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Skin-on drumsticks receive a baking-powder spice coating before air frying. Check the thick meat beside the bone rather than relying on the twenty-minute estimate.
Ingredients and measurements
- 8 chicken drumsticks, skin on
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Preparation and cooking
- Stage 1
Pat thawed drumsticks dry. Toss with one tablespoon oil. Mix baking powder, pepper, garlic powder, salt and paprika separately, then coat chicken.
- Stage 2
Brush with the remaining tablespoon oil and arrange in an uncrowded air-fryer basket. Cook at 400°F for ten minutes.
- Stage 3
Turn and cook about ten more minutes, then check thick centers reach 165°F without touching bone with the probe. Continue as needed for larger pieces.
- Stage 4
Transfer to a clean plate and rest briefly before serving. Cook additional batches with the same temperature checks.
Use baking powder as listed. Baking soda is not an equivalent substitution and can give an unpleasant taste.
Baking powder or soda?
Only if air can circulate between them. Batch cooking is better than stacking the drumsticks.
Can eight pieces fit?
Refrigerate perishable leftovers promptly in shallow containers at 40°F or below, within two hours or one hour above 90°F. Reheat cooked leftovers to 165°F; keep cold dishes chilled.
Storage and serving
For more recipes to serve alongside, see healthy cowboy caviar salad or chicken buttered noodles. Use that recipe’s own quantities rather than mixing formulas.
Recipe source and alternatives
This is an editorial revision of the archived formula with clarified preparation and original troubleshooting notes. A Pinch Of Lemon has not kitchen-tested this version. The linked reference supports food-safety guidance only, not the entire recipe. Photographs are illustrative. Reference: FoodSafety.gov cooking-temperature guidance.
Common Questions About This Recipe
- Baking powder or soda?
Use baking powder as listed. Baking soda is not an equivalent substitution and can give an unpleasant taste.
- Can eight pieces fit?
Only if air can circulate between them. Batch cooking is better than stacking the drumsticks.