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Flavorful air fryer chicken legs on a plate

Air Fryer Chicken Legs

4.57 from 57 votes
Golden, crispy air fryer chicken legs with a delicious sweet and smoky seasoning. Ultra flavorful, super crispy skin, and juicy meat inside!
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 18 minutes
Total: 28 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
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Ingredients
  

  • 8 to 10 bone-in, skin-on chicken legs/drumsticks (about 2 1/4 pounds)
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • Chopped fresh cilantro or parsley or serving

Instructions
 

  • With paper towels, pat the chicken legs dry, and place in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with the oil.
  • In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, mustard, and cayenne. Sprinkle over the chicken, then toss to evenly coat.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Arrange a single layer of the drumsticks in the basket.
  • Air fry chicken legs for 10 minutes, then slide out the basket and flip the legs. Return to the air fryer and cook for 8 additional minutes, until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches at least 165 degrees F when a meat thermometer is inserted at the thickest part without touching the bone (I remove mine around 190 degrees F and it is still very juicy. The extra time ensures the skin is nice and crisp). Transfer to a plate and let rest 5 minutes. Serve hot, sprinkled with chopped cilantro or parsley as desired.

Notes

  • TO STORE: Refrigerate chicken in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days. 
  • TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm leftovers on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F or in the microwave. 
  • TO FREEZE: Freeze chicken in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1(of 4)Calories: 359kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 24gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 135mgPotassium: 330mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 680IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg

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