Juicy Air Fryer Fried Chicken Legs – made with only 3 Tbsp butter but full of flavor and really easy to make. They’re tender and juicy inside and crispy on the outside. You have to try them!
These air fried chicken thighs are crispy on the outside and so juicy and tender on the inside! They taste like real fried chicken but are made using a healthier method with much less fat. Perfect for every fried chicken lover who whats to eat a bit healthier without losing flavor!
My husband loves fried chicken, especially the one from a chain with three letters. You know what I mean! I love it too but since we’re trying to eat healthier I experimented a bit with our new AirFryer and came up with this delicious recipe.
It tastes so good you won’t believe it’s made with much less fat! My husband loves this air fried chicken recipe!
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Our AirFryer (we own this one) is one of the most used appliances in our kitchen! It gets hot much quicker than the oven and it makes fries taste so much better than making them in the oven. Just put the fries in the basket, shake it every 5 minutes or so and you get delicious crispy fries.
What is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a small kitchen appliance that cooks food by circulating hot air around it with a mechanical fan at high speed, cooking the food and producing a crispy texture similar to frying, but without all the oil. It cooks food with 70% to 80% less oil than a traditional deep-fryer.
The Air Fryer is perfect for making small things like fries, fish fingers, or frozen chicken strips in it. You could even make a whole roast in it but I haven’t tried that yet.
You can preheat the AirFryer but I often don’t do that, it gets hot so quickly, so I don’t think it’s necessary. To clean it, I just put the basket which holds the food in the dishwasher or I clean it quickly with some hot water and pat it dry with kitchen towels. It’s really easy and quick! The basket is big enough for fries for 2-3 people, so if you are more you might need to do it twice but thin fries only take about 10 minutes.
How to make fried chicken in Airfryer
These air fried chicken legs are made with buttermilk and have a crispy and slightly spicy breadcrumb crust. They are so juicy and tender inside and make a great dinner or party snack. We often have them with Creamy Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes and homemade coleslaw.
Making homemade fried chicken in an Air Fryer is super easy and quick:
- Put chicken with buttermilk in a ziplock bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Combine spices and breadcrumbs in a bowl. Dip chicken pieces in the breadcrumb mixture.
- Put the chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer (don’t overcrowd the basket) and fry for 20 minutes.
- Brush with butter after 10 minutes.
- Check for doneness and serve.
Looking for more healthier dinner ideas?
Tools used for making this air fryer recipe:
Air Fryer: This is the model I use and love! It has a big enough basket for a family of 3 or four and is easy to use.
Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko Breadcrumbs work best for this recipe.
Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lbs chicken drumsticks, (4-6 pieces)
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
Spice Mixture
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp celery salt
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3 Tbsp butter melted
Instructions
- Place the chicken drumsticks with the skin on in a plastic bag and pour the buttermilk into the bag. Squeeze the air out and seal the bag. Let marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes minimum up to several hours.
- In a shallow bowl combine the panko breadcrumbs, flour, baking powder, and spices.
- Preheat AirFryer to 390°F (200°C) (or don’t preheat it and just fry the chicken 2 minutes longer).
- Remove the chicken from the buttermilk, shake off excess buttermilk, and dredge the drumsticks in the seasoned flour mixture to coat on all sides.
- Put the chicken in one layer in the Air Fryer basket and air fry for 10 minutes.
- Then pause the AirFryer and brush drumsticks with melted butter on both sides. Turn the chicken over, lower the temperature to 350°F (180°C) and air fry for 7-10 more minutes or until internal temperature reads 165°F (79°C). Depending on the Air Fryer you use this time can be longer or shorter. Always make sure chicken is completely cooked through.
- Remove from Airfryer and let the drumsticks rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Information
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If you’ve tried this or any other of my recipes, don’t forget to rate the recipe and to leave me a comment. I love hearing from you!
Tami says
Can I use regular bread crumbs instead of panko?
Julia says
Yes, you can use regular bread crumbs.
Tiffany says
Absolutely delicious! All of my kids finished dinner tonight. This was my first time using the air fryer for chicken, glad I found this recipe! Thank you!!!
Lexi says
Can I use shake and bake in my air fryer? For chicken
Phyllis Scruggs says
Can’t wait to try the air fryer wings recipe.
Jackie Pritchard says
Made this recipe many times and it is great. Has anyone made it with chicken wings? How long did you cook it?
Julia says
So happy you like it, Jackie! Have you tried my Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe?
Charlotte Koubek says
Great receipe crispy on the outside and moist inside. Was quick and easy, however, I didn’t have any buttermilk so I used coconut milk added a small amount of powdered creamer and a small amount of pickle juice. Worked out fine and was delish. It was raining so I did not want to drive to a store for buttermilk and used what I had on hand. I have a 3.5 quart air fryer so I cooked 3 at a time, this made them extra crispy and did not take but 22 minutes for each set of 3 drumsticks
Lyle Rubin says
Is there a dairy free alternative I can use to buttermilk? This is my first time making fried chicken, but could I just use a beaten egg instead? (Not to marinate of course, just to get the seasoning to stick)
Julia says
I would not recommend using an egg. I haven’t tried this myself but I found a dairy-free alternative on an allergy website: Use your favorite non-dairy milk (1/2 cup) and combine it with 2 tsp lemon juice or vinegar. Let it sit for 10 minutes and then use as a replacement for the buttermilk. Hope this helps!
Claudia Thibodeau says
Haven’t tried my air fryer yesterday just got but have to have heart healthy and low carb recipes.
Martha Pfaff says
Just received my air fryer.. Would love to have more recipies and will be trying the chicken drumsticks this weekend.
margie clark says
I love my Go USA air fryer and i appreciate the great recipe info but I am doing the MFP and need to get nutritional info on two drumsticks such as calories, fat and carbs in order to make my entry. Can u help me?
Julia says
You can find nutritional information on any recipe googling “recipe calorie calculator” you’ll find sites like this https://www.verywellfit.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4157076
Cpollard says
I replace breadcrumbs with pork rind crumbs (using food processor), it’s delicious for anything you want to bread and zero carbs!
. LAURA YBARRONDO says
Do you have to use butter milk ?
Julia says
Yes, for the best result I recommend to use buttermilk. You can also make your own!
Jackie Pritchard says
I have this recipe on my favorites list. Gonna make it tonight. Simply Delicious.
Elizabeth Fuller says
Can you use flour on the chicken for more of a fried chicken taste?
Julia says
I recommend using a mixture of flour and panko breadcrumbs for the best taste!
Irene Slorp says
Happy happy I ran across this recipe. Best ever. I am using behave air fryer. First time my cuisinart air fryer.
Delicious.
Crystal says
We love our air fryer we don’t have this on but it was a gift and supper cooks so much faster
Vicky says
Could I use anything other than buttermilk do you think? (I’m not a fan)
Julia says
There isn’t really an alternative but you won’t really taste the buttermilk. So even if you’re not a fan I would recommend using it. – Julia
Vicky says
Righto, I’m off to the supermarket tomorrow – I’ll let you know how I get on ?
Cassandra says
Pickle juice. Both me and chick fila swear by it.
Laurie Huisman says
Instead of buttermilk??
Z man says
Instead of buttermilk, I use whole milk and add white vinegar. You will earn the best ratio by practice. The vinegar works with the whole milk to produce a very similar non-buttermilk alternative!
Connie Freund says
The chicken was awesome! I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference from the fried in oil version from this. I love my fried chicken even more now because I don’t feel guilty about the fat!!!
Also, it was so easy to make. ?
Julie Carlson says
The chicken I made was easy and fabulous…then made french in my air fryer (Nuwave Brio 6 qt.) But I can’t stand the smell in my house ! I am hoping it’s because it’s new… it’s a burning plastic smell. I tried the air fryer because 1. My daughter loves hers and 2. I didn’t like the smell in my house after using my deep fryer…so I am no further ahead. Has anyone else have this problem and does it go away?
Julia says
I’m happy you enjoyed the chicken, Julie! I don’t own the air fryer you mentioned so I don’t have any advice but I just did a quick google search and there are many people who also experience the same plastic smell problem :-(
Christina N Davis says
I got the 10 qt and first few times i used mine it smelled too. But it did go away after several uses. I love my nuwave!
michele says
Ive been on the fence about an air fryer, which is conveniently still sitting in the closet…. I m kind of loving how you mention how easy they are to clean … Going to have to hop off and give it a whirl now!
Amanda Finks says
I just got an air fryer for Christmas. This recipe is awesome! :)