Frozen Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer (Drumsticks)

two chicken legs cooked from frozen in the air fryer.

5 from 1 vote

Frozen Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer (Drumsticks)

Learn how to easily and quickly cook frozen chicken legs or drumsticks using an air fryer. It's a simple solution that can save dinner on numerous occasions.

Prep Time5

Cook Time30

Course: German Main Course, Poultry

Cuisine: American

Servings: servings

Calories: 164kcal

Author: Adina

Equipment

Ingredients

6 chicken legs drumsticks, Notes 1, 2
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or canola or olive oil
3 teaspoons chicken seasoning Notes 3, 4
sauce BBQ, teriyaki, hot sauce, etc, optional

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 360°F/180°C as instructed by its instruction manual (mine needs 3 minutes).
Season: Pat dry the chicken legs using paper towels. Place them in a large bowl and coat them with the oil. Sprinkle the seasoning on top and rub well to coat all over. Place the drumsticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
6 chicken legs + 2 tablespoon oil + 3 teaspoon seasoning
Air fry the drumsticks for 15 minutes. Flip and cook for 15 minutes more or until the skin is crispy and the legs are cooked through.
Optional: Brush the legs with some BBQ or another sauce 5 minutes before the end of the cooking time.
Check doneness with an instant-read thermometer (the Amazon link opens in a new tab); the internal temperature should be 165°F/ 74°C (Note 5).
Rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Chicken legs or drumsticks: You can cook as many as they fit in the air fryer basket in a single layer without being overcrowded.
If frozen in a block, defrost them shortly in the air fryer and then separate them. Cook them for about 5 minutes (or until you can separate them) without oil and seasoning. Separate the legs, brush them with oil, and rub them with the spices. Cook them as instructed, but remember they will need a bit longer.
Seasoning: Use your favorite store-bought chicken seasoning or dry rub. Alternatively, use only salt and pepper, all-purpose seasoning, our homemade seasoning for chicken wings, or any spices you like (check the blog post for more ideas).
Salt: If your store-bought seasoning has salt (like mine), there’s no need to add extra salt. But if it doesn’t contain salt, mix ½ teaspoon fine sea salt with the seasoning.
Cooking time depends on the size of the chicken legs. Typically, it's 25 to 30 minutes. I had large ones, and it took 30 minutes for them to be cooked through. For smaller ones, check sooner. If larger, extend their time in the air fryer. The internal temperature should be 165°F/ 74°C.

Nutrition