These Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs are perfect for an easy weeknight dinner that's full of sweet and smoky flavor in just 20 minutes!
I'm a little late to the air fryer game. I didn't think I wanted another appliance taking up counter space. But I kept seeing all of these mouthwatering recipes on social media using an air fryer, so I decided to try it out, and now I'm hooked!
It's perfect when you don't want to heat up the oven for a smaller meal, and in many cases, the results are better than the oven. These air fryer chicken legs are a great example.
Cooking chicken legs in the air fryer is one of the best and easiest ways to cook them. The hot circulating air crisps the skin, and the meat becomes moist and juicy. It's a real game-changer!
Why this Recipe Works
- Crisp Skin, Juicy Meat - The air fryer's convection cooking is perfect for producing crispy skin, and the faster cooking helps keep the meat moist and juicy.
- Flavorful - In this recipe, I season them with barbecue rub and finish them off with a basting of barbecue sauce, so they're loaded with sweet and smoky flavor.
- Quick and Easy - The best part is they're done in just 20 minutes, and clean up is a breeze!
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Legs - Legs are great for the air fryer because the skin gets crispy, and the meat stays nice and juicy even if you slightly overcook them.
- BBQ Rub - Choose your favorite barbecue rub seasoning or try my homemade all-purpose BBQ rub.
- Barbecue Sauce - Like the rub, you can choose your favorite BBQ sauce or try one of my homemade sauces like my tangy Alabama White Sauce.
See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Cook Chicken Legs in an Air Fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 375℉.
- Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels. Then, lightly coat them with olive oil and season them on all sides with the BBQ rub.
- Place the legs in the air fryer in a single layer with a bit of space between them. Cook for 16-18 minutes, flipping occasionally, until they reach an internal temperature of 170℉.
- Brush the chicken legs with BBQ sauce and cook for another minute. Then remove them from the air fryer and serve hot.
Expert Tips
- Line the air fryer basket with a parchment liner or foil to make cleanup easier.
- The skin can burn, especially if the rub you use contains sugar, so keep an eye on the chicken and flip it every 4-5 minutes.
- To avoid burning the sauce, don't cook the chicken legs for more than a minute or two after basting them with the sauce.
- If you need to make a larger amount, work in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer and preventing air circulation.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Legs
I love serving these air fryer barbecue chicken legs with my smoked gouda mac and cheese. It's a perfect combination with the sweet and smoky chicken legs and the creamy, smoky mac and cheese!
Other classic barbecue side dishes like my Instant Pot Baked Beans are also a great option. And for a green veggie, my broccoli salad is a delicious pairing.
Storage and Reheating
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated for up to 4 days. The cooked chicken legs can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
Reheat leftovers in your air fryer at 325°F for around 3 minutes until warm.
More Air Fryer Recipes
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Legs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5-6 chicken legs
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon Barbecue Rub Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375℉.
- Pat the chicken legs dry with paper towels. Then, lightly coat them with olive oil and season them with the BBQ rub on all sides.
- Place the legs in the air fryer in a single layer with a bit of space between them. Cook them for 16-18 minutes, flipping occasionally, until they reach an internal temperature of 170℉.
- Brush the chicken legs with BBQ sauce and cook for another minute. Then remove them from the air fryer and serve hot.
Notes
- Line the air fryer basket with a parchment liner or foil to make cleanup easier.
- The skin can burn, especially if the rub you use contains sugar, so keep an eye on the chicken and flip it every 4-5 minutes.
- To avoid burning the sauce, don't cook the chicken legs for more than a minute or two after basting them with the sauce.
* All nutrition information we provide are estimates based on third party calculators. We encourage you to calculate these on your own for accurate results.
Lorie Smith says
Can you tell me what kind of barbecue rub seasoning you use? There are so many out there. Yours looks so good I don't want to mess up the recipe!
Scott says
Hi Lorie, for this recipe I used Kosmos Q Honey Killer Bee seasoning. You could also use my homemade BBQ rub recipe, but I'd reduce the sugar to 1 Tbsp to avoid burning the sugar in the higher heat of the air fryer.