Air fryer spicy chicken drumsticks are so crispy and satisfying with aromatic spices like smoked paprika and red chili pepper flakes. They make for a super easy weeknight dinner after work!
Ingredients
- Chicken drumsticks
- Baking powder – The high pH of baking powder causes proteins to break down. Then, these proteins are loosened up more and can more easily participate in browning reactions on the skin. In addition, the sodium in the baking powder extracts moisture from the skin. All of this happens to create the crispy texture that we all love!
- Red chili pepper flakes – You may decrease or increase the amount of red chili flakes based on your spice tolerance.
- Smoked paprika – You may use regular paprika instead, but I like the unique smokiness of smoked paprika.
- Garlic powder – This is more convenient to use than fresh garlic, especially on a weekday when you’re tired after work. Also, it sticks onto the drumsticks better.
- Onion powder – Like garlic powder, onion powder is convenient to use on a weekday for dinner than the fresh kind. It also spreads more easily on the chicken.
- Salt – a flavour enhancer
- Black pepper – Adds pepperiness
- Neutral-flavoured oil – This helps to spread the spices on the chicken more easily and ensures that the chicken evenly browns after air frying.
How to Make Air Fryer Spicy Chicken Drumsticks
Preheat air fryer at 400°F for 3 minutes. This helps ensure that the inside of the air fryer is hot enough to start cooking the chicken once it’s inside the air fryer.
Pat the chicken drumsticks dry with a piece of paper towel. This will help ensure the chicken drumsticks are as dry as possible and will help them brown in the air fryer.
Rub the chicken drumsticks with oil and baking powder, making sure they are all evenly coated.
Mix red chili pepper flakes, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper together in a small bowl. This will help to evenly distribute the seasonings on the chicken.
Rub the seasoning onto the chicken.
Brush oil inside the air fryer basket. Air fry chicken drumsticks at 400°F for 6 min each side or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the largest chicken thigh reads at least 165°F, and they are golden brown. Try not to hit the bone of the chicken thigh with the thermometer. This will lead to an inaccurate reading.
Air Fryer Spicy Chicken Drumsticks
Air fryer spicy chicken drumsticks are so crispy and satisfying with aromatic spices like smoked paprika and red chili pepper flakes. And they are super easy to make as a weeknight dinner after work!
2
servings10
minutes15
minutes311
kcal25
minutesKeep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
1 lb chicken drumsticks (about 4 drumsticks)
1 tbsp neutral-flavoured oil (plus more for greasing air fryer basket)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp red chili pepper flakes
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
Directions
- Preheat air fryer at 400°F for 3 min.
- Pat dry the chicken drumsticks with paper towel. Coat them with oil and baking powder.
- Mix the rest of the ingredients together in a small bowl. Rub seasoning onto the chicken.
- Brush oil inside the air fryer basket. Air fry the chicken drumsticks at 400°F for 6 min each side or until internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken reads at least 165°F and it turns golden brown and crispy.
Nutrition Facts
2 servings per container
Serving Size164 g
- Amount Per ServingCalories311
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat
21g
27%
- Saturated Fat 4g 20%
- Monounsaturated Fat 17g
- Cholesterol 140mg 47%
- Sodium 804mg 35%
- Potassium 375mg 8%
- Total Carbohydrate
2g
1%
- Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
- Total Sugars 0g
- Protein 27g 54%
- Vitamin A 356mcg 40%
- Thiamin 0.135mg 12%
- Riboflavin 0.26mg 20%
- Niacin 7mg 44%
- Vitamin B6 0.54mg 32%
- Vitamin B12 0.835mcg 35%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
