Description
Crispy and flavorful air fryer chicken drumsticks seasoned with a smoky paprika blend, garlic, and herbs. This easy recipe delivers juicy chicken with a perfectly crisp skin in just over 20 minutes using an air fryer—ideal for a quick weeknight dinner or a satisfying snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Spices and Seasonings
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Main Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken drumsticks (about 5–6 pieces)
- 1 ½ tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 400ºF and let it preheat while you prepare the seasoning mixture.
- Prepare Seasoning: In a small bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Add cayenne pepper if you like a bit of heat.
- Season the Drumsticks: Place the chicken drumsticks into a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken and toss well until each drumstick is evenly coated with oil and spices.
- Arrange in Air Fryer Basket: Place the seasoned drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring the pieces do not overlap for even cooking.
- Cook the Chicken: Air fry the drumsticks at 400ºF for 12 minutes on one side. Flip the drumsticks over and continue to air fry for another 10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 175ºF.
- Serve: Remove the chicken drumsticks when cooked through and crispy. Serve hot with your favorite side dishes and enjoy a quick, delicious meal.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, pat the chicken dry before seasoning to remove excess moisture.
- If your air fryer basket is small, cook the drumsticks in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness; chicken should reach 175ºF internal temperature for safety.
- Adjust cayenne pepper quantity according to your preferred spice level or omit for mild flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 22 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: air fryer chicken, chicken drumsticks, crispy chicken, quick chicken recipe, healthy chicken, easy dinner
