Description
This air fryer chicken legs recipe features perfectly crispy skin and juicy meat with minimal effort. A smoky maple glaze caramelizes beautifully, making it an ideal high-protein weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6–8 chicken drumsticks (1.2 kg or 2.5 lb), bone-in, skin-on
- 15 mL (1 tbsp) olive oil
- 5 mL (1 tsp) fine sea salt
- 2.5 mL (1/2 tsp) freshly ground black pepper
- 80 mL (1/3 cup) pure maple syrup
- 10 mL (2 tsp) smoked paprika
- 5 mL (1 tsp) garlic powder
- 5 mL (1 tsp) onion powder
- 15 mL (1 tbsp) apple cider vinegar
- 15 mL (1 tbsp) fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken and Glaze: Pat the chicken drumsticks thoroughly dry using paper towels. Season the drumsticks all over with the salt and black pepper. In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and apple cider vinegar. Set aside 1 tbsp of the glaze mixture for later drizzling.
- Air Fry Initial Cook: Preheat your air fryer to 190°C (375°F) for at least 5 minutes. Arrange the seasoned drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd. Air fry for 15 minutes to start crisping the skin and rendering the fat.
- Glaze and Finish: Remove the basket and brush the chicken generously with the prepared maple-paprika glaze. Return to the air fryer and continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes, flipping the drumsticks and brushing with more glaze every 5 minutes. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 74°C (165°F) and the skin is deeply golden brown and caramelized.
- Rest and Serve: Transfer the cooked drumsticks to a plate and let them rest for 5 minutes. Drizzle with the reserved glaze and garnish with fresh parsley just before serving.
Notes
To achieve extra crispy skin, ensure you pat the drumsticks completely dry before seasoning. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow for proper air circulation. Resting the chicken for 5 minutes after cooking keeps it juicy and tender.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: General
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 drumsticks
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: air fryer, chicken drumsticks, crispy chicken, maple glaze, smoky paprika, weeknight dinner, easy recipe, high protein