These Air Fryer Crispy Drumsticks come out juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and packed with flavor from the seasoning—no flour or breading needed. I’ve been air frying since 2017, and after hundreds of recipes, I can tell you this method is tried, true, and easy enough to pull off on a busy weeknight. No mess, no drama, just good, crispy chicken you can trust will hit every time.
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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.
Table of Contents
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
- Drizzle the chicken drumsticks with buttermilk. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Add the seasonings to the panko breadcrumbs.
- Coat the chicken in the seasoned panko breadcrumbs.
- Air fry the chicken for 20-24 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer.
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.
How Long to Cook/Cook Time
The chicken will need 20-24 minutes to cook.
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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.
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.
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
Air Fryer French Fries
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Air Fryer Zucchini Chips
Air Fryer PicklesAir Fryer Kale Chips
Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
Air Fryer Panko Breaded Fried Chicken Drumsticks (Legs)
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken drumsticks
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons McCormick's Grill Mates Montreal Chicken Seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- cooking oil spray
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.
Meagen Brosius says
I love using the air fryer for recipes like this. SO quick and easy and a more healthy option! SO delish!
krissy says
oh my these turned out so incredible! I highly reccomend this recipe!
Laura says
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!
staysnatched says
that's a great tip!
MarkB says
@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.
MarkB says
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 says
Thanks for sharing!
Cassandra says
Super yummy. I did marinate in pickle juice instead of buttermilk due to casein allergy. So incredible and tasty
staysnatched says
Glad you enjoyed it.