Dinnertime just got a whole lot easier! Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks are coated with cornflake crumbs and seasonings. Then they're air fried to crispy, crunchy, perfection! In less than 30 minutes you'll be sitting down to a delicious meal!
Even if you're new to cooking, or nervous in the kitchen, you will be completely successful with this easy to follow and foolproof recipe for air fryer drumsticks!
If you can brush chicken drumsticks with mayonnaise and toss them with crushed cornflakes then you're going to love this recipe! I guarantee it!
This Ultimate Grilled Cheese Sandwich (showcased in the featured video) is another air fryer recipe you'll also enjoy!
**Please Note - The printable recipe card with detailed instructions, complete ingredient measurements, and nutritional information for making Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks is available near the end of this post. OR click on the "jump to recipe" tab (found below) to be taken directly to the recipe.
Jump to Recipe
The ingredient list:
- chicken drumsticks
- cornflake crumbs (found by the breadcrumbs in the market)
- Greek yogurt
- milk
- salt and pepper
- ground thyme
- ground sage
- garlic powder
How many chicken drumsticks does this recipe make?
- I made 12 chicken drumsticks with this recipe (two batches). But you can easily double, or cut the recipe in half if needed.
- Once made, these air fryer chicken drumsticks are super easy to grab for an on-the-go lunch or even quicker dinner when time is extra tight.
- They're tasty reheated or even eaten cold for in a school lunch box, or packed up for a picnic.
The easy instructions for how to make air fryer chicken drumsticks;
- Stir together the Greek yogurt, milk, salt, and pepper until creamy.
- Brush the yogurt mixture evenly over each chicken leg.
- In a medium bowl stir together the cornflakes, ground thyme, ground sage, garlic powder, remaining salt, and pepper.
- Coat each yogurt coated chicken leg evenly with the cornflake crumbs.
- Place 6 drumsticks into the air fryer and spray with a light touch of olive oil spray.
- Set to 375-degrees for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes pierce one of the biggest chicken drumsticks with a skewer. If the juices run clear (with no pink), the chicken is cooked through. OR test with a meat thermometer for an internal temperature of 165-degrees Fahrenheit.
- If the juices run pink return the chicken to the air fryer to cook for an additional 4-5 minutes.
- Continue the same process with the remaining 6 drumsticks.
Do I have to use drumsticks for this recipe?
- No. You can use whatever cut of chicken you prefer. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Chicken with bones takes longer to cook than chicken without bones.
- Dark meat takes longer to cook than light meat.
What is the proper internal temperature for cooking chicken?
- For white meat, the proper internal temperature is 160-degrees Fahrenheit.
- For dark meat, the proper internal temperature is 165-degrees Fahrenheit.
What if I don't have a meat thermometer?
- A good way to test if the chicken is cooked through is to pierce it in the thickest part with a knife or skewer. If the juices run clear, with no pinkish tinge, then it's cooked through.
- Or, give the chicken a little slice with a sharp knife (through to the center) and if it's completely opaque, it's cooked.
Does an air fryer require any oil at all?
- If I'm going to be totally honest, I've not used my air fryer without any oil, although I'm sure you can.
- However, the oil I do use is minimal. I've only been using a light spray on the things I'm cooking.
- So far I've used an olive oil spray, and grapeseed oil spray, but there are so many other spray oils to choose from which will also be perfect for the air fryer.
- Soon I'm going to branch out and use coconut oil spray for a few sweet recipes I have in mind. Stay tuned. 😉
Is an air fryer an important kitchen appliance?
- An air fryer is an appliance I didn't know I needed until I received one as a gift. Now I'm using it non-stop, and sometimes even twice a day!
- If an air fryer can take the guesswork out of cooking, and turn out perfectly browned meats, perfectly roasted vegetables, as well as delicious fried foods (but without all the oil), then why wouldn't you want to add it to your kitchen appliance wishlist?
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Below is the printable recipe card along with the exact ingredient measurements and nutritional information for making today's easy dinner recipe of air fryer chicken drumsticks.
Printable Recipe Card
Air Fryer Fried Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 12 chicken legs
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1½ cups corn flakes
- 2 teaspoons salt divided
- 1 teaspoon pepper divided
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together the yogurt, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and the milk until creamy.
- Brush each chicken leg with the yogurt mixture on all sides. Set aside.
- Add the cornflakes, remaining salt, remaining pepper, thyme, sage, and garlic powder into a medium bowl.
- Coat each chicken leg evenly with the cornflake crumb mixture.
- Add 6 of the chicken legs to the air fryer and spray sparingly with olive oil spray.
- Close the fryer and set the temperature to 375-degrees, and set the time for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, check the chicken for doneness and to make sure the juices run clear. If not, return the chicken to the fryer and cook for an additional 5 minutes (if needed).
Notes
Nutrition
I sincerely hope you've enjoyed today's recipe for foolproof air fryer chicken drumsticks as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you!
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Joyce Kidd says
Very good and easy. We don’t like hot sauce so I mixed honey and butter for basting. Super tasty
Renée says
Awesome, Joyce. Thanks for the 5-star rating!
Take good care,
Renee
Harriet Russell says
Is the coating supposed to be mayonnaise or yogurt and milk, or are they interchangeable? "The easy instructions for how to make air fryer chicken drumsticks;
Stir together the Greek yogurt, milk, salt, and pepper until creamy.
Brush the yogurt mixture evenly over each chicken leg.
In a medium bowl stir together the cornflakes, ground thyme, ground sage, garlic powder, remaining salt, and pepper.
Coat each mayonnaise coated chicken leg evenly with the cornflake crumbs."
Gaby says
I try this recipe and it took at least double the time to cook all the way through, but like waaay longer 15min after 15min after 15min. So disappointed because it looked very appealing and yummy but at the end the outside was almost burning. It wasn't a success. The only I can think of, is that My air fryer is smaller I can only fit 3 drumsticks at a time. I don't know if that would make a difference.
Renée says
Hi, Gaby! I’m sorry to hear that this recipe didn’t turn out for you. I’m not sure what type of air fryer you are using, but it does sound small. However I doubt a smaller air fryer would increase the cooking time that much. Is there a possibility that your chicken legs were partially frozen? That could account for the almost burnt outside, and longer to cook inside. Just a thought. In any case, I’m sad it wasn’t successful for you. :(. Renee
Sandra Shaffer says
That coating looks amazing! I love that you can use minimal oil to get results like this. I have had my eye on an air fryer, now I'm convinced I need one now!
Renée says
I'm loving my air fryer and I recommend one. It will be a much-used appliance in my kitchen, and probably yours.
Meagen Brosius says
The air fryer is so much fun and I love that it makes tasty recipes a little more healthy! Definitely one of my favorite appliances.
Renée says
Agreed!!
Stef says
Oooh... I also just got an airfryer as a gift and I've been on the lookout for things to try with it! I can't wait to give this a go. It sounds wonderful!
Renée says
I love my new air fryer! You'll love yours too, and you'll also love this recipe. Enjoy, Stef!
Jenn says
I think I need to borrow my friend's air fryer now! Awesome recipe and I cannot wait to try it!!
Renée says
If you can swing it, get an air fryer of your own. You'll use it all the time!