Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks! This marinated chicken drumsticks recipe in an air fryer is easy to follow, made with ingredients you can easily find in your pantry and immersed in one of the best marinades.
You can do without the oven and cook this marinated chicken in the air fryer. This marinated air fryer chicken is tender, juicy, and deliciously crispy.
If you like your air fryer chicken recipes, you will love this air fryer stuffed chicken breast.

Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Recipe
There are different ways to cook chicken, but I decided to air fry my chicken in my instant pot vortex air fryer. It is quicker especially when cooking small portions; you can use the air fry or roast function. I used chicken drumsticks for this recipe, but you can use any cuts of chicken you prefer.
This is the air fryer recipe you didn't think you need but you will be thankful for having it in your repertoire. With 4 ingredients of marinade and salt and pepper, the chicken can be on the dinner table in 20 minutes.
This recipe allows you to plan your meal. You can use any marinade you want; homemade or store-bought. This air fryer chicken is healthy, low carb, and gluten-free!
Chicken can be served with a variety of side dishes. Here are some ideas of what to serve with this air fryer marinated chicken drumsticks, potatoes, vegetables, rice, and pasta dish.
To cook the chicken, you need to marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes or up to 12 hours in the fridge.
The marinated chicken air fryer temperature is 390F/195C and cooking is 20 to 25 minutes depending on the state of the chicken (frozen or fresh) or the thickness of the chicken; cook until the internal temperature reaches 165F/74C flipping it halfway through.
The cooking time will be increased by about 5-8 minutes depending on the cut of chicken used. I have used frozen marinated drumsticks and it was done in 25 minutes.

Ingredients
Chicken drumsticks: you can substitute with boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts.
Olive oil: I have used chilli-infused olive oil. Substitute with any other cooking oil of your choice.
Onion powder
Garlic granules: substitute with garlic powder or freshly minced garlic
Mixed herbs
Lemon juice
Salt and black pepper to taste

Air fryer temperature varies depending on size, make, and model. My delicious cravings recipe time is subject to a preheated air fryer. If you are trying this recipe for the first time, deduct 2 minutes from the cooking time and increase it if needed to allow the food to cook evenly.
How to Cook Marinated Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Prep the chicken: remove unwanted fat from the chicken and transfer it into a large bowl or Ziploc bag.
- Make the marinade: whisk olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic granules, mixed herbs, salt, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl until combined.
- Marinate the chicken: pour the chicken marinade over the chicken drumsticks and massage gently with your hand until the chicken is well coated. Allow to sit and marinate for at least 30 minutes to 12 hours in the fridge or more in the freezer.
- Air fry the chicken: Preheat the air fryer at 390F/195C for 3-5 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.
- Place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F/74C flipping it halfway through.
- Transfer the chicken from the air fryer basket to a plate, cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for about 5 minutes. Serve immediately with any side of your choice. Enjoy!

How to Store and Reheat
Fridge: cooked chicken can be stored for up to 4 days in an airtight container.
Freezer: store for up to 2 months.
Reheat the chicken in the air fryer, oven, or microwave until hot.
Recipe

Marinated Chicken in Air Fryer (Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks)
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic granules
- ¼ teaspoon mixed herbs
- 4 Tablespoons lemon juice
- black pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Prep the chicken: remove unwanted fat from the chicken and transfer into a large bowl or Ziploc bag.
- Make the marinade: whisk olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic granules, mixed herbs, salt, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl until combined.
- Marinate the chicken: pour the chicken marinade over the chicken drumsticks and massage gently with your hand until the chicken is well coated. Allow to sit and marinate for at least 30 minutes to 12 hours in the fridge or more in the freezer.
- Air fry the chicken: Preheat the air fryer at 390F/195C for 3-5 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.
- Place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F/74C flipping it halfway through.
- Transfer the chicken from the air fryer basket to a plate, cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for about 5 minutes. Serve immediately with any side of your choice. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Tips
- You can use any seasoning of your choice, lemon pepper seasoning or all-purpose.
- Marinate the chicken for at least one hour up to 12 hours so it gets the full benefit of the marinade.
- Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- You can marinate the chicken in small batches and keep it in the freezer for later use.
- If there isn’t enough time to marinate, cook immediately.
- You can cook in batches to avoid overlapping.

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