If there’s one thing air fryers are renowned for, it’s achieving a crisp texture on otherwise tender foods. Potatoes and salmon are among the most popular foods in these modern appliances, but many home cooks are wary about meat. However, the air fryer holds the secret to turning soft chicken skin into a textured delight without using copious amounts of oil or butter.
Seasoning is also essential for any meat you cook in an air fryer, particularly chicken drumsticks. A Food52 contributor shared a simple garlic air-fried chicken recipe that can be prepared in five minutes. They said: “Air fryer chicken legs that are tender and juicy on the inside and crispy and caramelised on the outside. Easy to make and very tasty.”
Method
Coating the chicken in delicious seasoning is the first step in ensuring the texture and flavour are spot on.
Add the oil and lemon juice to a bowl, followed by the garlic powder and dried oregano.
Sprinkle in the pepper and the brown sugar before adding the chicken legs to the bowl. Move them around in the bowl to coat every side of the drumsticks.
Set the chicken aside for at least 30 minutes to soak up the seasoning and oil, then preheat the air fryer to the chicken setting, or 200C if you don’t have a specific setting.
Place the chicken legs inside the air fryer and close it after 20 to 25 minutes. Remove the chicken legs from the air fryer when the timer is up. Serve them hot as a snack or accompany them with vegetables, salad, or potatoes for a complete meal.