated.
- Let chicken marinate in refrigerator for at least 1 hour. The longer the better. Overnight is best!
- Preheat air fryer for 5 minutes at 380 degrees (F). Add chicken to air fryer and use “air fry” setting at 380 degrees (F) for 18-20 minutes, turning chicken halfway through. Internal temperature of chicken should be at least 165 degrees (F).
