These air fryer barbecued chicken drumsticks are super quick and easy to make for dinner. I love the fact that all you have to do is assemble the ingredients, put them in the air fryer, and enjoy a delicious meal in a matter of minutes. This is why it’s a regular in my family’s dinner rotation.

You can also make air fryer chicken leg quarters the same way. However, you’ll need to increase the cooking time to accommodate the thicker meat. 

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need:

• Chicken drumsticks
• Cooking oil (avocado oil or olive oil)
• Chili powder
• Paprika
• Barbecue sauce (whatever kind you like)
• Salt and pepper to taste (optional)

As is the case with most of my recipes, you can add more ingredients if you want. In fact, there are times I enjoy sprinkling a little cayenne into the mixture to add a little heat. As soon as you make this recipe, it becomes yours to do what you want. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

The preparation of this recipe isn’t difficult, but it takes a few minutes. Before you begin, I recommend spraying the basket of your air fryer with olive oil. You can use nonstick cooking spray, but it’s not typically recommended on a nonstick surface.

Secondly, preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F. While it’s heating up, you can work on getting the chicken ready.

Combine the chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and stir. Next put the drumsticks in a large bowl and drizzle them with oil. Turn the chicken over until it is well coated with the oil. You can use your hands or tongs.

Then, rub the dry seasonings over the chicken. I use my hands for this, but you can wear gloves if you don’t want the ingredients on your fingers.

Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 20 minutes. Remove the basket and brush the chicken with barbecue sauce.

Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for another 5 minutes. Turn the chicken over and brush the other side with barbecue sauce. You can use bottled sauce or this delicious homemade barbecue sauce.

Cook for the last 5 minutes or until the thickest part of the chicken has an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. After it’s done, it should be crispy on the outside and juicy in the center.

If you want to barbecue other chicken parts in the air fryer, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Remember that the thicker the meat the longer it will take to cook.

Oven Fried Barbecue Chicken

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can make this same recipe in the oven. In fact, I cooked it in the oven before I got my air fryer. It will take a tad longer, but the chicken will still be delicious.

Use the same ingredients listed above. Bake in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165˚ F.

Side Dishes to Serve with Chicken

This delicious chicken goes with almost any side you like. My favorites are mama’s potato salad and creamy coleslaw.

If you have an ounce of southern in you, there’s a good chance you enjoy a buttered biscuit with your chicken. My 2-ingredient biscuits can be made with regular or gluten-free ingredients and come out good every time. For those who prefer cornbread, this southern-style cornbread is pretty wonderful. It’s easy to make in an iron skillet, and it’s delicious to crumble into a glass of milk later.

Does Chicken Cook More Quickly in an Air Fryer Than in the Oven?

Yes, you can shave off at least 1/3 of the time when you cook chicken in an air fryer. The other thing you’ll enjoy is that you use less electricity for 2 reasons.

First, you’re not having to heat as large of a space. And second, the air circulates around the food, which cooks it so much more quickly. Here’s more information about oven times vs. air fryer cooking times.

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