Description
Achieve shattered-glass crisp skin and juicy meat with this easy air fryer chicken drumstick recipe. Using a double-dusting technique with cornstarch and buttermilk, this high-protein meal is ready in under 30 minutes with minimal oil.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 to 2.5 pounds chicken drumsticks (skin-on, bone-in)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper (generous amounts)
- Buttermilk (enough to coat drumsticks)
- High smoke-point oil (avocado oil or light olive oil) for spraying
Instructions
- Pat the chicken drumsticks completely dry with paper towels to ensure crispiness.
- Place drumsticks in a bowl and pour buttermilk over them, tossing to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (ideally 2 hours).
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Remove a drumstick from the buttermilk, letting excess drip off, then press firmly into the flour mixture to pack the coating. Place on a plate or rack.
- Repeat with remaining drumsticks and let them sit for 5-10 minutes to set the coating.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes.
- Place drumsticks in the air fryer basket in a single layer without overcrowding. Spray tops lightly with oil.
- Cook for 12 minutes, then flip drumsticks and spray the other side with oil.
- Cook for another 8-12 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and skin is golden brown.
- Let drumsticks rest for 5 minutes before serving to redistribute juices.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary. Ensure the chicken is patted dry before coating. Preheating the air fryer is crucial for crispiness. For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour or almond flour. For spicy variations, add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the coating or buttermilk.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1-2 drumsticks per s
- Calories: 150
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 12
Keywords: air fryer chicken, crispy chicken drumsticks, easy dinner, high protein, meal prep, gluten-free option, healthy cooking