Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks (Printable Version)

Juicy drumsticks glazed with sweet smoky BBQ sauce, air-fried until golden and tender for effortless flavor.

# Ingredients:

→ BBQ Sauce

01 - 180 ml ketchup
02 - 30 ml apple cider vinegar
03 - 55 g brown sugar
04 - 30 ml honey
05 - 8 ml Worcestershire sauce
06 - 5 g ground mustard
07 - 5 g smoked paprika
08 - 2 g garlic powder
09 - 2 g onion powder
10 - 5 g salt, divided
11 - 2 g black pepper, divided

→ Chicken

12 - 1–1.4 kg chicken drumsticks (approximately 6–8 large pieces)
13 - Salt to taste
14 - Black pepper to taste

# Steps:

01 - In a saucepan, combine ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, ground mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, 5 g salt, and 2 g black pepper. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, then simmer for 4–5 minutes, whisking frequently, until the sauce is thickened and deepened in color. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes. Adjust seasoning to taste.
02 - Set the air fryer to 175°C. If the appliance does not have a preheat function, allow it to run empty for 3–4 minutes.
03 - Pat chicken drumsticks thoroughly dry with kitchen paper. Season generously on all sides with salt and black pepper. Optionally, line the air fryer basket with foil or parchment after preheating for easier clean-up.
04 - Arrange drumsticks in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each. Air fry at 175°C for 10–15 minutes, flipping halfway. Check internal temperature; drumsticks should reach at least 71°C. Adjust cooking time depending on drumstick size.
05 - Reserve approximately 60 ml of BBQ sauce for dipping. Brush remaining BBQ sauce generously over each drumstick. Return to the air fryer and cook for an additional 3–5 minutes, or until sauce caramelizes and chicken reaches 74°C.
06 - Let chicken rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Serve warm with reserved BBQ sauce on the side.

# Notes:

01 - Cook drumsticks to 71°C before glazing; final cook and resting time allows them to reach 74°C for food safety.
02 - Use a meat thermometer to ensure doneness, avoiding the bone for an accurate reading.
03 - Lining the air fryer after preheating prevents liner displacement and eases clean-up.
04 - BBQ sauce can be replaced with store-bought for convenience.
05 - For gluten-free, use a gluten-free Worcestershire sauce and check all ingredient labels.
06 - Alternative cuts such as chicken wings, thighs, or breasts may be substituted; adjust cooking times accordingly.

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