Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Cook the best ever BBQ Chicken Drumsticks every time in your air fryer! They're perfectly juicy, sticky & delicious, made in under 25 minutes total!

Prep Time3

Cook Time22

Total Time25

Servings: drumsticks

Calories: 313kcal

1 lb. chicken drumsticks about 4 drumsticks
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons bbq seasoning (or use 1/2 tsp. chili powder, 1/4 tsp. each salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, & onion powder. Optionally, add a pinch of cayenne for extra heat)
1/4 cup bbq sauce

Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C). If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat setting, turn it on and wait about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, pat the chicken legs with a few napkins or paper towels until they’re dry on all sides.
Drizzle the chicken with oil and sprinkle on the seasoning, turning to coat them on all sides.
Spray or brush the air fryer basket or rack with oil. Place the chicken inside the air fryer, leaving room between each drumstick to allow the air to flow.
Close the air fryer and set for 18-22 minutes, depending on the size of your drumsticks and strength of your air fryer. You will have to watch closely near the end of cooking and experiment a little.
Halfway through cooking, open the air fryer basket. Use the tongs to turn the drumsticks, then brush each piece with of bbq sauce.
Close the air fryer basket and continue cooking.
Once the chicken has been cooking for 18 minutes, open the air fryer basket to check on the chicken. Use a meat thermometer to check to see if the internal temperature has reached 165°F (74°C).
Continue cooking for another 1-4 minutes, if necessary, until the chicken is cooked through.
Once cooked, use the tongs to carefully remove the chicken from the air fryer and set it on a plate or platter for serving.

Preheat your air fryer before cooking.
Spray the air fryer basket with oil before adding the chicken. This will help prevent the meat from sticking.
Don't overcrowd the air fryer! Leave a little room between each drumstick and cook in batches if necessary.
To cook on the grill, check out my gas or charcoal grilled BBQ Chicken Drumsticks recipe!