Are you looking for a weeknight meal everyone will love? Try these easy air fryer chicken legs, especially with our excellent chimichurri sauce recipe.
They are crispy on the outside and tender and juicy inside. Plus, chicken legs are one of the cheapest cuts of meat (usually .99 cents a pound in our neck of the woods), so it’s the apparent economic choice.
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We like making two batches of this chicken leg meal on a Sunday or early in the week and enjoy the leftovers a day or two later. But they also make for a great main dish for a holiday supper.
Are you looking for other chicken meals you can make in the air fryer? Check out this air fryer chicken sandwich recipe and the juiciest air fryer chicken breast you’ve ever had.
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Ingredients
While there are only a few ingredients in this air fryer chicken leg recipe, each is important. All you’ll need are chicken legs, oil, salt, and seasonings for this cost-effective main.
- Chicken Legs – Are you a price-conscious shopper? Well, then, you have to be happy about chicken legs. They are typically the cheapest part of the bird. We will show you how to make them nice and juicy just below.
- Olive Oil – We like olive oil for this chicken leg recipe, but feel free to use vegetable or canola oil.
- Seasoning Blend – We use a mix of paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Baking Powder – Are you surprised to see baking powder on this list? Baking powder helps crisp up the skin; see this article for more on the subject.
- Salt – Please do not use table salt, which can have an unnatural metallic taste. Instead, use kosher salt.
- Pepper – Instead of ground black pepper, use freshly cracked black pepper for the best flavor.
See the recipe card for quantities.
How to Brine Chicken Legs
We make a standard 20-1 salt brine for this chicken legs recipe. Here’s how to do it. Add 20 ounces of water to a bowl. Take a cup of that water and add it to a pan; add the salt, bring it to a boil, and dissolve the salt into the water. Then, add the salted water back to the bowl.
Add the chicken to the bowl for 30 minutes to overnight.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Now that you know about the ingredients needed to make air fryer chicken legs, we’ll walk you through the process of making them the juiciest chicken legs you ever had. All you have to do is brine, dry, season, and air fry them. First, preheat the air fryer at 400 degrees and make the chimichurri.
First, you’ll want to brine your chicken legs in a salt water solution for at least 30 minutes, but we have the best results after 24 hours.
After you brine the chicken overnight, you’ll want to pat them dry with a paper towel.
Then, place the chicken legs in a bowl and add the olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and baking powder. Mix well to coat each piece.
Then, cook them in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. After 10 minutes, turn flip them over and cook for another 8-10 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
Hint: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees before placing the chicken legs in the air fryer.
Variations
You can change this air fryer chicken leg recipe in many different ways. First, you could adjust the seasonings. You can change it to make them spicy, tangy, or sweet. Below, we will provide you with some examples.
- Spicy – add some cayenne pepper to the seasoning blend for a spicy kick if you like extra heat.
- Barbecue – When there are about 5 minutes left, brush the chicken legs with your favorite barbecue sauce and finish air frying.
- Asian-inspired – Glaze the chicken legs with a mix of soy sauce, ginger, honey, and garlic.
- Honey Mustard – When there are about 5 minutes left, brush the chicken legs with a 50/50 mix of honey and mustard.
Equipment
The only special equipment you’ll need for this recipe is a quality air fryer. We like the Instant Pot Vortex. We’ve had it for years, and it works just as well as the first day.
Another wise investment is a meat thermometer; we like the Thermopop from Thermoworks.
Storage
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. For more extended storage, wrap the chicken in freezer-safe wrap or foil and freeze for up to 4 months.
Top tip
For the juiciest chicken legs don’t skip the brine. It is the secret step to ensure that every bite is succulent.
FAQ
Yes. You’ll want to preheat the air fryer as it ensures that the cooking environment is at the right temperature right from the start for more even cooking and a crispier exterior on the chicken. The good news is that it takes just a few minutes.
For best results, arrange the chicken legs in a single layer in the air fryer. This ensures that even cooking because the air can circulate around the chicken as it cooks. If you have more chicken than can fit in the air fryer basket, it’s best to cook in batches.
Keep chicken legs moist in the air fryer by first brine them before cooking. Coat the chicken legs with oil, avoid overcrowding the fryer basket, and use a meat thermometer and cook to 165 degrees.
Related
Looking for other air fryer chicken recipes:
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 Chicken Legs
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tsp Onion Powder
- 2 Tsp Baking Powder
- ½ Tsp Paprika
- ¼ Tsp Kosher Salt
- ¼ Tsp Black Pepper
Chimichurri Sauce
- 1 Cup Fresh Parsley Italian Flatleaf
- 2 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
- ⅓ Cup Olive Oil
- 2 Garlic Cloves Diced
- 1 Tsp Kosher Salt
- ½ Tsp Black Pepper
- ⅛ Tsp Red Pepper Flakes
Instructions
- Start by brining the chicken legs in 20 ounces of water and 1 ounce of kosher salt.
- To make the brine, first put the salt and half the water in a small saucepan. Heat until the salt has dissolved. Then, add the remaining water to help cool it down.
- Put the chicken legs in a ziplock bag. Pour the cooled brine into the ziplock bag with the chicken, making sure it's completely submerged. Then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to a day.
- Next, add the parsley, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, and black pepper to the bowl of a food processor. Process until finely minced. Add the red pepper flakes and pulse a few more times. Pour into a small bowl and set aside.
- In a small bowl, add the garlic powder, onion powder, baking powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix until completely combined and set aside.
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400 degrees.
- Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry with a paper towel. Add the chicken, olive oil, and seasoning blend to a medium bowl. Mix with your hands or use a large spoon to coat the chicken.
- Place the chicken legs in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes.
- Carefully flip the chicken and cook for another 8-10 minutes or until the chicken has reached 165 degrees.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer and allow it to rest for 5 minutes. Top with the Chimichurri sauce, and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to taste the Chimichurri and adjust the salt as needed.
- Chimichurri sauce keeps well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- You can easily double the seasoning blend if you are making more chicken legs.
- You will need to cook these in batches. You want to make sure the skin gets nice and crispy.
- Store the cooked chicken legs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat the chicken to 375 degrees for 3-5 minutes.
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