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    Home > Air Fryer

    Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Legs

    Published: Nov 28, 2022 by Nicky Corbishley

    Go to Recipe Go to Video Print Recipe

    Crispy chicken legs done in the air fryer - a great way of keeping all the juices in the chicken whilst giving you that lovely crispy skin.
    No mess, no fuss - these are the easiest crispy chicken legs ever and are usually gone within minutes of hitting the plates.

    Overhead image of crispy chicken thighs on a piece of baking parchment.
    Jump to:
    • 📋 What do we need?
    • 📺 Watch how to make crispy chicken wings AND thighs in the air fryer
    • 🍽️ Like your chicken saucy?
    • 🍲 Serving Suggestions
    • Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Legs
    • 💬 Reviews

    This is a brilliant, cost-effective way of feeding the family. One chicken leg has loads of meat and when I last looked (Sainsburys, Asda and Tesco) each chicken leg works out to be about 50p-60p.

    They're so tasty as they are - served up with chips or salad and a spoonful of coleslaw.
    Alternatively, you can use the cooked chicken to make lots of recipes - such as chicken fried rice, easy chicken ramen, Tuscan chicken soup or chicken ala king.

    📋 What do we need?

    Ingredients for crispy air fryer chicken legs on a wooden table
    • Chicken legs (sometimes called chicken quarters). You can replace with 4 bone-on thighs and 4 drumsticks, or a combination of these if you prefer.
    • Baking Powder (not baking soda/bicarb of soda)
    • Salt and pepper

    📺 Watch how to make crispy chicken wings AND thighs in the air fryer

    Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post.

    👩‍🍳PRO TIP Make sure you get the chicken pieces dry with kitchen paper - this will help with getting the skin extra crispy.

    Tall overhead image of four air fried crispy chicken legs on a piece of baking parchment.

    🍽️ Like your chicken saucy?

    My favourite steak sauces all work well with these chicken legs!

    • Sliced, cooked steak with diane sauce drizzled over the top on a wooden table with a silver spoon
      Diane Sauce
    • A cooked steak with peppercorn sauce being poured over the top with a spoon, green beans in the background on a blue plate
      Peppercorn Sauce
    • A cooked steak with blue cheese sauce over the top with some green beans, served on a blue plate
      Blue Cheese Sauce
    • A square image of creamy mushroom sauce with a wooden spoon stirring it
      Creamy Mushroom Sauce

    Perfectly crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside!

    Tall overhead image of air fried crispy chicken legs on a piece of baking parchment.

    🍲 Serving Suggestions

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      Creamy Coleslaw Recipe
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      The Best Baked Potato Method

    Stay updated with new recipes!
    Subscribe to the newsletter to hear when I post a new recipe. I’m also on YouTube (new videos every week) and Instagram (behind-the-scenes stories & beautiful food photos).

    Square image of four air fried crispy chicken legs on a piece of baking parchment.

    Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Legs

    By: Nicky Corbishley
    Crispy-skinned chicken legs, cooked in the air fryer in less than 45 minutes. A fantastic, cost-effective way to get loads of juicy chicken.
    5 from 4 votes
    Rate this Recipe Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 40 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American, British
    Servings 4 chicken legs
    Calories 307 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 4 chicken legs*
    • 2 tsp aluminium-free baking powder**
    • ½ tsp table salt
    • ½ tsp pepper

    INSTRUCTIONS
     

    • Dry the chicken legs with paper towels, then place in a large bowl.
      4 chicken legs*
    • Sprinkle on the baking powder, salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
      2 tsp aluminium-free baking powder**, ½ tsp table salt, ½ tsp pepper
    • Arrange this chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 35-40 minutes at 210C/410F, shaking the basket every 10 minutes. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 75C/165F (you can also pierce the thickest part of the chicken. If the juices run clear and not pink, it's cooked).
    • Serve with your favourite side dish.

    Video

    ✎ Notes

    *Chicken Legs
    We're using the full leg piece that includes a thigh and drumstick.
    Alternatively you can replace with 4 bone-on thighs and 4 drumsticks, or a combination of these – so you have 8 bone-in skin on pieces.
    **Baking Powder
    I state in the recipe to use aluminium-free baking powder. Baking powder that contains aluminium (sodium aluminium sulfate or E521) can cause a metallic taste to certain people who are sensitive to it.
    • Also be sure to use baking powder AND NOT baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
    Can I make crispy chicken legs ahead?
    I prefer them fresh out of the air fryer, but you can make the chicken legs ahead.
    Cook, then cool, cover and refrigerate for up to a day. Reheat them in the air fryer for about 8-10 minutes at 200C/400F until they're crisp again and piping hot throughout.
    Nutritional information is approximate, per chicken leg.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 307kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 23gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 133mgSodium: 622mgPotassium: 293mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.003gVitamin A: 132IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 132mgIron: 1mg
    Keywords air fryer cooking, budget, crispy chicken
    Tried this recipe?Mention @KitchenSanctuary or tag #KitchenSanctuary on Instagram!

    Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.

    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

    Read More

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Pamela Thomson says

      June 20, 2023 at 1:46 pm

      5 stars
      I made this. Wow. Absolutely fantastic. So crispy. I'm telling everyone. Thanks.

      Reply
    2. Lorne Thomson says

      March 09, 2023 at 1:34 am

      5 stars
      The family really loved the chicken leg recipe and I thank-You for that. A definite do again, and again, and again!

      Reply
    3. Vivian Mclean-wilson says

      February 25, 2023 at 8:49 am

      5 stars
      Baking powder! Wow, makes chicken skin so crunchie.

      Reply
    4. Kath says

      January 26, 2023 at 4:47 pm

      5 stars
      My husbands favorite way to have chicken legs, I made them twice like this since he saw the post👏

      Reply

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    Hi I’m Nicky

    I love to cook and I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.

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      Nicky Corbishley is the recipe creator and photographer for Kitchen Sanctuary. Wife to Chris (chief techie and videographer) and mum to Lewis and Gracey. Read More…

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