Air Fryer Fried Chicken Legs

cooked Fried Chicken Legs at the bottom of an air fryer

These air fryer fried hen legs have tender meat on the within with crispy pores and skin on the surface. They’re an ideal choice for the fried hen lover who needs the style of conventional fried hen with much less oil.

cooked Fried Chicken Legs at the bottom of an air fryer

Why Make These:

  • No flour or deep fryer require: this crispy hen legs recipe (like my air fryer complete hen wings) makes use of baking powder, the key ingredient for crunchy pores and skin with out deep frying your hen legs in a seasoned flour combination or pot of oil.
  • Easy dinner recipe: this simple hen recipe makes use of easy substances and is prepared in lower than half-hour, making it excellent for weeknight dinners.
  • Pairs with any aspect dish: these cooked hen legs pair so effectively with any aspect dish. These fried hen sides are a few of my favourite sides to make scrumptious meals.

Ingredients Needed

These simple air fryer hen legs require just some substances. Be positive to get the precise ingredient quantities from the recipe card on the finish of the submit.

  • Chicken legs – I’m utilizing uncooked hen legs with the pores and skin on.
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Smoked paprika
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Baking powder – for finest outcomes, remember to use baking powder and never baking soda.
  • Olive oil – You can use any kind of oil that you simply like, however I choose olive or avocado oil. You also can use these oils in cooking spray type.
ingredients needed for air fryer fried chicken legs: smoked paprika, garlic powder, baking powder, black pepper, olive oil, sea salt, and chicken legs in separate bowls and dishes

How to Make Fried Chicken Legs in an Air Fryer

There are 4 essential steps for this simple recipe:

  1. Make the spice rub. Mix the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and baking powder in a small bowl. This will assist the spices coat the hen evenly.
  2. Prepare the hen legs: Use a paper towel to take away additional moisture from the hen legs. Then, season the meat with the spice combine. Be positive to make use of the entire spice combine because it helps the hen get its crispy exterior and taste.
  3. Add the hen legs to the air fryer: Place the hen legs within the air fryer basket in a single layer – this helps the recent air flow into. I are likely to drizzle my oil on the hen, however you can even use oil that’s in a twig mister.
  4. Cook. Air fry the hen at 400F for 12-Quarter-hour, then flip it. Air fry for one more 12-Quarter-hour, till the hen is cooked during (a digital meat thermometer inserted into the thickest a part of the hen ought to have an inside temperature of 165 levels.)
step-by-step instructions for how to make air fryer fried chicken legs - four photos showing mixing the seasoning, adding it to raw chicken legs, adding the chicken legs to the air fryer basket, and flipping the chicken legs halfway through cooking

Cooking Tips and Tricks

To make one of the best air fryer hen legs, use the following pointers:

  • Coat the hen with the spice combination: Be positive to make use of the entire spice combine and coat all the floor of the hen because it helps the hen get its crispy exterior and provides scrumptious taste.
  • Start with the meat at room temperature: cooking hen that’s nearer to room temperature helps it to have juicy meat.
  • Cook till crisp: Chicken legs usually take 20-25 minutes within the air fryer. But, this recipe requires that you simply prepare dinner the meat longer. This permits the hen pores and skin have a crispy texture. Since it’s darkish meat, the 5 additional minutes isn’t sufficient to dry it out.
  • Let the hen relaxation: Before serving your hen, ensure you let it relaxation for 5-10 minutes. That will enable the meat to reabsorb all of its tasty juices, making it moister and extra flavorful.

How to Store and Reheat Leftover Chicken Legs

This air fryer hen will final within the fridge for at the very least 3 days. Make positive to retailer it in an hermetic container. Reheat in a 375F air fryer for five minutes, or a 375F oven for 10 minutes.

FAQs

How lengthy ought to I prepare dinner hen legs in an air fryer?

It is determined by the dimensions of the hen legs, the temperature of your air fryer, and the way you need the pores and skin. Generally, you need to prepare dinner hen legs in an air fryer for 20-25 minutes at 375°F (190°C). However, I take advantage of 400 levels and an extended cooking time to get fried hen outcomes with out flour.

Do I have to marinate the hen earlier than air frying it?

No. For this recipe, you don’t want to marinate the hen. It will truly create moisture that can maintain the hen pores and skin from turning into crispy. For added taste, remember to use all the spice combination.

Do I have to preheat my air fryer earlier than cooking the hen legs?

You ought to preheat your air fryer earlier than cooking the hen legs. This helps guarantee even cooking and crispy pores and skin. Preheat your air fryer to the specified temperature for 3-5 minutes earlier than including the hen legs.

How can I get crispy pores and skin on my air fryer fried hen legs?

To get crispy pores and skin in your air fryer fried hen legs, be sure to pat the hen dry earlier than seasoning it with the baking powder spice combine and cooking it. You additionally need to evenly coat the hen in a skinny layer of oil or cooking spray to assist it crisp up. Finally, remember to flip the hen legs midway by way of cooking to make sure that each side get crispy.

Fried Chicken Legs plated with slices of lemon

Best Air Fryer Fried Chicken Sides

Make a simple meal with these air fryer fried hen legs utilizing the next aspect dish recipes:

Fried Chicken Legs at the bottom of an air fryer

Air Fryer Fried Chicken Legs

Crispy Air Fryer Fried Chicken Legs recipe with easy substances. Perfect solution to make fried hen and not using a deep fryer, flour combination or pot of oil.

Prep Time 3 minutes

Cook Time 27 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Calories 143 kcal

  • 1.5 lbs Chicken Legs this was about 4-6 drumsticks
  • 1/2 tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
  • 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1.5 tbsp Baking Powder
  • Olive Oil about 2 tbsp of normal oil or 3-4 sprays of cooking spray. You also can use avocado oil.
  • Remove the hen legs from the fridge and pat them dry with paper towels. Removing as a lot moisture as doable helps to have crispy hen leg pores and skin.
  • Mix the ocean salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and baking powder in a small bowl or ramekin.
  • Sprinkle the seasoning combination on the wings and toss to coat evenly – it’s necessary to get the spices everywhere in the hen legs – not solely does it season the meat, nevertheless it additionally helps with crisping the pores and skin from the highest to the underside.
  • Place the hen legs in a single layer within the air fryer basket. Drizzle half the olive oil on high. If they don’t all match, please put simply sufficient of the hen in order that they’re flat.
  • Cook the hen legs for Quarter-hour at 400 levels.
  • Use tongs to show the hen. Drizzle the remaining olive oil on high.
  • Cook for 12-Quarter-hour extra, relying on how crispy you favor them.

Calories: 143kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 11gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 761mgPotassium: 145mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 142IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 184mgIron: 1mg

1 Shares
Pin1
Share
Tweet
Share