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Chicken Air Fryer Recipes Easy and Crispy Chicken Legs

When I first tossed chicken legs into my air fryer, I honestly thought, Well, this could either be genius or a total disaster. Spoiler—it was genius. What came out was chicken that had skin crisp enough to rival deep-frying, but without the mess or guilt of a pot full of oil. The sound of that first crunch nearly made me do a happy dance right there in the kitchen. I know I’m not the only one who gets that sudden craving for fried chicken but doesn’t want to deal with the oil splatters, the cleanup, and let’s be honest, the heavy feeling after eating it. With air fryer recipes chicken like this one, you’ll feel like you’ve cracked the code to weeknight dinners that don’t make you regret your choices afterward. This recipe belongs on the list of go-to chicken air fryer recipes, right alongside your chicken wings in air fryer recipe, your cauliflower in air fryer recipe for when you’re feeling virtuous, and of course every chicken recipe air fryer fans love. Air Fryer Recipes are supposed to make life easier, and this one delivers—juicy meat, crispy outside, fast prep, and hardly any cleanup. If that’s not a win, I don’t know what is.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time22 minutes
Total Time32 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keywords: air fryer recipes, Air Fryer Recipes Chicken, cauliflower in air fryer recipe, chicken air fryer recipes, chicken recipe air fryer, chicken wings in air fryer recipe
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Elena

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken legs (thigh and drumstick attached)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels. Dry skin makes for crispier chicken.
  2. Place the chicken in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss until coated.
  3. In a small bowl, mix paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
  4. Sprinkle the spice mix over the chicken and rub it in with your hands.
  5. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (195°C).
  6. Arrange the chicken legs in the basket in a single layer, skin side up.
  7. Cook for 18 to 22 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through.
  8. Use a meat thermometer to check—165°F (74°C) at the thickest part means it’s done.

Notes

If your chicken legs are especially large, add a couple extra minutes to the cook time. You can change up the seasoning—try Cajun, lemon pepper, or even BBQ rub. And don’t overcrowd the basket; the air needs space to move around.