Air fryer BBQ chicken drumsticks

Air fryer bbq chicken drumsticks are a delicious and fun dinner dish the whole family loves! This easy (and economical!) recipe uses bottled bbq sauce and just a handful of spices to make deliciously sweet and sticky chicken legs with crispy skin. They're ready to serve with your favorite barbecue side dishes in as little as 30 minutes!

Love chicken thighs more? Try my air fryer BBQ chicken thighs recipes. Just as delicious and easy.

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Summertime (or really, anytime!) is great for enjoying meaty pieces of skin-on and bone-in chicken coated in a sweet and peppery bbq sauce. This air fryer bbq chicken drumsticks recipe is the perfect way to enjoy a taste of summer all year long, with barely any effort!

As you are probably well aware by now, air frying is the best way to cook chicken in a fraction of the time needed for oven baking, and with way less hassle than outdoor grilling. The even, high-heat cooking power of this convenient appliance achieves a similar fork-tenderness and crispy skin. Right there on your countertop!

And as much as I love to air fry is how much kids and adult alike love to eat yummy drumsticks. (That's a LOT!) These handheld piece of chicken make any meal feel casual and fun. Bonus, they happen to be a budget-friendly protein, too!

raw chicken drumsticks in the white bowl

We keep things simple here and start by seasoning the drumsticks with a few staple spices, like pepper and paprika. They go right into the fry basket before basting with any type bottled barbecue sauce you want... Or homemade bbq sauce, if you like! In 30 minutes or less the chicken pieces have deliciously caramelized and crispy skin, with fall-off-the-bone tender meat.

Pair the chicken drumsticks with rustic Southern-style or classic outdoor barbecue side dishes. They go well with everything from warm comfort foods to chilled salads! However you choose to serve them, bbq drumsticks are sure to be a hit with family and friends.

raw drumsticks with seasoning in the white bowl

Recipe ingredients

8 Drumsticks: These are the bone-in pieces located at the bottom part of the chicken leg, below the thighs. They cook with the skin-on, which becomes wonderfully crisp and yummy in the air fryer.
Spices: We use a simple combination of crushed black pepper, smoky paprika, garlic powder, and salt.
BBQ sauce: Your favorite brand and type of bottled sauce. Any variety will work! Popular options include sweet, mesquite, peppery and spicy, tangy vinegar or bold mustard barbecue sauce.

Step by step instructions

Season the drumsticks with the pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and salt, making sure to coat both sides. Next, arrange the drumsticks in the air fryer basket in one layer. You want to make sure there is air to circulate in between.

Brush them generously with BBQ sauce. Set the air fryer to 400 degrees and cook the drumsticks about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, flip the drumsticks over and brush them again with BBQ sauce. Continue cooking for another 7-10 minutes until they're nicely caramelized and cooked through.

Leftovers and reheating

I recommend to store leftovers in the air tight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. If you don't have a container feel free to use a ziplock bag.

To reheat BBQ chicken drumsticks place them in the air fryer and reheat at the highest temperature (usually 400 degrees) for couple minutes. You can also reheat it in the microwave until heated through.

Frequently asked questions

Can I put raw chicken in the air fryer?

Yes, you can! It's perfectly safe to air fry raw chicken, but I do recommend lining the basket with parchment paper first. Start by preheating the fryer, then add the paper or liner once you are ready to cook the drumsticks.

How many drumsticks fit in air fryer?

You should be able to comfortably fit 8 medium-sized drumsticks in the air fryer basket. However, they should not touch - so if your drumsticks are on the larger side you might want to work in batches.

Can you stack drumsticks in air fryer?

No, do not stack pieces of chicken in the fryer. Each drumstick should have a bit of room in the basket for an even cook and the crispiest chicken skin. As noted above, if the basket seems a bit crowded you should cook the legs in smaller batches.

How do you prevent food from sticking in the air fryer?

The best way to keep food from sticking is to line the basket with a piece of parchment paper or liner. Preheat the air fryer first; then lay the paper in the basket as you are ready to add the drumsticks.

Do you have to flip drumsticks in an air fryer?

Yes, it is a good idea to flip skin-on and bone-in chicken pieces in the air fryer. This helps the meat to cook thoroughly on all sides and gets the skin super crispy! We also brush the drumsticks again with bbq sauce after flipping, so the whole piece of chicken has a nice even coating of the sauce.

Recipe