Are you looking for a delicious, hassle-free dinner option? Look no further than your air fryer! This blog post will show you how to make perfectly crispy Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs. You’ll be amazed at how simple and tasty this dish is – your family will love it!

Two BBQ chicken drumsticks on parchment paper on a white surface.

Air fryer chicken is one of the quickest, easiest, and tastiest ways to get dinner on the table.

In this recipe, I’ll show you how to make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks that are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Plus, the chicken is ready in 35 minutes and is a great main dish that the whole family will love.

So whether you’re looking for a weeknight meal or a weekend treat, this dish is sure to please.

Why You Need This Recipe

  • Bring the BBQ inside at any time of year. Whether it’s too cold outside to grill or you don’t have the space for one, you can air fry inside for the same flavor.
  • This hands-off recipe won’t heat up the house either like baking in the oven. it’s great for meal prep because air frying is so fast.
  • The air fryer allows you to get the perfect crispy skin texture without added fat. Skip the deep frying and try this air fryer BBQ chicken recipe instead.

Ingredients

Chicken drumsticks and BBQ sauce in bowls on a white surface.
  • Chicken legs are a great source of protein and the dark meat is juicy and tender. You can also use chicken breasts, but you’ll need to add additional cook time.
  • BBQ sauce brings summer to your table. use your favorite barbecue sauce in this recipe. Be sure to use a gluten-free version if you need to. See my related article on how to find a healthy barbecue sauce.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Recipe Steps

Process collage of coating drumsticks in BBQ and placing in an air fryer.

Step One

Dry the chicken drumsticks with paper towel to help the BBQ sauce stick.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Two

Coat the chicken legs in the BBQ sauce either in a bowl or using a bag.

Step Three

Spray the air fryer basket with oil spray and preheat if your machine requires it.

Step Four

Set the drumsticks in a single layer and cook until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F as measured by a meat thermometer.

This will take a cooking time of about 25-30 minutes total.

I hope you agree that these Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks are great for a family dinner on busy weeknights. Using quality chicken and quality bottled BBQ sauce will help make a healthy BBQ chicken meal.

You can also use homemade BBQ sauce or a dry rub. Serve your juicy chicken legs with a green salad, potato salad, French fries, or whatever sides you like.

Cooked BBQ drumsticks in the basket of an air fryer.

Recipe Tips

  • Some air fryer models need to be preheated. Please refer to the owner’s manual of your particular model to see if you need to preheat it before using.
  • This recipe can easily be doubled for game day or other large gatherings depending on the size of your air fryer. For best results, try not to let the chicken legs overlap each other. You may need to cook them in two batches or more.
  • Store any leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • To make this recipe gluten-free, be sure to read the label of the prepared BBQ sauce to make sure it is certified gluten-free.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use chicken thighs?

Yes, but thighs take longer to cook through, especially with the bone in, so make sure you are checking the temperature to determine when they are cooked all the way through. The same goes if you want to make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Breast. Check my recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Thighs for more details.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

Check the ingredient list of your favorite BBQ sauce carefully for any gluten-containing ingredients to be sure. You may also like my recipe for gluten-free Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken.

What other chicken recipes can I make in the air fryer?

The possibilities are endless! Check out my recipes for Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with No Breading, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders, and Air Fryer Whole Chicken!

Can I use a homemade barbecue sauce in this recipe?

Yes! Just search online for a recipe which often includes ingredients such as black pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and olive oil. Most recipes also include added sugar such as brown sugar. But, you can customize the recipe to meet your needs.

More Healthy Air Fryer Recipes You Might Like

BBQ chicken drumsticks on a white surface in front of an air fryer.

Don’t Miss These Air Fryer Resources!

Air Fryer Versus Deep Fryer (Full Comparison)

45+ Healthy Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners

Air Fryer Pros and Cons

8 Air Fryers Under $100 (Reviewed)

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

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Two air fried BBQ chicken drumsticks on a sheet of parchment paper.

Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs (Drumsticks)

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5 from 1 review

Print Recipe

Are you looking for a delicious, hassle-free dinner option? Look no further than your air fryer! This blog post will show you how to make perfectly crispy Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs. You’ll be amazed at how simple and tasty this dish is – your family will love it!

  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4–6 chicken drumsticks (about 1 to 1.5 pounds)
  • 2/3 cup prepared BBQ sauce, divided
  • Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Remove the chicken from its packaging. Use paper towels to pat the chicken drumsticks dry.
  2. Then, place the chicken in a bowl or plastic bag with 1/3 cup of the BBQ sauce. Make sure the chicken is completely coated with the sauce.
  3. Then, spray your air fryer basket lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
  4. Use tongs to transfer the chicken legs to the air fryer. Set the temperature to 360°F for 15 minutes.
  5. After the first 15 minutes, open the basket and use tongs to turn the legs over. Use a brush to brush on the additional BBQ sauce over the chicken legs. Cook for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the chicken leg reads at least 165°F.
  6. Use clean tongs to transfer the cooked chicken to a serving plate and serve hot.

Notes

  1. Some air fryer models need to be preheated. Please refer to the owner’s manual of your particular model to see if you need to preheat it before using.
  2. This recipe can easily be doubled depending on the size of your air fryer. Try not to let the chicken legs overlap each other.
  3. Store any leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  4. To make this recipe gluten-free, be sure to read the label of the prepared BBQ sauce to make sure it is certified gluten-free.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 drumstick
  • Calories: 244
  • Sugar: 18.4 g
  • Sodium: 515.6 mg
  • Fat: 5.1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 22.1 g
  • Fiber: 0.6 g
  • Protein: 25.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 115.7 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and is a certified holistic nutritionist. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send her a message through her contact form.