Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Diet: High-Protein
Ingredients
Scale
- 6–8 chicken drumsticks (about 1.5 to 2 lbs)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Start by patting the chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. This is a crucial step to ensure the skin gets crispy. Place the chicken in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper over the chicken. Toss everything together until each drumstick is evenly coated in oil and spices.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 minutes. Place the seasoned chicken drumsticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they are not touching or overlapping too much, as airflow is key to crispiness. You may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Set the air fryer to cook at 400°F for 10 minutes. Once the timer goes off, open the basket and use tongs to flip each drumstick over. This ensures the heat hits all sides of the chicken equally. Cook for another 10 minutes.
- After 20 minutes of total cooking time, the chicken should be golden and crispy. Use a pastry brush to coat each drumstick generously with your BBQ sauce. Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes. This short burst of heat caramelizes the sugars in the sauce, making it sticky and delicious without burning it.
- Ensure the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165°F (74°C) using a meat thermometer. Remove the drumsticks from the air fryer and let them rest for 3 to 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, keeping the meat moist.