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This Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe uses common pantry spices and homemade BBQ sauce to pack every juicy chicken leg with sweet, smoky, spicy flavor. It’s ready in 25 minutes! Pair this chicken with your favorite sides on busy weeknights and game day.
This recipe is my go-to when the family is craving BBQ, but the outdoor grill isn’t an option. Especially during football season! Smoky air fryer BBQ chicken pairs well with homemade coleslaw or any of these low-carb side dishes for chicken to make an easy meal or game day snack.
Reasons to Love These BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
- Grilled chicken, without the grill: This air fryer recipe achieves the charred, smoky flavors of grilled chicken drumsticks without having to go outdoors for the grilling season.
- Quick and easy: With simple ingredients, these juicy chicken legs are ready in about 25 minutes. Air frying is my quicker alternative to making BBQ chicken legs in the crockpot.
- Versatile meals: Air fryer BBQ chicken drumsticks are excellent for meal prepping, backyard cookouts, and everyday dinners. Serve them with any of your favorite BBQ sides.
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Ingredients Needed to Make This Recipe
This BBQ chicken recipe uses easy ingredients, covered below with a few notes. Exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
- Chicken Drumsticks: I’m using fresh chicken drumsticks. If your chicken is frozen, then thaw it out before cooking.
- Avocado Oil: This is one of my favorite oils to use when air frying. But you could also substitute olive oil, too.
- Spices: This recipe includes common pantry spices like black pepper, smoked paprika, Onion powder, garlic powder, and sea salt. I also add in some Italian seasoning. For an extra kick, you can use cayenne pepper, if you’d like.
- BBQ Sauce: This determines whether or not the recipe is low-carb. I use the homemade BBQ sauce that I make with a keto-friendly brown sugar, but any mesquite, hickory, or Kansas City-style BBQ sauce will work in this recipe. You can use your favorite BBQ sauce from the grocery store.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Drumsticks in the Air Fryer
Making delectable, sticky BBQ chicken legs in the air fryer is SO easy, and it takes minutes to prep. Follow the step-by-step photos below.
Season the Chicken
Make sure to pat down the chicken pieces with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Then, toss the drumsticks with the oil and spices so they’re evenly coated.
Cook & Baste
Next, arrange the chicken drumsticks in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, skin side facing upward. Cook the drumsticks at 400ºF for 12 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for 5 minutes. Finally, brush the chicken with BBQ sauce on all sides, and cook for another 5 minutes.
Air Frying Tips
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. The key to getting that “grilled” effect on your air fryer chicken is to leave space in between the drumsticks in the basket. It gives the hot air room to circulate and char the skins.
- Flip halfway through. This allows the chicken to crisp up on all sides. Use tongs as the chicken legs will be hot!
- Add the sauce near the end: I use this method for my air fryer BBQ wings and BBQ chicken breasts, too. Barbecue sauce will burn if left on your meat for the entire cooking process. So, it is best to add the sauce during the last 5 minutes of cooking. If you prefer, add extra BBQ sauce before serving.
What to Serve With BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
These sweet-sticky air fryer BBQ chicken drumsticks are quick enough to cook on a weeknight, and they go so well with easy BBQ side dishes. These are some serving suggestions for sides:
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Store: The best way to store these BBQ chicken drumsticks is in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days.
- Reheat: Reheat in a 375ºF air fryer for 5 minutes, or a 375ºF oven for 10 minutes.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
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Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound Chicken Drumsticks
- 2 Tablespoons Avocado oil, or olive oil
- 1/3 cup keto bbq sauce, click for the recipe
BBQ Chicken Spice Mix
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
- ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.
- Add the chicken to a large bowl or ziploc bag. Add the spices, salt, and oil to the bowl with the chicken. Then, evenly coat the chicken with the seasoning and oil.
- Add the chicken to the air fryer cooking basket.
- Cook the drumsticks at 400ºF for 12 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook it for 5 more minutes at 400ºF.
- Use a basting brush to coat both sides of the chicken with BBQ sauce. Air fry on 400ºF for 5 minutes to cook the chicken through and char the sauce a bit.
- Brush with more BBQ sauce if needed.
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Nutrition Details
The nutrition facts come from entering the recipe ingredients into Spoonacular API, a database of food ingredients. They may vary for any recipe based on the exact product used.
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