Air Fryer Butterflied Chicken Legs
These easy-to-make Air Fryer Butterflied Chicken Legs have crispy skin on the outside and juicy meat on the inside. They are perfect for an easy weeknight meal!
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 592kcal
Ingredients
- 8 chicken legs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons your favorite chicken rub or dill pickle seasoning (links to my homemade rubs in the Note section below)
Instructions
Butterfly The Chicken Legs
- Place the chicken legs on a cutting board. Feel around the meat to locate the main bone in the drumstick. Using a sharp knife, make a lengthwise cut along each side of the chicken bone. Do not cut the meat all the way through.
- Open up the drumstick like a book and flatten the meat. Now that it's butterflied, it's ready for seasoning.
Air Fry the Butterflied Chicken Legs
- Preheat your air fryer to 380℉.
- Whisk olive oil and dry rub in a large mixing bowl. Add butterflied chicken legs to the bowl and toss until well coated.
- Place butterflied chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer, skin-side up. Air fry for 10 minutes at 380℉. Use tongs to flip the chicken over, and air fry for 6 more minutes at 380℉ until they are golden brown and crispy, and the internal temperature is 165℉. (If not fully cooked, air fry for 1-2 minutes more until done.)
- Serve immediately with your favorite side dishes or dipping sauce and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Read through all of the instructions on how to butterfly the chicken legs before starting.
- Leave space between the chicken legs so they cook evenly.
- When flipping over, spray with cooking spray or avocado oil spray for extra crispy skin.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Make sure you don't touch the bone.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- *You can also use my Homemade Chicken Rub or Homemade Chicken and Pork Rub
Nutrition
Calories: 592kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 45g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 240mg | Sodium: 217mg | Potassium: 544mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 316IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 3mg
