Buffalo Drumsticks in the Air Fryer

Buffalo Drumsticks made in the air fryer are an easy, healthy way to enjoy buffalo chicken. The spicy, creamy sauce is the perfect complement to crispy chicken drumsticks. And you can make them in your air fryer, so they’re always perfectly cooked. Enjoy!

Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks Air Fryer Recipe

Looking for a delicious and perfect meal? Look no further than these Air Fryer buffalo chicken legs! This is a quick recipe, and it’s so good. You can also use chicken thighs or whole wings for this recipe! I mean, who doesn’t love air fryer buffalo chicken?

Buffalo drumsticks in the air fryer are tender, juicy chicken drumsticks coated in a spicy buffalo sauce and then air fried until crispy. This is an excellent alternative to air fryer buffalo chicken wings! Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, and you’ve got a meal the whole family will love!

And if you love this buffalo chicken drumsticks air fryer recipe, you’ll also love my SAVORY HERB CHICKEN THIGHS, EASY AIR FRYER CHICKEN TENDERS, AIR FRYER REAL GOOD STUFFED CHICKEN, and AIR FRYER LEMON CHICKEN.

Why You’ll Love Buffalo Chicken Legs

• You can make buffalo chicken legs in just minutes
• Way healthier than deep-fried chicken
• Perfect game day or weeknight meal
• So easy in the air fryer!

What is Buffalo Chicken?

Buffalo chicken may seem confusing — buffalo and chickens aren’t the same animal! Buffalo chicken instead gets its name from Buffalo, New York, where the dish was invented.

You can serve buffalo wings, buffalo chicken breast, or like this recipe, buffalo chicken drumsticks! You can decide whether to coat the chicken in buffalo sauce before or after cooking — or both!

Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks

Are you looking for an appetizer or main course that will wow your guests? Then you need to try these air fryer buffalo chicken drumsticks! They are delicious and easy to make.

Plus, this buffalo drumsticks air fryer recipe is a healthy alternative to air fryer buffalo wings. And they are so much healthier than deep frying!

For the full recipe and step-by-step directions, scroll to the bottom for the full ingredients list in the printable recipe card below, as well as the nutritional information.

• Chicken Drumsticks
• Butter
• Buffalo Sauce: Use your favorite Buffalo sauce. I used RedHot Original Sauce for this recipe, but you can use your favorite.

How to Make Buffalo Drumsticks In An Air Fryer

Step 1: Marinate Drumsticks

Add your chicken drumsticks to a large Ziploc bag or into a large bowl, then pour the sauce over the drumsticks.

Pour the melted butter into the bag and mix everything around until the drumsticks are well coated. Let the buffalo drumsticks marinate in the refrigerator for about an hour.

Step 2: Air Fry Drumsticks

Place the buffalo chicken legs into the air fryer basket and set the temperature to 400 degrees F.

Cook for 15 minutes, then flip each piece and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes. Remove when the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.

Pro Tips For The Best Air Fryer Buffalo Drumsticks

• The skin is up to you. You can either leave the skin on or remove the skin when you make these buffalo chicken drumsticks. Either way, the recipe will work! I love the crispy chicken skin that these cooking methods give you, but it’s really a taste preference.
• Be sure to flip. Unless your air fryer model doesn’t require it, be sure to flip the chicken legs halfway through the cooking process. This way both sides get perfectly cooked.
• Avoid crowding. For best results, do not crowd the air fryer basket. Leave plenty of space between the chicken legs to help them cook up to perfection! Also, place chicken in a single layer so the hot air can easily circulate around all sides.
• Seasonings and spices: Add garlic powder, onion powder, or a dry rub for an extra punch of flavor!
• Dry the chicken before cooking. Use a paper towel to dry the chicken legs before marinating to get rid of the excess moisture. It helps the sauce stick to the surface and guarantees crispy results when making this buffalo chicken drumsticks air fryer recipe.
• Cook to temperature. Since every air fryer is slightly different, I highly recommend that you use a meat thermometer to check on the internal temperature of your chicken. It is the only true way that you will know when your chicken is fully cooked!
• Use your favorite trusty air fryer. I have prepared this recipe with the Instant Pot Vortex, Power Air Fryer XL, Cosori, and even Ninja Foodi. The recipe will work the same. The size of your air fryer will determine how many chicken drumsticks you can cook at one time.

What’s the Best Buffalo Sauce to Use?

There are so many to choose from! I used the most famous, Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, but you can change your buffalo sauce to any of your favorites — including homemade!

If you are following a keto or low carb friendly recipe, use Noble Made Hot Buffalo Sauce. If you want a gluten-free chicken recipe, use Yo Mama’s Original Buffalo Sauce.

How Long to Cook Chicken Legs in Air Fryer

The average time to cook these buffalo chicken drumsticks is about 20 to 25 minutes when cooked at 400 degrees F.

But remember, since every air fryer is slightly different, I highly recommend that you use a meat thermometer to check on the internal temperature of your chicken. It is the only true way that you will know when your chicken is fully cooked, and cooking times will vary.

You should always prioritize cooking to temperature rather than following time guidelines exactly.

How to Reheat Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks

If you’ve got some leftover buffalo drumsticks, the best way to reheat them is in the air fryer. Air frying them will give them a crispy outside and keep them juicy inside. Plus, it only takes a few minutes to do! Here’s how to reheat chicken legs in an air fryer.

1. Place the chicken legs into the air fryer basket.
2. Set the temperature to 350 degrees F using the air fryer setting.
3. If you have additional buffalo sauce, brush it onto the chicken legs.
4. Heat until the chicken legs are warmed through, about 3-4 minutes.

You can also reheat by cooking your drumsticks in the microwave. Just be aware that you’ll lose the crispy exterior when you do that.

Can You Use Frozen Drumsticks?

You can absolutely use frozen drumsticks for this buffalo drumsticks air fryer recipe. You’ll follow the same directions, but the cook time will be longer to account for thawing the chicken.

1. Add the frozen chicken drumsticks to the air fryer basket.
2. Set the temperature to 360 degrees F using the air fryer setting.
3. Cook for 30 minutes, flipping halfway during the cooking process.

That said, I suggest thawing your chicken as much as possible before marinating and cooking. This allows the flavor to seep into the meat rather than into the ice for a better end result.

How Can You Make Buffalo Drumsticks Less Spicy?

In its most basic form, buffalo sauce is essentially just butter and hot sauce. To make it less spicy, simply use more butter or add a sweetener such as honey or agave to even it out.

You can also mix your buffalo sauce with a creamy, mild sauce like bleu cheese or ranch to tone down the heat and add some depth to the flavor.

Sides For Air Fryer Chicken Legs

Serve buffalo drumsticks with your favorite vegetable and a side of mashed potatoes for a hearty, flavorful meal any day of the week!

You can serve so many things with this buffalo chicken drumsticks air fryer recipe to make them into a full, hearty meal. Some of my favorites are:

• Air Fryer Macaroni and Cheese
• Air Fryer Parsnip Fries
• Air Fryer Frozen Carrots
• Garden Salad
• Blue Cheese Dressing
• Ranch Dressing
• Carrot Sticks

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes:

• AIR FRYER COPYCAT BUFFALO WILD WINGS BUFFALO WINGS
• AIR FRYER CHICKEN FAJITA BURRITOS
• AIR FRYER CHINESE CHICKEN FINGERS

Don’t Forget To Pin: