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    Home » Pakistani Recipes » Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks Recipe with an Easy Marinade

    4.95 from 40 votes

    Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks Recipe with an Easy Marinade

    April 9, 2021 by Sarah Mir · Updated January 2, 2023

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Looking for an easy flavorful marinade for your chicken drumsticks? These family favorite chicken legs with their crispy skin and juicy interior always hit the spot! For a different twist try out these Sumac Chicken drumsticks.

    These chicken drumsticks sold me on the air fryer (linked here). Pair them with a quick salad and some sweet potato fries and you've got a meal everyone loves. While they're not traditionally Pakistani like this Chicken Ginger or Chicken Pulao they have enough flavour to keep us coming back for seconds... maybe more.

    Five Things I LOVE About These Air Fryer Drumsticks

    • they're SO EASY to make! marinate, air fry. the end.
    • that SKIN. that glorious crispy flavorful skin
    • The juicy interior - I love how the interior of the chicken is so juicy!
    • NO DEEP FRYING!
    • BOTH my girls like them. Now if you have kids you'll know that's no easy feat to accomplish.

    Ingredients List

    • A dozen drumsticks - yes, a dozen, but feel free to halve/adjust as needed!
    • Marinade - Soy Sauce, Ginger Paste/ Crushed Ginger, Garlic Paste/Crushed Garlic, Chili Flakes, Chili Powder, Dried Oregano, Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Salt & Pepper
    • Oil for spraying/brushing over the chickens

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How can I make chicken skin crispy in the air fryer?

    Easily. The trick to crispy skin is using a marinade like this one with low water content. Anytime you introduce a water based ingredient like yoghurt to a marinade it has the effect of making the chicken skin soggy. Want to decrease that effect? Pat the drumsticks with paper towels and leave out on a wire rack to dry out. No need to do that with this recipe 🙂

    How long do drumsticks take in an air fryer?

    The timing will vary by Air Fryer models, but it's around 22-25 minutes for my Ninja Dual Air Fryer.

    Can I bake the chicken drumsticks?

    Yes! Bake in a greased dish covered with foil for 50 minutes. If you pierce the thickest part of the chicken leg with a knife the juices should run clear. Broil for a minute or two on each side to crisp up the skin - always watch this part carefully to make sure it doesn't burn!

    Can I freeze these?

    Yes, I often freeze these and then defrost, drain excess water and air fry!

    Can you put frozen drumsticks in an air fryer?

    Don't do it. It is faster and safer for you to defrost the chicken by placing the container/ziploc they were frozen in in a bowl of hot water. Then drain excess liquid and air fry away.

    Some Other Fun Recipes to Try

    • Kid Friendly Hara Masala Drumsticks
    • Sumac Chicken Drumsticks
    • Cilantro Lime Chicken Pasta
    • Weeknight Ready Sesame Ginger Chicken Skewers

    Made these Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks? Rate them by clicking the number of stars you want to give it on the recipe below! Tag me in your recreations on Instagram @flourandspiceblog

    ¾ view of a a board with chicken drumsticks on top
    Print Recipe
    4.95 from 40 votes

    Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: fusion,, Pakistani
    Servings: 6
    Author: Sarah Mir

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Ingredients

    • 12 drumsticks

    Marinade

    • 1.5 tbsp Soy Sauce
    • 3 tbsp Olive Oil
    • 1.5 tbsp Crushed Ginger
    • 1.5 tbsp Crushed Garlic
    • 1.5 tbsp Dried Oregano
    • 2 tsp Salt
    • 1 tsp Pepper
    • 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
    • 1 tsp Chili Flakes
    • 1 tsp Chili Powder
    • 1 tsp Crushed/Minced Green Chilies (if you want it spicy)
    • Oil for air frying

    Instructions

    • Combine all the marinade ingredients in a bowl
    • Score the chicken pieces with a sharp knife and cover the chicken with the marinade making sure to rub it well
    • Marinade overnight or at least 6 hours
    • Preheat your air fryer to 390F
    • Place your chicken inside and cook for ten minutes undisturbed. Do make sure to leave space between the drumsticks. You will likely need to cook the drumsticks in batches
    • Flip them over after ten minutes, spray with a little oil if they are looking dry, then cook them for another 10-15 minutes until the skin outside is bronze and the chicken is cooked through.

    Notes

    Without the green chilies these chicken legs have a kick but aren't spicy. If you want them to be spicy I strongly recommend adding crushed green chilies.
    « Pappa Roti Recipe
    Southwest Rolls - Air Fryer »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rubeena says

      April 13, 2021 at 10:00 pm

      Made these for ifftar today. It turned out amazing and so easy to make. I was worried it turn out dry in air fryer, but it was perfectly done.

      Reply
      • sarahjmir@gmail.com says

        April 21, 2021 at 8:15 am

        I am SO glad to hear that Rubeena! Thank you!

        Reply
    2. shafaq says

      April 14, 2021 at 11:44 am

      I made them for our first iftar, loved the marinade. Perfect for ramazan, quick ,easy and delicious. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    3. Rebia says

      April 23, 2021 at 1:52 pm

      Hi Sarah, can I make these with skin on bone in chicken thighs instead?

      Reply
      • sarahjmir@gmail.com says

        April 27, 2021 at 7:28 am

        Yes absolutely!!! They would cook faster so just watch the time!

        Reply
    4. Jahan says

      June 17, 2021 at 9:18 am

      Hi Sarah;

      Awesome recipe. I tried with 350 F temp for 8 mins both sides in my 2.6lts Gotham air fryer. I did marinate Chic Drumsticks overnight and thawed 1 hr before air frying.
      Turned out perfect and succulent. I must say 10/10.

      Thank you so much for sharing the recipe.

      Reply
      • sarahjmir@gmail.com says

        July 16, 2021 at 8:33 pm

        THANK YOU for sharing this!!!! I get asked about baking temperature all the time and didn’t know!

        Reply
    5. Sana says

      July 04, 2021 at 12:30 pm

      Do you recommend using skin on or skinless drumsticks?

      Reply
      • sarahjmir@gmail.com says

        July 16, 2021 at 8:29 pm

        Hey Sana! Skin on is my preference for sure!

        Reply
    6. Tahera says

      July 16, 2021 at 10:08 am

      Hi Sarah. How do you suggest I make these without an air fryer as I don’t own one?

      Reply
    7. Sana Siddiqui says

      September 07, 2021 at 1:55 pm

      Hi Sara, can we bake these in oven? If yes then for how long and at what temp?

      Reply
      • sarahjmir@gmail.com says

        September 08, 2021 at 10:50 am

        Hi Sana! So sorry about not replying sooner, but you can bake these at 375 for 35-40 minutes. If you stick something sharp in the meaty part it should go in easily and the juices should run clear and then you know you are done!

        Reply
    8. Shiza ahmed says

      September 26, 2021 at 6:09 pm

      Hi if we use skinned chicken what should be the temp and time?

      Reply
      • Sarah Mir says

        November 03, 2021 at 11:46 am

        Hi Shiza! Time will more or less be the same, but the risk you run with skinned chicken is it drying out. That said if you eat it hot then you're still good!

        Reply
    9. sara says

      October 20, 2021 at 7:53 pm

      excellent recipe.. stop and try it right now if you havnt already!! it is THAT good!!

      Reply
      • Sarah Mir says

        November 03, 2021 at 11:39 am

        wow thank you Sara!

        Reply
    10. Anam says

      November 26, 2021 at 5:45 pm

      This is my go to receipe for air fried drumsticks. Everyone loves it. Highly recommend to try it.

      Reply
      • Sarah Mir says

        December 03, 2021 at 11:16 pm

        It makes me SO happy to hear that!

        Reply
    11. Sabeen Virani says

      April 02, 2022 at 11:07 am

      Hi!
      Made these last night and omg so so good! Sent some to my parents and they were obsessed!
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sarah Mir says

        April 04, 2022 at 7:10 pm

        Woohooo!!! Loved reading this, thank you!

        Reply
    12. Maria says

      April 15, 2022 at 2:54 pm

      Hi there! I would like to try this tonight for iftar - could I use boneless thighs?

      Reply
      • Sarah Mir says

        April 26, 2022 at 7:00 am

        absolutely!

        Reply
    13. Farwah says

      April 16, 2022 at 3:32 am

      We love this marinade so much that we have also tried it with boneless chicken breasts as well and it tastes as good. Had to cook the drumsticks a little longer each side as the color seemed light and slightly raw (red/pink) inside but they were an absolute treat, gone in seconds!

      Reply
      • Sarah Mir says

        April 26, 2022 at 6:56 am

        thank you Farwah!!!!

        Reply
      • Sarah Mir says

        April 26, 2022 at 6:57 am

        can you remind me if you are baking or air frying so I can add notes to the recipe - this timing is perfect for my air fryer but I want to make sure everyone can adjust for theirs!

        Reply
    14. Tooba says

      May 01, 2022 at 6:03 pm

      This is a very easy recipe! Love how flavorful the chicken comes out!

      Reply
      • Sarah Mir says

        May 03, 2022 at 4:07 pm

        I am so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    15. Mia says

      May 02, 2022 at 2:25 am

      I don't have an air fryer. Yet, I still use the marination mix from this recipe to make my fried chicken. It has been a hit each time I tried it. So thank you for sharing your recipes with us Sarah❤

      Reply
      • Sarah Mir says

        May 03, 2022 at 4:03 pm

        Thank you so so much!

        Reply
    16. Munawar Shariff says

      September 19, 2022 at 8:23 am

      Approximately would the 12 drumsticks be a kilo?

      Reply
      • Sarah Mir says

        September 21, 2022 at 12:23 pm

        Hi Munawar! I think it's a little more depending on the size of the drumsticks

        Reply
    17. Sabira says

      January 10, 2023 at 10:37 pm

      Absolutely love this recipe. It's so easy to make and super delicious. Thanks Sarah!

      Reply
      • Sarah Mir says

        January 12, 2023 at 9:54 pm

        I am so glad to hear that Sabira! Thank you!

        Reply
    18. Maria z says

      January 17, 2023 at 10:59 am

      Are these skinless legs or with skin?
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Sarah Mir says

        January 17, 2023 at 9:34 pm

        With skin! It's so much tastier that way!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Sarah! Welcome to Flour & Spice, the foodie world of a Pakistani origin Canadian mama of two whose busy life and love for food means practicality reigns supreme! I love baking (duh!), my readers (extra duh!), reading, coffee, singing loudly slightly off key, and aprons.

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