Crispy Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer: The Ultimate Guide

Cooking chicken legs can be a challenging task, especially if you are looking for a healthier alternative to frying. However, with the help of an air fryer, making crispy and succulent chicken legs has never been easier. This quick and efficient appliance uses hot air circulation to cook food, eliminating the need for excess oil and reducing your calorie intake.

To make chicken legs in an air fryer, you only need a few ingredients and a little bit of time. Whether you are cooking for a crowd or a simple weeknight dinner for yourself, this recipe is perfect for all occasions. Plus, the best part about using an air fryer is that you won’t have to spend time cleaning up any greasy mess afterwards. So, let’s get started on creating juicy and flavourful chicken legs that tantalize your taste buds!

How to Make Crispy Chicken Legs in Air Fryer

If you’re looking for a healthier alternative to frying chicken legs, an air fryer is a great option. Air fryers are an efficient kitchen appliance because it can cook food quickly and perfectly without the need for oil while still achieving the crispy texture.

In this article, we will discuss how to make juicy and crispy chicken legs in an air fryer. Here are the ten steps you should follow:

Step 1: Choose Your Chicken

When it comes to chicken legs, you have a few options. You can buy fresh chicken legs or frozen chicken legs. If you choose frozen chicken legs, make sure to defrost them first. You may also prefer the taste of fresh chicken, which can be found in your local meat market or grocery store.

Step 2: Season Your Chicken

Before cooking, seasoning your chicken is crucial. You can use any seasoning that you like. You may want to consider a classic blend of salt and pepper, or sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, dried herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and paprika. Or you can go for a pre-made mix.

Step 3: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheating the air fryer is important to ensure that your chicken legs are cooked evenly. Set the air fryer to the recommended temperature and preheat it for 3-5 minutes.

Step 4: Prepare the Chicken Legs

Take the chicken legs and pat them dry with a paper towel. This helps to remove any excess moisture, which can cause the chicken to become less crispy.

Step 5: Coat the Chicken Legs

You can coat your chicken legs with flour or cornstarch for an extra layer of flavor and crispiness. Dip your chicken leg into the flour or cornstarch, shake off any excess, and place it in the air fryer basket.

Step 6: Place the Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer Basket

Place the coated chicken legs in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Overcrowding can cause the chicken legs to cook unevenly.

Step 7: Cook the Chicken Legs

Cook your chicken legs for approximately 25 minutes at 375°F. Halfway through the cooking time, flip the chicken legs so that they cook evenly.

Step 8: Check the Internal Temperature

Check the internal temperature of the chicken legs using a meat thermometer. The temperature should be at least 165°F to ensure it’s safe to consume.

Step 9: Rest the Chicken Legs

After cooking, let your chicken legs rest for a few minutes. Resting allows the juices to settle, keeping the chicken legs moist and tender.

Step 10: Serve Your Chicken Legs

Now, it’s time to serve your chicken legs. They’re perfect to complement a salad, rice, or just by themselves as a quick and healthy snack.

In conclusion, making crispy chicken legs in an air fryer is easy and healthy. With these ten simple steps, you’ll have perfect, juicy, and crispy chicken legs in no time. Don’t be afraid to play around with seasoning, and coating until you find the perfect taste to satisfy your taste buds.

10 Easy Steps to Make Perfect Chicken Legs in Air Fryer

Chicken legs are a popular dish for those who love their meat juicy, tender, and flavorful, especially when it is cooked with minimal oil. With an air fryer, you can prepare delicious chicken legs, which not only save you time but also offer a healthier alternative to traditional frying. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you prepare perfect chicken legs in an air fryer.

1. Choose the right type of chicken leg

There are various types of chicken legs, ranging from the drumstick to thigh. When choosing the right type of chicken leg for your air fryer, it’s best to opt for the bigger and meatier ones. This ensures that the chicken legs cook evenly, and you get a perfect blend of crispy skin and juicy meat.

2. Seasoning is everything

Seasoning is an important step when preparing chicken legs in an air fryer. It gives the meat its flavor and locks in the moisture to keep it juicy. For seasoning, use your favorite blend of spices, herbs, and seasoning mix. Apply the seasoning on the chicken legs, making sure to coat them evenly.

3. Marinate for best results

If you have time, marinating your chicken legs before air frying can give them an extra boost of flavor. You can use a marinade of your choice or make a simple marinade with lemon juice, salt, black pepper, and olive oil. Ensure to let the chicken legs rest in the marinade for at least an hour to get the best results.

4. Preheat your air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is important to ensure that the chicken legs cook evenly and quickly. Setting your air fryer to 400°F and letting it preheat for 3-5 minutes should be enough.

5. Arrange the chicken legs properly

When air frying chicken legs, it’s important to arrange them properly to ensure that they cook evenly. Avoid overcrowding your air fryer basket; instead, arrange the chicken legs in a single layer with some space between them.

6. Brush with oil

Even though air frying uses little or no oil, brushing your chicken legs with some oil helps to give them that crispy golden brown crust. You can use any type of oil of your choice, from olive oil to vegetable oil, or use a cooking spray to keep it light.

7. Air fry for 20 minutes

Set your air fryer to 400°F and cook the chicken legs for 20 minutes, flipping them every 5 minutes for even crisping. Check that the chicken is cooked all the way through at the end of the cook time.

8. Let rest before serving

Once your chicken legs are out of the air fryer, let them rest for 2-3 minutes before serving. This helps them retain their juices and give you a juicy and tender meaty experience.

9. Experiment with different flavors

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different herbs, spices, and seasoning mix to give your chicken legs the desired flavor. You can try bbq, spicy, honey glazed, garlic, and herb, among others.

10. Serve and Enjoy

Finally, it’s time to serve and enjoy your delicious chicken legs. You can pair them with your favorite vegetables, rice, potatoes, or coleslaw to create a complete meal. And that’s how to make perfect chicken legs in an air fryer. Enjoy!

Marinating the Chicken Legs

Before you start cooking in the air fryer, you should marinate the chicken legs properly. Proper marination will make the chicken tender and add a lot of flavor to it. Here are some ideas for marinating the chicken legs:

Pour the marinade over the chicken legs and let them sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours. The longer you marinate the chicken legs, the more flavorful they will be.

Preparing the Air Fryer

Before you start cooking the chicken legs, you need to prepare the air fryer. Here are some instructions:

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3-5 minutes
2. Use cooking spray to lightly coat the basket of the air fryer
3. Arrange the chicken legs in a single layer in the air fryer basket
4. If desired, you can brush the chicken legs with a little bit of oil to help them crisp up

Cooking the Chicken Legs in Air Fryer

Now it’s time to cook the chicken legs in the air fryer. Here are the instructions:

1. Insert the basket in the air fryer and set the temperature to 400°F
2. Cook the chicken legs for 25-30 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time
3. Check the chicken legs with a meat thermometer to ensure they have reached an internal temperature of 165°F
4. Once done, remove the chicken legs from the air fryer basket and let them rest for a few minutes before serving

Serving the Chicken Legs

The chicken legs are now cooked and ready to be served. Here are some serving ideas:

• Serve them with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy
• Add them to a Caesar salad for some extra protein
• Pair them with some roasted vegetables for a healthy meal
• Enjoy them on their own with some dipping sauces such as ranch or honey mustard

Cooking chicken legs in an air fryer is a great way to enjoy a delicious meal without the added fat and calories of deep frying. With these simple instructions, you can make juicy and flavorful chicken legs that your whole family will love. So go ahead and give this recipe a try!

Time to Enjoy Your Air Fried Chicken Legs!

There you have it, a simple and delicious recipe on how to make chicken legs in the air fryer. We hope you enjoy making this recipe as much as we enjoyed sharing it with you. Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy your perfectly cooked chicken legs. Don’t forget to thank the chef, which is you in this case! We appreciate you reading this article and we would love to see you again soon. Stay connected for more easy and fun recipes!