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Air Fryer Panko Breaded Fried Chicken Drumsticks (Legs)

Air Fryer Panko Breaded Fried Chicken Drumsticks (Legs) is a quick and easy, kid-friendly recipe that only requires a handful of ingredients, including, buttermilk, to produce crispy and crunchy chicken.  This post will demonstrate how to cook chicken drumsticks using your Power Air Fryer, Cooks Essentials, or any air fryer brand for this recipe. Use fresh or frozen chicken legs.

air fryer chicken drumsticks on a white plate
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This post was originally published in January 2019. It has since been updated.

FOR THE FULL LIST OF INGREDIENTS AND COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONS, PLEASE SEE THE RECIPE CARD AT THE END OF THIS POST. BEFORE YOU SCROLL, THERE’S IMPORTANT INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG POST.

buttermilk and raw chicken drumsticks in a glass bowl

How To Cook Chicken Drumsticks in an Air Fryer

  1. Drizzle the chicken drumsticks with buttermilk. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  2. Add the seasonings to the panko breadcrumbs.
  3. Coat the chicken in the seasoned panko breadcrumbs.
  4. Air fry the chicken for 20-24 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer
ingredients for air fryer chicken drumsticks in a glass bowl

How Do You Add Oil To An Air Fryer?

I like to use this oil spray bottle from Amazon. Spray the air fryer basket and the chicken. I use olive oil.

raw panko breaded chicken wings on a paper towel

How Long to Cook/Cook Time

The chicken will need 20-24 minutes to cook.

Can You Cook Fried Chicken in an Air Fryer?

Absolutely! Check out my Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, and Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets.

air fryer chicken drumsticks on a white plate

Is the Air Fryer Really Healthy?

Air frying cuts up to 80% of the fat of traditional frying, making it a much healthier alternative. Most deep-fried recipes require 2 to 3 cups of oil. With the air fryer, you need only a tablespoon. Because air-fried meals are so much lighter, you will feel less bogged down after eating them.

air fryer chicken drumsticks on a white plate
air fryer chicken drumsticks with green beans and mushrooms on a white plate
air fryer chicken drumsticks with green beans and mushrooms on a white plate

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Air Fryer Grilled Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

Popular Air Fryer Recipes

Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
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air fryer chicken drumsticks on a white plate
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5 from 3 votes

Air Fryer Panko Breaded Fried Chicken Drumsticks (Legs)

Air Fryer Panko Breaded Fried Chicken Drumsticks (Legs) is a quick and easy recipe that only requires a handful of ingredients, including, buttermilk, to produce crispy and crunchy chicken.  This post will demonstrate how to cook chicken drumsticks using your Power Air Fryer, Cooks Essentials, or any air fryer brand for this recipe. Use fresh or frozen chicken legs.
Save this recipe here.
Course dinner, lunch
Cuisine American
Keyword air fryer chicken drumsticks, air fryer chicken legs, air fryer fried chicken
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
buttermilk refrigeration 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 2 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 466kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Drizzle the chicken with the buttermilk. You can place the chicken in a bowl or in a Ziploc bag. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.
  • Add the panko breadcrumbs to a bowl with the chicken seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir. 
  • Dredge the buttermilk chicken in the panko breadcrumbs mixture. Spray both sides of the chicken with cooking oil.  
  • Place the chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes on 380 degrees.
  • Open the air fryer and flip the chicken. Cook the chicken for an additional 10-14 minutes until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use your judgment for how long the chicken should cook. I like to ensure my chicken has a crispy exterior, in addition to reaching the appropriate internal temperature.
  • Tip: If you notice the chicken has formed a crunchy brown crust on the outside but needs more time to cook internally, lower the temperature on the air fryer to 350 degrees and continue cooking the chicken until it reaches the appropriate internal temperature.
  • Cool before serving.

Video

Notes

Buttermilk is used in fried chicken recipes to brine the chicken and provide a crunchy crust. If you want to substitute it, try using eggs.
If using frozen chicken cook the drumsticks at the same temperature until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
Recipe Tools Used in this RecipeAs an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 466kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 56g | Fat: 18g
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Nutrition DataMacros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
5 from 3 votes
Recipe Rating




Cassandra

Monday 31st of May 2021

Super yummy. I did marinate in pickle juice instead of buttermilk due to casein allergy. So incredible and tasty

staysnatched

Friday 11th of June 2021

Glad you enjoyed it.

MarkB

Thursday 13th of May 2021

I'm getting ready to air fry some some drum sticks. . . but I'm trying cashew flour and nutritional yeast instead of the panko. . . Want to make it Keto.

staysnatched

Thursday 20th of May 2021

Thanks for sharing!

Laura

Sunday 7th of February 2021

Oh my goodness....my chicken legs never turn out this delicious and juicy when I grill them. These were amazing!!

I didn't have any buttermilk but wanted something "extra" besides just eggs/milk. So I took a page from Brandi's famous Chick-fil-a recipe and soaked the legs in pickle juice for 30 minutes beforehand. I don't know how much of a difference it made.....but it all tasted great!! Definitely will make again!

MarkB

Thursday 13th of May 2021

@Laura, You basically brined the chicken, it always comes out better that way. It does something to the proteins in the meat. . . Turkeys are amazing brined. . and pork is healthier for you if you brine it before cooking. Just remember to go light on any additional salt.

staysnatched

Monday 8th of February 2021

that's a great tip!

krissy

Saturday 9th of February 2019

oh my these turned out so incredible! I highly reccomend this recipe!

Meagen Brosius

Saturday 9th of February 2019

I love using the air fryer for recipes like this. SO quick and easy and a more healthy option! SO delish!