Name: Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Legs
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 4 chicken legs*; 2 tsp aluminium-free baking powder**; ½ tsp table salt; ½ tsp pepper

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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.

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📋 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!

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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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

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 40

Total Time 45

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

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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.