Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Drumsticks
Chicken becomes magically crispy, while staying juicy, when cooked in an air fryer. These tasty drumsticks are coated in a garlic seasoning blend and Parmesan cheese.
Ready for delicious, crispy drumsticks in about half of the time compared to oven baking? I’ve got you covered! These Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Drumsticks are super easy to make, are juicy with crispy skin, and won’t heat up your kitchen like using an oven would.
Ingredients needed
- chicken drumsticks
- parmesan cheese
- baking powder
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- salt & pepper
Don’t overcrowd your air fryer
If your goal is crispy skinned drumsticks, you have to resist the urge to stack the chicken up. One flat layer is key.
Consider using air fryer liners for easy cleanup
I am totally hooked on using parchment liners specifically made for air fryers, particularly for foods that may ooze cheese or may generally be messy as they cook.
A word of caution when using air fryer liners
That being said, it is super important that you don’t run your air fryer with only the liner in it. If nothing is in the fryer to weigh down the liner, the air blowing around can push it to the top heating element and catch it on fire. So, preheat your air fryer when it is totally empty. Pull out the fryer basket, fill with your food, and you are set to go!
You can remove the skin if you prefer
Of course you aren’t going to get that crispy skin, but it will still be a delicious drumstick.
A few additional pops of flavor
After the chicken is finished cooking in the air fryer, add extra Parmesan cheese. I also like a squeeze of fresh lemon over the cooked chicken.
Fresh Parmesan vs. green bottle Parmesan
Fresh Parmesan is best but if all you have is the stuff in the green bottle, it still works!
Looking for more chicken recipes? Check these out!
- Country Club Chicken
- 2 Ingredient Sticky Barbecue Chicken
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Casserole with Crouton Topping
- Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken Bacon Sandwiches
- Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad
Reheating instructions
My personal go to method of reheating while still getting that crispy skin is to nuke it in the microwave for about two minutes to get the chill off of it, then put it in the air fryer for about 5 minutes to re-crisp that tasty skin.
Can you bake them in the oven?
To bake these in the oven, bake at 375-f degrees for about 35 minutes, or until cooked through and the internal temp of the meat is 165-f degrees.
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Drumsticks
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken drumsticks 4 medium drumsticks
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray
Optional garnishes:
- Parmesan cheese
- squeeze fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- In a large Ziploc, combine the Parmesan cheese, baking powder, onion and garlic powders, salt and pepper. Shake bag to combine.
- Using a paper towel, pat the chicken dry. Sprinkle evenly with baking powder.
- Add the chicken drumsticks to the bag and firmly press the seasoning mix into the skin of the chicken, coating well. (If for some reason your seasoning mix is super dry and won't adhere, spray the chicken lightly with an oil spray.)
- Preheat air fryer at 370-f degrees. Add a liner to the basket after preheating (not before!). Add the drumsticks. Lightly spray with cooking oil of choice, such as olive oil or vegetable oil. Regular canned cooking spray, like Pam, is not recommended in air fryers.
- Air fry for 24 minutes, flipping half way through. Turn the heat up to 400-f degrees and cook for an additional 4 minutes. Remove from fryer and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra Parmesan cheese or fresh lemon juice if using.