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Home » Budget Friendly

How To Make BBQ Chicken Drumsticks In The Air Fryer

Jan 3, 2023Last Modified: January 3, 2023

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post will show you How To Make BBQ Chicken Drumsticks in The Air Fryer!

Barbecue Chicken drumsticks in an air fryer basket.
Jump to:
  • Why You Will Love This Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Recipe
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Super Easy Instructions
  • Target Internal Temperature For Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
  • What To Serve With Your BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
  • FAQ
  • Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!
  • Super Easy Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Do you fancy a delicious BBQ chicken dinner ready in about 30 minutes? Then you've come to the right place!

I'm delighted to show you how you can create this quick and easy dinner in your air fryer.

So get ready to enjoy some finger licking good barbecue chicken drumsticks!

Why You Will Love This Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Recipe

You will absolutely love this Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Recipe because:

  • These bbq chicken drumsticks are DELISH! The chicken is tender and juicy and when coated in your favorite barbecue sauce it is irresistable!
  • Making this in your air fryer is super EASY! You'll definitely want to file this under your "easy chicken recipes" recipe category.
  • You only need 3 ingredients and your air fryer and you're ready to go!
  • You'll have a delicious chicken dinner on your table in about 30 minutes.

So now let me tell you what ingredients you will need for this easy recipe!

🥘 Ingredients

As has been noted, you will only need 3 simple ingredients to make this air fryer chicken recipe. They are:

  • Chicken drumsticks - try to select drumsticks that are similar in size to each other so they can be finished at the same time
  • Dry rub - use your favorite dry rub for this dish
  • Barbecue sauce - use your favorite barbecue sauce
Raw chicken drumsticks on a white plate with a blue silicone utensil resting on the side of the plate, a bowl of barbecue sauce and a bowl of dry rub.

And that's all you will need for this delicious recipe! Oh by the way, as you can see oil is not listed as one of the ingredients! However, if you want you can rub a little olive oil onto the drumsticks prior to adding the dry rub.

If you don't have a dry rub available, you can simply season with what you have on hand. Some suggestions are salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.

🔪 Super Easy Instructions

Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Then liberally season the drumsticks with your favorite dry rub.

Now place the drumsticks in a single layer in your air fryer basket. It's important that they are in a single layer and try not to crowd them. You will need to cook the chicken in batches if you have more chicken than will fit in a single layer in your air fryer.

Raw chicken drumsticks seasoned with a dry rub in an air fryer basket. One of the drumsticks has a MEATER + thermometer inserted in it.

Parchment paper is optional. If you'd like to line your basket with parchment paper that's absolutely fine.

If your air fryer requires preheating, then set it to 350F and let it preheat for a few minutes (without parchment paper) until you reach the desired temperature.

Cook the drumsticks in your air fryer for around 20 minutes at 350F. After 20 minutes, use an instant read meat thermometer to get the internal temperature of the chicken to get an idea of how much longer you may need to cook the chicken to reach a target internal temperature of 170F.

You can also use a MEATER + wireless meat thermometer which will guide you as to how long you actually need to cook the chicken to get your desired results (more about this below). If you are using a MEATER + thermometer then insert it prior to cooking and use it as a guideline to fine tune your cooking time.

Seasoned chicken drumsticks which have been cooked in an air fryer in an air fryer basket. One of the drumsticks has a MEATER meat thermometer inserted.
Appearance after 20 minutes of air frying - I inserted the MEATER + at the beginning of the 20 minute cook time.

Now baste the all sides of the drumsticks with your fave barbecue sauce. Most likely you will baste the chicken as you find it in the air fryer basket, then turn it over with tongs and baste the other side.

BBQ chicken drumsticks in an air fryer basket some are not basted with barbecue sauce and some have been basted with a blue silicone baster.

Leave it on the flip side to cook for somewhere up to 10 additional minutes (see below). Baste it once more when finished. Slather that sauce on your chicken to your heart's content!

4 bbq chicken drumsticks in an air fryer basket with one being held by blue tongs in the foreground.

Target Internal Temperature For Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks

I mention cooking up to 10 additional minutes because there are variations amongst different air fryers so you may need to adjust your cooking time just a bit. Additionally your chicken pieces may be larger or smaller than the chicken pieces I used for this recipe. Feel free to open up your air fryer at any time to check on your chicken.

The most important thing is to be sure to cook until the internal temp reaches around 170F. If it hasn't reached this temperature, return the drumsticks to cook at 350F for a few more minutes.

You can use an instant read meat thermometer, or I recommend the MEATER + Wireless Meat Thermometer for best results. The MEATER + Thermometer can be used inside your air fryer and will stay inserted in your chicken during the cook time.

A hand holding a MEATER + meat thermometer unit.

The MEATER Meat Thermometer is a wireless blue tooth enabled thermometer which I now find indispensable. You can set your desired temperature using the MEATER app and it will tell you when your food is ready. It's a game changer!

If you are using the MEATER, then insert it at the beginning of the 20 minute cooking time. Follow the MEATER guidelines to help you adjust the cooking time to get the best results for your bbq drumsticks.

What To Serve With Your BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Barbecue Chicken drumsticks in an air fryer basket.

Your delicious Air Fryer BBQ Chicken pairs well with all of your favorite side dishes! Some I'd like to recommend are Southern Macaroni Salad, Refreshing Southern Cucumber Salad, and Delicious and Hearty Pink Beans.

I hope you will agree with me that these drumsticks are finger licking delicious!

FAQ

Can you put raw chicken in an air fryer?

Yes! Your air fryer does a great job of cooking raw chicken to the perfect temperature that you desire!

Are drumsticks good in the air fryer?

Your air fryer is a great appliance to use for creating some delicious drumsticks! When cooking drumsticks in the air fryer, you actually don't need any oil (as in this recipe) so it's healthier too!

What temperature do you cook chicken drumsticks in an air fryer?

350F is a good temperature to cook chicken drumsticks in your air fryer. The air fryer is like a convection oven so it's best not to use a temperature that is too high as you won't achieve best results.

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Cheers!

Grace

Barbecue Chicken drumsticks in an air fryer basket.

Super Easy Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks

Grace
BBQ Chicken Drumsticks cooked in your air fryer is super easy and incredibly delicious! You only need 3 ingredients and less than 30 minutes for this finger licking good BBQ chicken!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 27 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people
Calories 680 kcal

Equipment

  • air fryer
  • instant read meat thermometer
  • MEATER + meat thermometer optional but it's a game changer for when you cook meat!

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lb chicken drumsticks keep the skin on and try to select drumsticks that are roughly the same size
  • 2 tablespoon dry rub use your favorite dry rub for this dish; season the chicken very liberally with the dry rub; also see notes below for suggestions on seasonings to use if you don't have a dry rub available
  • ¾ cup barbecue sauce use your favorite bbq sauce for this dish; may need to adjust the quantity of sauce called for in this recipe to your needs

Instructions
 

  • Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Then liberally season the drumsticks with your favorite dry rub. Now place the drumsticks in a single layer in your air fryer basket. It's important that they are in a single layer and try not to crowd them. You will need to cook the chicken in batches if you have more chicken than will fit in a single layer in your air fryer. If you like, you can line your basket with parchment paper.
    Raw chicken drumsticks seasoned with a dry rub in an air fryer basket. One of the drumsticks has a MEATER + thermometer inserted in it.
  • If your air fryer requires preheating, then set it to 350F and let it preheat for a few minutes (without parchment paper) until you reach the desired temperature. Cook the drumsticks in your air fryer for around 20 minutes at 350F. (If you are using a MEATER thermometer then insert it prior to cooking and use it as a guideline to fine tune your cooking time). After 20 minutes, use an instant read meat thermometer to get the internal temperature of the chicken (if not using the MEATER).
    Seasoned chicken drumsticks which have been cooked in an air fryer in an air fryer basket. One of the drumsticks has a MEATER meat thermometer inserted.
  • Now baste the all sides of the drumsticks with your fave barbecue sauce. Most likely you will baste the chicken as you find it in the air fryer basket, then turn the drumsticks over with tongs and baste the other side. Leave it on the flip side to cook for somewhere up to 10 additional minutes to an internal temperature of 170F. (See notes below).
    BBQ chicken drumsticks in an air fryer basket some are not basted with barbecue sauce and some have been basted with a blue silicone baster.
  • Baste it once more when finished. Slather that sauce on your chicken to your heart's content!
    4 bbq chicken drumsticks in an air fryer basket with one being held by blue tongs in the foreground.

Notes

If you don't have a dry rub available, you can simply season with what you have on hand. Some suggestions are salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
Oil is not called for in this recipe. However, if you want you can rub a little olive oil onto the drumsticks prior to adding the dry rub. 
I mention cooking up to 10 additional minutes because there are variations amongst different air fryers so you may need to adjust your cooking time just a bit. Additionally your chicken pieces may be larger or smaller than the chicken pieces I used for this recipe. Feel free to open up your air fryer at any time to check on your chicken.
The most important thing is to be sure to cook until the internal temp reaches around 170F. If it hasn't reached this temperature, return the drumsticks to cook at 350F for a few more minutes.
You can use an instant read meat thermometer, or I recommend the MEATER + Wireless Meat Thermometer for best results. The MEATER + Thermometer can be used inside your air fryer and will stay inserted in your chicken during the cook time.
If you are using the MEATER, then insert it at the beginning of the 20 minute cooking time. Follow the MEATER guidelines to help you adjust the cooking time to get the best results for your bbq drumsticks.

Nutrition

Calories: 680kcalCarbohydrates: 47gProtein: 55gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 280mgSodium: 1422mgPotassium: 954mgFiber: 1gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 485IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 106mgIron: 4mg
Keyword air fryer, barbecue chicken, bbq, Chicken, chicken drumsticks
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About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

Chief Taste Tester Toby

Toby Chief Taste Tester

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