My Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Legs are the perfect easy chicken recipe. The chicken legs are coated in a honey and a homemade seasoning blend and cooked in the air fryer in under 20 minutes. Very little oil is required so this is a healthy way to cook crispy fried chicken. This makes such an easy and protein filled dinner during the week!

Why You’ll Love this Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Legs Recipe
When it comes to easy mid week dining, I love to use my air fryer. With these air fryer chicken leg quarters everything can be prepared, cooked and on the table ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes.
Also, what I love most about air frying is that there is minimal clean-up afterwards.
I’ve used whole chicken legs in this recipe for that juicy meat we all love but you can also swap legs for bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or tenderloins. I love to make my own dry rubs for chicken, with a few simple ingredients you can seasoning the meat and really elevate the flavor of the dish.
Here are more reasons it’s a must-try dish:
- Easy Preparation: This recipe is a simple recipe, only 5 minutes to prepare the chicken and the spice rub, then a quick 20 minute cook in your air fryer. This is perfect for a busy weeknights.
- Flavor Packed: The dry rub is super simple to make, but adds lots of flavor to the chicken. The spice blend can be easily adapted to suit your own tastes.
- Healthy Chicken: This is a healthier version of fried chicken legs, as it’s cooked in the air fryer there is very little oil used in this recipe. Also there is no excess salt or sugar, nor unnecessary additives and preservatives in my homemade seasoning.
- Meal Prep: Crispy air fryer chicken legs are ideal for meal prep. I often cook at batch at the weekend then store the chicken for quick and easy meals throughout the week.
My family are huge fans of crispy fried chicken. I use my air fryer to cook chicken in these great air fryer chicken recipes, my Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Coconut Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Chicken Breast, Air Fryer Chicken Wings, and Air Fryer Tandoori Chicken Legs.

Recipe Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken Legs: I cook 8-10 chicken legs at a time using this recipe.
- Oil: When air frying chicken I like to use olive oil or avocado oil for flavor.
- Honey: A tablespoon of honey adds a touch of sweetness to the chicken.
- Seasoning Blend: I made a homemade spice mixture with paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper.
- Garnish: I garnish the chicken with some freshly chopped parsley. You could also use cilantro, oregano or some fresh thyme leaves.
For exact ingredient amounts and instructions, see the full recipe card below.

Recipe Variations
This is a versatile recipe and easy to adapt:
- Chicken: I’ve used chicken legs in this recipe because I love dark meat, but you could also use bone-in, skin on chicken thighs or tenderloins.
- Meat: The dry seasoning blend would work equally well with other meats like pork, lamb or beef.
- Seafood: You could also try it with a variety of seafood, great with white fish like cod or tilapia, oily fish like salmon or tuna, or to coat shrimps or scallops.
- Spices: The dry spices can be easily adapted to suit your own palette. Try adding dried oregano, Italian seasoning, ground cumin, ground coriander, and some chili powder or red pepper flakes for a little chili heat.
- Honey: Honey adds a little sweetness to the chicken, you could also use maple syrup or agave syrup.
- Low-carb: For a low carb air fryer chicken leg leave the honey out altogether.

How to Cook Chicken Legs in Air Fryer
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Legs
Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels and add to a large bowl. Drizzle the olive oil over the chicken legs along with the honey.
Step 2: Prepare the Seasoning
In a small mix the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper.
Step 3: Coat the Chicken in Seasoning
Sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken legs and use tons or your hands to coat with the seasoning.

Step 4: Cook this Chicken
Preheat the air fryer to 400° F for 5 minutes. Add the chicken legs to the air fryer in a single layer {you will probably need to work in batches depending on the sizes of your air fryer} and cook the chicken for 10 minutes.
Flip the air fryer drumsticks over and cook for an additional 8-12 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165° F and the juices run clear. You want to also start to see a crispy skin.
Step 5: Garnish and Serve
Remove from the air fryer and garnish with fresh parsley and serve with french fries or potato salad.

Expert Tips for Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Chicken Legs
- Always dry the chicken properly with paper towel before adding the oil, honey and dry seasoning. The drier the chicken the crispier it will be once cooked.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket, instead work in batches, allowing plenty room for air to circulate around the chicken legs. This will help crisp the chicken and stop it from steaming.
- I recommend using an instant-read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the cooked chicken. Chicken needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165° F.
- If you don’t have a thermometer, pierce the chicken with a sharp knife into the thickest part of the leg and ensure that the juices run clear. If there’s still a little pink in the juices, return it to the air fryer and cook a little longer.
- You can double or even triple the recipe for the dried spice rub. Use a portion to coat the chicken legs, then store the rest in an airtight container or lidded glass jar, and store at room temperature. This makes a quick and easy seasoning blend for using another day.

Serving Tips
- Salads: I love salads with all of my meals. Some of our favorites are this Lemon Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts, Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing or this Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad.
- Vegetable Sides: Vegetable side dishes are always a nice addition with chicken legs. I enjoy these Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, or Turmeric Cauliflower.
- Potatoes: Potatoes are another great addition to these chicken legs. I like these Spicy Lebanese Potatoes, Lemon Cilantro Roasted Potatoes or these Crispy Garlic Roasted Potatoes.
Leftover Ideas
When I fry crispy chicken legs I am lucky if there are any leftovers. However, if you do they can be used to make other delicious meals:
- Chicken Salad: You can make a great salad main with any leftover chicken. I like to strip the chicken off the bone and add it to vibrant salads, like my Easy Lebanese Salad, for a quick and easy lunch.
- Sandwiches & Wraps: Add the chicken to your favorite sandwiches and wraps, for an easy grab and go lunch. Shredded leftover chicken also works really well in Tacos or Burritos with your favorite fresh salsas.
- Rice & Grain Bowls: Add shredded leftover chicken to your favorite rice or grain bowl. Try adding it with rice, bulgur wheat, or quinoa, along with a variety of your favorite salad veggies.

Recipe FAQs
Yes, absolutely, I cook raw meat in my air fryer all the time. I always season any meat with salt and black pepper, often adding other dried spices. Just ensure you cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165° F.
For the crispiest chicken, it is really important that you pat it properly dry first with paper towels, before adding the spice blend. The less moisture, the crispier the chicken.
I cook the chicken legs at a high temperature of 400° F for 10 minutes, then I flip the legs over and cook them for a further 10-12 minutes.
I like to add just enough oil to help the spice rub to adhere to the chicken, but no more. You don’t want the chicken swimming in oil or it won’t crisp up.
Storage Tips
Store cooked and cooked chicken legs in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Heat up leftovers by placing them back into the air fryer, or in a 275°F oven, for 10-15 minutes until warmed through.
To freeze, wrap cooled chicken legs in parchment or wax paper, place in a Ziplock bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating to piping hot.
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Pork Tenderloin
- Boneless Pork Chops in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Pork Taquitos
- Buffalo Cauliflower in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
- Air Fryer Cod
- Air Fryer Salmon
If you try it, please leave me a star rating and comment below, and follow me on Instagram @acedarspoon for more delicious recipes!

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 8-10 chicken legs
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon course kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, garnish
Instructions
- Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels and add to a large bowl.
- Drizzle the olive oil over the chicken legs along with the honey. In a small mix the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper.
- Sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken legs and use tons or your hands to coat with the seasoning.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400° F for 5 minutes.
- Add the chicken legs to the air fryer and cook the chicken for 10 minutes.
- Flip the chicken over and cook for an additional 8-12 minutes or until you have an internal temperature of 165° F and the juices run clear.
- Remove from the air fryer and garnish with fresh parsley.
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