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–+ servings
crispy chicken drumsticks with masala spice

Air Fryer Masala Chicken Drumsticks

Irina Davey of DailyYum.com
Masala Chicken Drumsticks are one of the tastiest Air Fryer chicken I've ever made! Crispy outside, juicy tender inside and it's naked! (That means No breading and it's so crunchy)
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Inactive Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course Chicken, Main Course
Cuisine American, Indian
Servings 6 pieces
Calories 166 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 6 Chicken drumsticks
  • 3 Tablespoons Masala Spice Mix
  • 1/2 onion thinly sliced (optional)
  • 1/2 cup Yogurt or sour cream
  • 2 cloves freshly minced garlic or 1 tablespoon Garlic paste or garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground ginger or ginger paste, or ginger powder
  • 1 Tablespoon oil Extra virgin Olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1/4 cup water

Instructions
 

  • Marinate. In the large bowl add all the ingredients together and mix well. Add the chicken drumsticks to the bowl and toss them until they're fully coated with the spice mixture. Cover with a lid or plastic wrap and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to 4 hours. Or best overnight.
    creamy tandoori masala marinate for chicken
  • Cook. Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F (200° C) for five minutes. Add the chicken drumsticks to the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd the basket. Cook for 24 to 26 minutes, flipping the drumsticks halfway through the cooking time, until the chicken is golden brown and the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
    Air Fryer Chicken Masala (Murghi) Drumsticks

Notes

Seasoning variation.
If you do not have the complete spice mix that I mentioned above don’t worry. I am providing some variations for this recipe you can follow them too.
Seasoning # 1: Combine half a teaspoon of each: Salt, green chili paste, ginger and garlic powder, black pepper, vinegar, and red chili flakes.
Seasoning #2:  Combine half a teaspoon of each: Red chili powder, Salt, Cinnamon powder, roasted cumin powder, Ginger and garlic powder or paste, and lemon juice.
Tips for the Best chicken drumsticks in the Air fryer
  • Use thawed and fresh chicken. This recipe will work with chicken breast, chicken thighs, or chicken wings.
  • Pat dry the drumsticks before applying the masala mix. It helps to achieve your desired crisp on top of the chicken drumsticks.
  • Always preheat the air fryer before putting the marinated drumsticks in it. It will affect its crispiness.
  • Do not overcook the chicken because it may lose its juiciness.
  • Coat each drumstick evenly with masala mix. 
  • Give the chicken pieces some space - do not overcrowd the air fryer basket because you will not get uniform crispiness. Cook in batches if needed. My Ninja XL 6-in-1 comfortably fits 6-7 chicken drumsticks at once.
  • If you are a beginner, you can use a cooking thermometer to check the temperature of drumsticks in the air fryer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1pieceCalories: 166kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 16gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.05gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 88mgPotassium: 215mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 36IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition Disclaimer Nutritional information is an estimate and may change based on products used.
Keyword air fryer masala chicken
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