Crispy Air Fryer Drumsticks

This was my first foray into air frying. I had tried this recipe twice in the oven and loved the flavor, but I couldn’t get the crisp skin the way I wanted. Enter – a sale at Macy’s on air fryers. The key to getting the crispiness desired is to shake the chicken every 8 to 9 minutes to distribute it in the air fryer.

I couldn’t be happier with the results and I hope you are too.

Crispy Air Fryer Drumsticks

Seasoned and crisped to perfection in the air fryer. All the flavor and a fraction of the fat
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer, crispy, easy dinner
Servings: 2
Calories: 498kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Large Ziploc bag or a large bowl

Ingredients

  • 6 bone in chicken drumsticks
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp seasoned salt
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp grated lemon zest

Instructions

  • Grate the lemon zest
  • Mix together cumin, garlic powder, seasoned salt, smoked paprika and pepper and lemon zest
  • Pour spice mixture into a Ziploc bag or a large bowl and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • Rinse drumsticks and pat dry with a paper towel
  • Add drumsticks and toss (if it looks like it's not coating properly, add second tablespoon of olive oil. If using the Ziploc bag (the method I prefer), the shake vigorously and massage the spice into the chicken.
  • Set air fryer to 400°
  • Cook for 25 minutes, tossing every 9 minutes
  • Let sit for 5 minutes, then serve

Notes

I typically double the recipe but I find that about 5-6 pieces at a time work best in the air fryer

Nutrition

Calories: 498kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 209mg | Sodium: 1402mg | Potassium: 567mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 369IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!