These Air Fryer Chicken Legs are a quick and convenient way to achieve crispy, golden-brown skin and perfectly seasoned, tender chicken! Serve with your favorite sides for an easy and delicious meal.
More low-oil, crispy air-fried recipes right this way! Try my Air Fryer Skinless Boneless Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Potatoes, Air Fryer Salmon, Air Fryer Chicken Strips, Air Fryer Chicken Wings, and Air Fryer Chicken Breasts.
Why This Recipe Works
Crispy Perfection: The absolute best way to cook skin on chicken is in the air fryer! You can easily and quickly get air fried chicken legs that get crispy on the outside and stay tender and juicy on the inside! Plus, there is flour added here to create a beautiful golden crust on the outside of the chicken. You will never go back to pan frying chicken again!
Easy Weeknight Dinner: These air fryer chicken legs are a serious dinner win for weeknights. This is a no fuss chicken recipe that is easy to pair with any of your family’s favorite sides! This chicken recipe uses simple spices that add a lot of flavor but are versatile, so you can seriously pair it with anything, from rice to potatoes to pasta!
Ingredients
- Chicken Legs: I used chicken quarters, which are chicken legs with the thigh and leg both attached! If you use just chicken legs or just chicken thighs, the cooking time will go down.
- Oil: You can use any oil you prefer to coat the chicken before seasoning it!
- Flour: Flour will help the chicken skin get super crispy and golden on the outside.
- Smoked Paprika: For a slightly smoky flavor!
- Garlic Powder: For a deeper, more savory flavor.
- Salt: To taste!
- Cooking Spray: Use cooking spray to coat the air fryer basket to make sure the chicken doesn’t stick. Keep in mind that some cooking sprays can damage air fryers. If that is the case with your air fryer, coat it with a little oil using a paper towel!
Here’s How to Make It
Step by Step Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Stir together the flour, paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Toss the chicken legs with oil, then roll in the seasoning mix. If your model of air fryer requires it, preheat it to 350 F. (photos 1-4)
- Place in Air Fryer: Prep the basket of the air fryer with the cooking spray and place the chicken legs cut side down, making sure they don’t touch each other or the sides. (photo 5)
- Air Fry: Air fry for 35 minutes, or until the skin is golden and crispy and the internal temperature at the thickest part of the leg has reached 165 F. (photo 6)
- Serve: Serve with your choice of sauce and sides and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Don’t worry about over cooking! These air fryer chicken thighs are done when they are cooked to 165 F but can be cooked up until about 180 F and still be super tender! Since chicken thighs and legs are both dark meat, the higher fat content ensures tender chicken.
- Like it spicy? Add a few dashes of cayenne pepper to the spicy mix for a little bit of a kick!
- When air frying chicken legs, make sure the skin side is up. This will ensure that crispy skin!
- To store, place in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days! Reheat in the microwave or in the air fryer to keep that crispy skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! Depending on the size of your air fryer, you can definitely double this recipe for more people or for meal prepping. You can also make the chicken in batches!
Air fried chicken legs are perfect to pair with all of your favorite sides to make an easy chicken dinner! Serve them with a side of Green Lemon Rice or Roasted Potatoes along with Roasted Asparagus or Cauliflower! It would also go great with a simple side salad!
More Easy Meals to Try
- Chicken and Potatoes with Dijon Cream Sauce
- Oven Roasted Balsamic Chicken Thighs
- One Pan Spanish Chicken and Rice
Did you make this recipe? FANTASTIC. Please rate the recipe below and be sure to tag me on social when you share a photo on social – I love seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!
Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 2 skin on chicken legs - with the thigh attached
- 2 tsp oil
- 4 tbsp flour
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- olive oil cooking spray - see note
Instructions
- Stir together flour, paprika, garlic powder, and salt. Toss the chicken legs with oil, then roll in the seasoning mix. If your model of air fryer requires it, pre-heat it to 350F.
- Prep the basket of the air fryer with the cooking spray and place the chicken legs cut side down, making sure they don’t touch each other or the sides.
- Air fry for 35 minutes, or until the skin is golden and crispy and the internal temperature at the thickest part of the leg has reached 165F.
- Serve with your choice of sauce and sides.
Notes
- Some synthetic cooking sprays have been known to damage the non-stick coating on the inside of air fryers. Do check the manufacturers instructions and / or use a pure olive oil spray to be on the safe side!
- This recipe can be scaled up for larger air fryers.
