My Air Fryer is my favorite appliance, and this garlic parmesan chicken drumsticks recipe is a testament to just how great it is! These air-fried chicken drumsticks are juicy, flavorful, and ridiculously crispy. Made with just 6 ingredients and minimal oil, they make for a relatively healthy dinner too. One word of warning: be sure to cook up a double batch because these chicken legs will disappear quickly!
Top Reader Review
This came out so good and tasty. Only change I made was the application of the spices & parm. I mixed everything that went on the chicken including the baking soda. Because I’ve never been a fan of dredging if I can avoid it, I used my default air fryer method and patted the legs dry, drizzled them with 1 Tbs of EVOO and sprinkled with the mixture. Everything sticks really good for me this way. Followed your cooking directions and they were crispy and garlicky and parmed perfectly. Thank you
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Garlic Parmesan Chicken Drumsticks
Cooking drumsticks in my Air Fryer is super quick and easy, and my whole family is obsessed with the garlic parmesan coating. The flavor is inspired by my favorite garlic parm wings, and it’s just perfect for these meaty chicken legs. It makes a tasty weeknight dinner that’s just a little bit healthier than the fried stuff.
Much like my Air Fryer fried chicken legs, I simply toss the drumsticks in baking powder and spices to create a light coating that crisps up beautifully when air-fried. No need to bread, dredge, or use massive amounts of oil to get the right texture!
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Change Up the Seasoning
I love the garlic parmesan seasoning, but this drumstick recipe works well with any seasoning blend you can dream up. Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, adobo, or za’atar are some of my personal faves.
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks (*)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (*)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Pat the chicken drumsticks dry. I prefer to remove the skin, but you can leave the skin as is for a crispier result.1½ pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks
- In a large bowl, combine chicken drumsticks and baking powder, fully coating the chicken. Set aside.1 teaspoon baking powder
- On a plate, combine parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and ground pepper.¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Coat the chicken drumstick with the parmesan herb mix until it is well coated.
- Spray the Air Fryer basket with oil. Place the prepared chicken drumsticks in a single layer. Do not overlap. Cook in multiple batches if needed.
- Set Air Fryer and cook at 380℉ for 24 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Increase the temperature to 400℉ and fry for about 5-6 minutes more.
- Remove the air fried chicken drumsticks from air fryer basket and place on a plate.
- Serve the crispy garlic parmesan drumsticks with your favorite sauce or garnishes.
Notes
- Pat the skin dry before coating the drumsticks in the baking powder and seasonings. This helps to remove excess moisture and gets them super crispy.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. The drumsticks should be in a single layer, otherwise they won’t cook evenly. Cook them in two batches if needed.
- Check that the chicken is cooked through by using an instant-read thermometer. It should register at 165°F.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving, this will help them to get nice and juicy.
Note: Water, salt, pepper, oil, and broth are not counted as ingredients on this site.
How to Make Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks in an Air Fryer Step by Step
Prep: Gather the list of ingredients for this Air Fryer chicken drumsticks recipe. For best results, let the chicken come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before beginning. Pat 1½ pounds of bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels. Any extra moisture on the surface can prevent the spices and cheese from sticking, and leave you with a soggier texture.
Coat with Baking Powder: In a large bowl, toss the chicken drumsticks with about 1 teaspoon of baking powder, until coated. This won’t create a thick coating, but it makes a big difference for crispy skin once cooked!
Season the Chicken: On a plate, combine ¼ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder, ½ teaspoon of onion powder, ½ teaspoon of chili powder, ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt, and ⅛ teaspoon of ground black pepper. Roll the drumstick through the parmesan herb mix until it is well coated on all sides.
Air Fry the Drumsticks: Spray the Air Fryer basket with a small amount of oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking. Alternatively, use a liner. Place the prepared garlic parm drumsticks in the basket in a single layer. Do not overlap or you’ll end up with soggy spots. Cook in multiple batches if needed. Set your Air Fryer to cook at 380℉ for 24 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Crisp the Skin: To finish, increase the Air Fryer temperature to 400℉, and cook drumsticks for about 5-6 minutes more. This will give the perfect crispy finish!
Serve: Serve garlic parmesan chicken drumsticks immediately, while hot, garnished with fresh parmesan and green onions. For dinner, they pair well with all kinds of side dishes, from potatoes to roast veggies.
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
Store Air Fryer chicken drumsticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. For best (crispy) results, reheat in a 375°F Air Fryer for about 4-5 minutes, or until warmed through.
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