This scrumptious dish features succulent chicken drumsticks that are incredibly tender and mouthwatering on the inside, while having a golden, crispy, herb-infused skin on the outside. All made with ease in your air fryer.
Simple Ingredients
We start with 8 fresh chicken legs (drumsticks). If you have frozen chicken legs, I recommend thawing them first for best results. Make sure the chicken is skin-on, as that’s where we get a ton of flavor. I like to look for good, plump chicken legs that have been cut and packaged well. And the great thing is, they’re usually very affordable!
I think you’ll find most of the rub ingredients are already in your pantry or spice rack.
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Oregano
- Ground Mustard
- Paprika
- Salt and pepper
If you’re missing any of the ingredients, you can just leave it out. But you’ll get the full flavor profile with this awesome mix of ingredients.
Easy Preparation
Everyone loves a simple recipe and this one certainly fits in that category. Coat the chicken with a little olive oil, add the seasoning mix, and get the chicken good and coated with everything. Really, that’s it!
Air Fry at 400°(F) for 20 Minutes
Cooking the chicken couldn’t be any easier as well. Preheat your air fryer at 400°(F) for 5 minutes. When it’s ready, add the chicken legs to the basket or tray, and set to air fry at 400°(F) for 20 minutes. Turn the chicken legs a couple of times during the cooking time to assure even roasting. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 165°(F) when done. You can always add more time if needed.
Let Rest and Serve
When the chicken is done, carefully remove to a plate and let rest for a couple of minutes before serving. This gives the natural juices a chance to redistribute.
Adjusting the Recipe
This recipe is easily adjusted. If you want to double it, double all the spices and do two batches. The reason is that we don’t want to overcrowd the air fryer. The hot air needs to circulate around the meat to achieve the crisping effect. You don’t want to stack the chicken or have it all jammed together. If you want to cut the recipe in half, simply use half the ingredients.
Storage and Reheating
You can store leftover chicken in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a microwave for 1-2 minutes. You can also reheat in an air fryer at 350°(F) for about 5 minutes.
You Might Also Like…
If you like simple, straightforward recipes like this one, give these a try.
- Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Wings – Easy seasoning blend and ready in under 30 minutes.
- Best Damn Air Fryer Whole Chicken – You will not believe how amazing a whole chicken is when made in an air fryer!
- Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas – Here’s a whole meal that’s the absolute perfect recipe for your air fryer.
Recipe
Air Fryer Herb Roasted Chicken Legs
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2-3 servings
Description
Chicken legs roasted to perfection in your air fryer. With a savory seasoning blend made with simple ingredients, you can make the most tender, juicy and succulent chicken drumsticks in about 20 minutes.
Ingredients
- 6 chicken legs
- 1 tsp oregano, dried
- 1 tsp crushed dried rosemary
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp thyme, dried
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp ground mustard
- ½ tsp ground sage
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Mix all dry ingredients in a small dish.
- Place chicken legs in a large zip-top bag or a large bowl. Add olive oil and coat chicken well.
- Add seasoning blend to chicken and mix well to coat all the chicken.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°(F) for 5 minutes
- Add seasoned chicken to air fryer basket or tray. Set to air fry at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until internal temperature of chicken is 165°(F).
- Carefully remove chicken and let rest for a couple of minutes before serving.
- Prep Time: 5 min
- Cook Time: 20 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Cynthia says
My kid LOVES this chicken. Simple and quick – perfect for the working parent. If my kid loves it, it’s a good one. It’s a great base-recipe as well, where I can add/remove seasonings to my liking/what’s available in my pantry. I’ve made this once a week, since finding this recipe and it’s always a win.
RecipeTeacher says
I love when a recipe is kid approved! Thanks for the feedback, Cynthia!
Beth says
Needed a quick meal for my family last night. This was perfect. So easy to prepare and cook. Added an extra 10 minutes using my air fryer Tovalo oven.
Patrick says
This was easy, and fantastic. I added some baby potatoes to the fryer basket, and the result was heavenly!
Debbie says
Can you make these in the air fryer with the skin removed. I would love to try this and have never put chicken Drumsticks in the air fryer. Thank you
RecipeTeacher says
Yes you can. Just do everything the same.
Lise says
hi I made this tonight… so so so delicious!~ thank you for posting it… will make this again!
Linda Thielfoldt says
Made this for dinner tonight. Great flavor and timing was just 3 minutes longer in my Cuisinart AF. Thank you.