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Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks are perfectly cooked and covered in a 4 ingredient sweet and tangy apricot glaze. Ready from start to finish in about 20 minutes, this easy air fryer recipe is irresistibly delicious and perfect for a busy weeknight.
For more easy chicken recipes, try my Spinach Artichoke Chicken or Southwest Chicken Bake next!
Why We Love This Recipe
- Ready in 20 Minutes – Perfect for a busy weeknight dinner, this chicken recipe is ready in a flash! Add this to your meal plan – all you need are drumsticks and a few pantry items that you probably already have on hand.
- Air Fryer Recipe – Air fryers are a great way to cook because they use very little to no oil, and they cook quickly. If you are new to the air fryer world, I have a full guide on how to use an air fryer with over 30 recipes you can prepare in it!
- Sweet and Tangy Glaze – I love chicken drumsticks, but the Apricot Glaze puts this simple recipe over the top! It’s only 4 simple ingredients and adds a delicious umami flavor that is positively irresistible.
RECIPE WALK-THROUGH
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Drumsticks – Remove the skin to keep it a little healthier.
- 3 Ingredient Seasoning – Garlic powder, pepper, and salt. If you plan to add the apricot glaze, a simple seasoning is best. However, if you’re not planning to use the glaze, you can add whatever seasoning you want. My homemade Cajun seasoning would be a fantastic option.
- Sweet and Spicy Glaze – The glaze is optional but makes things extra delicious! It’s got a sweet and slightly spicy flavor with apricot preserves, dijon mustard, soy sauce, and chili flakes. Try this glaze on other cuts of chicken or salmon too.
How To Make Chicken Drumsticks in the Air Fryer
See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions
- Season The Chicken – In a small bowl, mix salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Make sure to pat the chicken dry really well so the spices can stick to it. Then rub the spices onto the chicken, making sure they coat the drumsticks evenly.
- Air Fry The Chicken – Place drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer if necessary. Air fry for 10 minutes, then flip the chicken legs over and continue cooking for about 10-15 minutes. Check for doneness using an instant read digital thermometer – chicken should always be cooked to 165 degrees F.
- Add The Glaze – Mix apricot preserves, soy sauce, dijon mustard, and red chili flakes in a saucepan over medium heat and stir until the glaze has thickened. After 20 minutes, remove the drumsticks from the air fryer. Brush the glaze over the drumsticks, making sure they are coated evenly, and cook for another 2 minutes.
How long do chicken drumsticks take in the air fryer?
Chicken drumsticks take around 20-25 minutes at 380℉ to cook in an air fryer. The cooking time can vary depending on the air fryer and the size of the drumsticks. To make sure the drumsticks are cooked evenly, let the chicken air fry on one side for 10 minutes and then flip on the other side for an additional 10 to 15 minutes.
A meat thermometer is recommended to make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through. Once it reaches 165℉ internal temperature, the chicken is ready to be glazed.
Recipe Tips
- Can you air fry chicken drumsticks from frozen? No, I don’t recommend it because the meat would dry out on the outside before it was cooked through.
- Glaze Alternatives – The glaze is totally optional but adds a perfectly balanced sweet and tangy layer of flavor to the chicken. As a substitute for the apricot glaze, you can use BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or a sauce of your choosing. Or you can swap the apricot preserves with orange or blackberry.
- Adjust The Spice Level – If you have sensitive mouths to feed, you can reduce or completely skip the chili flakes.
- Evenly Cooked Chicken – Make sure that the drumsticks are placed in one single layer in the air fryer so that they are evenly cooked.
- Skin or No Skin – As you can see in the photos, I removed the skin from the chicken legs. This is a personal preference – you can leave it on, and it will get nice and crispy.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these chicken drumsticks with Seasoned Rice or Homemade Baked French Fries and a veggie like Sauteed Asparagus or Honey Roasted Carrots.
Storage Tips
The Best Way to Store Leftovers
- Storage – Store leftover chicken drumsticks in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing – You can freeze cooked drumsticks for up to 6 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Thaw completely before reheating.
More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love
- Air Fryer Pork Chops (No Breading)
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
- Air Fryer Meatloaf
Apricot Glazed Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
- 8 Skinless chicken drumsticks
- 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Ground black pepper
Sauce
- ½ cup Apricot preserves
- ¼ teaspoon Red chili flakes
- ½ teaspoon Soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon Fresh parsley for garnish minced
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry and season evenly with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Place the chicken drumsticks in the air fryer basket and air fry at 380*F for 10 minutes. Flip chicken over and continue air frying for an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile make the apricot glaze. To a medium saucepan over medium heat, add apricot preserves, red chili flakes, soy sauce, and Dijon mustard. Simmer, stirring frequently, for 3-5 minutes or until the sauce has slightly thickened. Remove from the heat.
- Remove the air fried chicken drumsticks and coat with the apricot glaze and return to the air fryer basket. Air fry again for 2 more minutes at 380*F. Test to make sure that chicken reads 165 degrees on a digital thermometer.
- Remove the apricot glazed chicken drumsticks, sprinkle with chopped parsley, and serve hot.
Notes
- The glaze is optional, but delicious. You can also brush with BBQ sauce instead, or use another flavor of preserves like orange or blackberry.
- Depending on the air fryer you have, you may need to preheat – check your manual for instructions.
- The recipe was made with a 3 quart air fryer in mind. If yours is small, you may need to cook chicken in smaller batches.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.
