Simple Air Fryer Drumsticks with Italian Seasoning

These fast air fryer drumsticks require only a handful of ingredients and few minutes to whip up. Serve alongside a salad or some sweet potatoes and dinner is done in a flash!

We eat chicken at least once per week, and drumsticks happen to be my kids’ favorite cut, so I’m always looking for new ways to cook them. Obviously, there’s the old stand-by of grilling them. I also often roast them in the oven with bbq sauce, poultry marinade, or honey mustard. But giving them a go in the air fryer seems like an obvious choice, as it’s fast and easy, and gives a nice, crispy finish.

If you’re new to air fryer cooking, you may be wondering what all the hype is about. Allow me to share!

Air frying is economical. While I personally think deep frying foods in traditional fats can be very healthy, it can also be very costly. By using an air fryer, you reduce the amount of fat needed.

Air frying is fast. Cooking foods in an air fryer is usually faster than baking them in the oven because of the high-speed air movement.

Cook multiple foods at once. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may be able to cook your whole meal together at once, saving time and dishes.

Tips for getting the most out of your air fryer

There are some basic tips to make the best food possible with your air fryer.

First, you should pre-heat the air fryer. Some appliances will have a pre-heat setting. If not, you can turn your fryer on ahead of time to ensure it reaches to proper temperature before putting in your food.

In general, you want to cook with some oil. Choose healthy oils like traditional animal fats, butter, and coconut oil. Using fat in your recipes will help ensure your food gets crispy.

Flip and re-coat food partway through cooking. Adding oil and turning the food will help ensure even cooking and that your food gets crispy.

How to choose an air fryer

With so many options to choose from, how do you know what to look for?

First off, look for appliances without a non-stick coating, and prefer those with stainless steel cook surfaces.

Machines that offer multiple cooking functions are also desirable. This saves money and counter space in the long run.

In addition, it’s nice to have a fryer that can hold a good amount of food for bigger families and for cooking multiple dishes.

Here are a few to check out:

The Cuisinart AirFryer and Convection Toaster Oven, which features a stainless steel basket and multiple cooking functions, 
the Gourmia GTF7600 16-in-1 Multi-function, Digital Stainless Steel Air Fryer Oven which features 16 cook pre-sets, 
and the COSORI 12-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven Convection Roaster with Rotisserie & Dehydrator.

Italian Seasoning Air Fryer Drumsticks: ingredient notes

As always, I aim for recipes to be healthy, paleo-inspired, and adaptable. Here are a few notes to make these air fryer drumsticks as healthy as possible for your family.

1. Be choosy with your Italian seasoning. Look for a packet with organic ingredients that is free from additives. Alternatively, use about 4-5 tsp of your favorite pre-mixed Italian seasoning. This and this are both good choices.
2. You can replace the butter with your fat of choice if you don’t eat dairy. Other good options are avocado oil, ghee, or palm oil.
3. Look for pastured chicken when possible in order to get the most nutrients out of your protein. 

Now on to the simple recipe!