These air fryer crispy parmesan chicken drumsticks are one of my favorite ways to make chicken. They come out golden, crunchy, and full of flavor every single time.
The parmesan and panko coating gets so crispy in the air fryer that you’d think these were deep fried. But they’re not – just a light spray of oil and hot air does all the work.
They’re also really simple to put together. You just need a few pantry staples, some eggs, and of course the chicken drumsticks.
The whole thing takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. That includes prep time, so it’s a solid option for a weeknight dinner.
If your family loves chicken drumsticks, this recipe is going to be a hit. Let me show you how to make them.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Incredibly Crispy Without Deep Frying – The panko and Parmesan coating gets perfectly golden and crunchy in the air fryer without all the oil of traditional frying.
Packed With Savory Flavor – Garlic powder and smoked paprika combined with salty Parmesan create a seasoning blend that makes every bite seriously delicious.
Juicy on the Inside – Drumsticks stay tender and moist under that crispy shell because the air fryer locks in all the natural juices.
Ingredients
- 8 Chicken Drumsticks
- 1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- 3/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 2 Large Eggs
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- Cooking Spray
How To Make
Step 1
Pat chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
Step 2
In a shallow bowl, whisk eggs. In another bowl, combine panko, Parmesan, garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, and olive oil until evenly mixed.
Step 3
Dip each drumstick in egg, then roll in the Parmesan mixture, pressing firmly to coat completely.
Step 4
Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange drumsticks in a single layer without touching.
Step 5
Air fry at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest 3 minutes before serving.
Tips
Mix the Olive Oil Into the Breadcrumb Coating
Don’t skip mixing the olive oil into the panko mixture. The oil helps the breadcrumbs crisp up and turn golden in the air fryer instead of staying dry and pale.
Use your fingers to toss everything together until the oil is evenly distributed. You want every bit of panko lightly coated – if there are dry clumps, those spots won’t brown properly.
Really Press the Coating On
After you dip a drumstick in the egg and roll it in the panko mixture, use your hands to firmly press the coating into the chicken. Don’t just lightly roll it – actually push the crumbs in so they stick.
The air fryer blows hot air around the food at high speed. Any loose coating will fly right off during cooking, and you’ll end up with bare patches instead of that full crispy crust.
It helps to let the coated drumsticks sit on a plate for about 5 minutes before putting them in the air fryer. This gives the egg time to set and glue everything in place.
Don’t Crowd the Basket
You might not be able to fit all 8 drumsticks in a single layer depending on your air fryer size. If they’re touching or overlapping, the hot air can’t circulate and you’ll get soggy spots instead of an even crispy coating.
If your air fryer is on the smaller side, cook them in two batches of 4. It takes a little longer but the difference in crispiness is huge. Every drumstick should have space around it on all sides.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks Panko
- Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
- Air Fryer Crispy Garlic Parmesan Wings
- Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops
- Air Fryer Peri Peri Chicken Drumsticks
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I stack the drumsticks in the air fryer if they don’t all fit?
It’s best not to stack them flat on top of each other because the coating won’t crisp up evenly and you’ll end up with soggy spots. If your air fryer basket is on the smaller side, cook them in two batches to make sure each drumstick gets good airflow all around it.
If you have a larger air fryer, you can stand the drumsticks upright leaning against each other – this works surprisingly well and lets more of them fit while still getting crispy on all sides.
Air Fryer Crispy Parmesan Chicken Drumsticks
- air fryer
- 8 Chicken Drumsticks
- 1 cup Panko Breadcrumbs
- 3/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 2 Large Eggs
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- Cooking Spray
- Pat chicken drumsticks dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk eggs. In another bowl, combine panko, Parmesan, garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, and olive oil until evenly mixed.
- Dip each drumstick in egg, then roll in the Parmesan mixture, pressing firmly to coat completely.
- Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange drumsticks in a single layer without touching.
- Air fry at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let rest 3 minutes before serving.