This air fryer frozen chicken drumsticks recipe is what you need to make tender, flavorful, and delicious frozen chicken legs in air fryer without thawing them. Can you air fry frozen chicken? Yes! It is easy, and quick, and this post will show you seasoning options, how long to cook, tips, and answer frequently asked questions.
Take out the frozen drumsticks from the freezer. Remove all packaging, and rinse the chicken with water to melt away any ice from the surface. Alternatively, you can thaw them for about two minutes in the air fryer at 365F. While this step is not mandatory, it's just one of those little tricks that I use to ensure none of the flavor from seasoning gets wasted.
Mix paprika, garlic powder, onion granules, salt and pepper, and Italian seasoning then add olive oil to the seasoning to turn it into a wet seasoning.
Rub the seasoning mix all over the drumsticks ensuring all the sides are covered in the seasoning mix.
Arrange the drumsticks in the fryer basket in a single layer so that each piece is spaced from the other.
Set the air fryer temperature to 400F/200C, and air fry frozen drumsticks for 25-30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches at least 165F/75C. Also, remember to flip the drumsticks halfway through the total cooking time.
Take the chicken legs out of the fryer, and let them rest for 5 minutes.
Serve the drumsticks with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
Remove ice from the chicken's surface before brushing it with the seasoning mix. This will help the seasonings cling to the chicken as it cooks.
Use an instant thermometer to check the chicken's internal temperature to ensure it's not undercooked. An internal temperature of at least 165F means the chicken is cooked.
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. This could lead to uneven cooking, with some drumsticks ending up even raw. Instead, try cooking them in batches if necessary.
Remember to flip the chicken halfway through the cooking time. You don't want your chicken burned on one side and undercooked on the other.
Please don't open the air fryer too often during cooking. It might result in significant heat escape and, hence, longer cooking time.
Feel free to experiment. The seasonings mentioned in this recipe are the ones I like to use. You can use any of your favorite seasonings.