Chicken Legs in Air Fryer
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!

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.

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.

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.

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).

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 :
- Oven Roasted Vegetables with Feta
- Air Fryer potatoes
- Creamy Polenta with Parmesan
- Tomatoes à la Provençale
- Rice Salad with Tuna, Corn and Tomatoes
- Tian of vegetables
- Ratatouille, traditional recipe
Frequently asked questions
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.
Yes, place in an airtight bag before freezing. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.
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
Chicken Legs in Air Fryer
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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.