Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks (Cajun Style!)
These air fryer chicken drumsticks come out crispy with a simple shake and bake style coating made with spices you probably already have. It’s easy to throw together, budget-friendly, and cooks fast, which helps on busy nights.
Ingredients
For The Chicken Drumsticks
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken drumsticks 1 1/2 pounds - 2 pounds, usually 6-8 drumsticks
- 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
For The Breadcrumb Coating
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs plain
- 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon thyme dried
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano dried
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
Prepping The Drumsticks
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry well with paper towels so they will get crispier. Drizzle ½ tablespoon of olive oil over the drumsticks and rub it evenly into the skin. This makes sure they are evenly coated and helps the seasoning stick evenly.1 1/2 pounds chicken drumsticks, 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
Prepping The Breadcrumb Coating
- Open a gallon-size Zip top bag and add the breadcrumbs, flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (optional). Seal the bag and shake until all the dry ingredients are thoroughly mixed.3/4 cup breadcrumbs, 1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/4 teaspoon thyme, 1/4 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Open the bag and pour in the remaining olive oil. Seal the bag again and shake until the seasoning mix and oil are thoroughly combined and resemble wet sand.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the drumsticks to the bag, three or four at a time. Seal the bag and shake until each drumstick is well coated with the seasoning mix. Repeat with all drumsticks. This helps to coat the chicken more evenly than if you add all drumsticks at once.
Cooking The Drumsticks In The Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray oil. Place the coated drumsticks in a single layer and lightly spray the drumsticks with cooking spray oil. Be careful not to overcrowd the basket. If the drumsticks touch each other too much, they may stick together and lose some of the coating.
- Air fry for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through. When finished, the chicken will be crispy and golden. Check that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit with a meat thermometer, and the chicken should no longer be pink inside. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 541mg | Potassium: 188mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 174IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg