Chicken Legs in Air Fryer

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Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
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Need a quick, tasty and easy meal idea? These Chicken Legs in Air Fryer are perfect: crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and ready in no time!

Enjoy a delicious chicken leg at Air Fryer, served with sweet potato fries, a lemon wedge and a dollop of white sauce for the perfect meal.

Ingredients for Chicken Legs in Air Fryer

For this recipe, we’re going to marinate the legs to enhance the flavors. Here are the essentials:

  • Chicken legs: Choose quality chicken, ideally free-range for tastier meat.
  • Smoked paprika: For a slightly sweet, smoky touch.
  • Garlic powder: Perfect for seasoning meat. You can replace it with a chopped garlic clove, but it may turn black during cooking.
  • Herbes de Provence: I’ve chosen Herbes de Provence, a French herb mix similar to Italian seasoning. If you prefer, you can also substitute it with dried thyme or oregano.
  • Espelette pepper or cayenne pepper (optional): If you like your food slightly spicy.

You’ll find the exact quantities in the recipe card.

Grilled chicken leg with herbs, sweet potato fries, a lemon wedge and a dollop of sauce on a white plate.

How to prepare Chicken Legs in the Air Fryer

Prepare the chicken legs: Dry them well with paper towels, to allow the skin to crisp up during cooking. Season with salt and pepper.

Two quarters of raw chicken thighs, perfectly seasoned with pepper for a delicious recipe for Air-Fried Chicken Thighs, are placed on a round gray plate on a white marble surface.

Prepare the marinade: mix in a small bowl:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil,
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika,
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder,
  • 1/2 teaspoon herbes de Provence,
  • And a pinch of Espelette pepper or cayenne pepper if you like it spicy.

Brush the chicken thighs generously with the marinade on all sides. If you have time, you can leave them to marinate for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator, to give them even more flavor.

Air Fryer cooking: Preheat your Air Fryer to 390°F (200 °C) for 3 minutes. Place the chicken thighs in the basket, taking care not to stack them.

Two seasoned chicken thighs in an air fryer basket on a marble countertop with spice jars in the background.

Cook the chicken thighs for 25 to 30 minutes in the Air Fryer, turning after 20 minutes for even browning. You can check the internal temperature: chicken legs are perfectly cooked when they reach 165°F (75°C).

Two quarters of seasoned chicken thighs cooked in an air fryer basket, with one hand holding the basket handle.

Ideas for variations

  • Vary the spices: prepare your marinade with cumin, coriander powder and turmeric.
  • Honey: Add a little honey to your marinade to caramelize the chicken even more.
  • Greek yogurt marinade: Add 1/4 cup (60 g) Greek yogurt to the marinade and marinate for at least 2 hours: the yogurt’s acidity will help tenderize the meat even more!

What to serve your Air Fyer Chicken Legs with?

For a complete meal, you can accompany these delicious Chicken Legs in Air Fryer with :

Frequently asked questions

How long do Chicken Legs in Air Fryer keep?

They keep for 2 to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Heat them in the Air Fryer at 320°F (160°C) for 5-6 minutes.

Can I freeze marinated Chicken Legs in Air Fryer?

Yes, place in an airtight bag before freezing. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.

Can I use chicken thighs or breasts instead?

Absolutely! Simply adjust the cooking time according to the size of the pieces, 20-25 minutes should be enough!

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Recipe Card

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Chicken Legs in Air Fryer

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Elevate your weeknight dinners with these simple Air Fryer Chicken Legs – crispy, juicy, and incredibly easy to make!
Grilled chicken leg with herbs, sweet potato fries, a lemon wedge and a dollop of sauce on a white plate.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Course Main course
Cuisine French
Servings 2
Calories 407 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 chicken legs
  • Salt and pepper

Marinade

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon herbes de Provence or dried thyme or oregano
  • 1 pinch of Espelette pepper or Cayenne pepper

Instructions
 

Prepare the chicken legs:

  • Pat dry the chicken legs with paper towels. Add salt and pepper.

For the marinade :

  • In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, herbes de Provence and Espelette or Cayenne pepper.
  • Brush chicken legs generously with the mixture, making sure to cover all surfaces.

Cooking :

  • Preheat your Air Fryer to 390°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
  • Place the chicken legs in the Air Fryer basket without overlapping them.
  • Cook for 25-30 minutes, turning the legs after 20 minutes. Time may vary according to the size of the legs and the model of your Air Fryer.

Nutrition

Calories: 407kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 21gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 120mgSodium: 129mgPotassium: 302mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 623IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 2mg
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