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air fryer garlic parmesan chicken drumsticks in dish
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4.64 from 33 votes

Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

My air fryer garlic parmesan chicken drumsticks are juicy, flavorful, and ridiculously crispy. Made with just 6 ingredients and minimal oil.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 299kcal
Author: Becky Hardin

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
    Ingredients for Air Fryer garlic parmesan chicken drumsticks.
  • In a large bowl, combine chicken drumsticks and baking powder, fully coating the chicken. Set aside.
    1 teaspoon baking powder
    Raw chicken drumsticks in a glass mixing bowl, coated with 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.
    Chicken drumsticks coated in parmesan and herb mixture.
  • 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.
    Parmesan-coated chicken in the basket of an Air Fryer.
  • 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.
    Air-fried garlic parm chicken drumsticks.
  • Remove the air fried chicken drumsticks from air fryer basket and place on a plate.
    up close air fryer garlic parmesan chicken drumsticks on white plate
  • Serve the crispy garlic parmesan drumsticks with your favorite sauce or garnishes.
    air fryer garlic parmesan chicken drumsticks on white plate

Notes

*I prefer to use bone-in, skin-on drumsticks for this recipe. You can use boneless and/or skinless pieces, or drumettes. Just be sure to adjust the cook time, as these will all take slightly less time.
**I prefer freshly grated cheese, but pre-grated will also work.
Tips:
  • 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.
Baking Instructions: Coat the drumsticks as per the recipe, then cook them in an oven at 375°F for 30-40 minutes, or until cooked through.
Storage: Store Air Fryer chicken drumsticks in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days, or freeze for 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1drumstick | Calories: 299kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 161mg | Sodium: 428mg | Potassium: 499mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 202IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 1mg