If you’re in the mood for some barbecue chicken drumsticks but don’t fancy firing up the BBQ why not cook them in the air fryer? They’re really easy to prepare and taste amazing.
What You Need
- 4 to 8 chicken drumsticks
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried rosemary
- 200ml BBQ sauce (use your favourite brand or homemade)
Side Note: You can use 2 to 3 teaspoons of a premade BBQ spice rub/mix if you have one instead of the seasonings above.
Making It
Prepare the Chicken Drumsticks
Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with kitchen paper to ensure the skin gets nice and crispy. In a bowl, combine the olive oil, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and dried rosemary. Add the chicken legs to the bowl and toss to coat them evenly with the seasoning mixture.
Pour about 150ml of the BBQ sauce over the chicken drumsticks, making sure they are all covered. Leave to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or longer/overnight if you have the time.
Place the chicken drumsticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they aren’t overlapping to allow for even cooking.
Air fry the Chicken
Air fry the chicken drumsticks at 200°C (390°F) for 20 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time (around 10 minutes), open the air fryer and flip the chicken drumsticks to ensure they cook evenly on all sides.
After 20 minutes, brush the chicken drumsticks with the remaining BBQ sauce. Make sure to coat them well on all sides. Cook for an additional 5 minutes. This will allow the sauce to caramelise and create a delicious glaze.
After 25 minutes, check if the chicken drumsticks are cooked through. They should have an internal temperature of 75°C (165°F). If they need more time, continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
If you are looking for more chicken recipes for the air fryer check these out for inspiration;
- Air Fryer Hunter’s Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken, Chorizo and New Potatoes
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast in Garlic Butter
- Air Fryer Chicken Kebabs
- Air Fryer Chicken Tikka Drumsticks
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
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Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried rosemary
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- 200 ml BBQ sauce use your favourite brand or homemade
Instructions
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with kitchen paper to ensure the skin gets nice and crispy.
- Season the Chicken: In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and dried rosemary. Add the chicken drumsticks to the bowl and toss to coat them evenly with the seasoning mixture.
- Add the sauce: Pour approx 150ml of the BBQ sauce over the chicken drumsticks, making sure they are all covered. Leave to marinate for at least 30 minutes, or longer/overnight if you have the time.
- Arrange in the Air Fryer: Place the seasoned chicken drumsticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they aren’t overlapping to allow for even cooking.
- Cook: Air fry the chicken drumsticks at 200°C (390°F) for 20 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time (around 10 minutes), open the air fryer and flip the chicken drumsticks to ensure they cook evenly on all sides.
- Add the remaining BBQ Sauce: After 20 minutes, brush the chicken drumsticks with the remaining BBQ sauce. Make sure to coat them well on all sides.
- Finish Cooking: Air fry for an additional 5 minutes. This will allow the sauce to caramelise and create a delicious glaze.
- Check for Doneness: Check if the chicken drumsticks are cooked through. They should have an internal temperature of 75°C (165°F). If they need more time, continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an estimate.
Roland
Saturday 22nd of June 2024
Very pleased.