Air Fryer Garlic Chicken Legs
Today, I’m sharing a foolproof air fryer recipe! With just a simple marinade, you can make incredibly delicious garlic chicken drumsticks. Let’s get started!
Ingredients and Substitutes:
- Chicken Legs: The main ingredient, providing rich protein and a savory flavor.
- Garlic: Chopped and used for marinating and making garlic butter mix to add a rich garlicky aroma.
- Soy Sauce: Adds a salty flavor and deepens the color of the chicken.
- Oyster Sauce: Enhances the umami, making the chicken more flavorful.
- Black Pepper: Gives the chicken a unique spicy aroma, boosting the flavor.
- Sea Salt: Used to season and control the saltiness.- Five-Spice Powder: Adds a complex fragrance to the chicken, enriching its taste.
- Butter: Used in the garlic butter mixture to make the chicken skin glossy and add a creamy flavor.
- Fresh Parsley: Chopped and mixed into the garlic butter, adding a fresh herbal note.
Substitute Options:
- Chicken Legs: You can substitute with chicken breast for a lower-fat, healthier option or chicken wings for a more tender texture.
- Garlic: If you don’t have garlic, you can use green onions or onions. Green onions provide a similar spicy kick, while onions give a unique sweet aroma.
- Soy Sauce: Both light and dark soy sauce can be used as substitutes.
- Oyster Sauce: Fish sauce or abalone sauce can replace oyster sauce. Fish sauce gives a distinct seafood flavor, while abalone sauce has a deeper, richer taste.
- Black Pepper: White pepper or Sichuan pepper powder can be used as alternatives. White pepper is milder, while Sichuan pepper brings a numbing sensation and different flavor.
- Sea Salt: Regular table salt can be used, though sea salt has a slightly higher mineral content and a more complex flavor.
- Five-Spice Powder: You can replace it with five-spice mix or use cinnamon powder, clove powder, etc.
- Butter: Olive oil or corn oil can replace butter. Olive oil is healthier with a unique olive scent, while corn oil is milder and lets the ingredients shine through.
- Fresh Parsley: You can skip it or substitute with cilantro if desired.
Are Chicken Legs Suitable for the Air Fryer?
Yes, chicken legs are perfect for cooking in the air fryer. The air fryer gives the legs a crispy skin while keeping the inside tender. It also uses less oil than traditional frying, making it a healthier option. With even heating, the cooking time is shorter—usually about 20-25 minutes.
Success Tips
1. Handling the Chicken Legs
When making cuts in the chicken legs, be mindful of the depth and spacing. The depth should be about 1-2 cm to ensure the marinade penetrates into the meat.
Space the cuts evenly, about 2-3 cm apart, to allow the chicken legs to absorb the flavors evenly.
After rinsing the chicken legs, be sure to pat them dry with paper towels to avoid any residual moisture, which can affect the marinating process and the texture when cooking.
2. Garlic Preparation
After finely chopping the garlic, soak it in water for 10 minutes. This will enhance the garlic aroma and soften its flavor.
The garlic water after soaking and the remaining garlic should be fully utilized. The garlic water is used for marinating the chicken legs, and the remaining garlic is used to make the garlic butter mixture.
3. Marinating Method
Mix the seasonings thoroughly with the chicken legs and gently massage them to ensure the marinade sticks well. Marinate for at least 1 hour.
If you want a stronger flavor, you can extend the marinating time to 2 hours, but don’t exceed 3 hours to prevent the chicken from becoming too salty.
4. Preheating the Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer for 5-10 minutes before placing the chicken legs inside. This ensures the air fryer reaches a uniform high temperature, which helps the chicken cook evenly, locking in moisture and achieving a crispy skin and tender meat.
5. Temperature and Time Control
First, cook the chicken legs at 180°C for 20 minutes to allow them to cook through and form an outer layer. After applying the garlic butter mixture, cook for an additional 10 minutes at 180°C.
Keep a close eye on the chicken legs' color and texture. When the skin turns golden and crispy, and a skewer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken comes out without any blood, the chicken is fully cooked.
If the chicken legs are larger or in greater quantity, you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
INGREDIENTS
Main Ingredients
-
·5 chicken legs
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·8-10 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
Seasonings
-
·2 tablespoons soy sauce
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·1 tablespoon oyster sauce
-
·1/2 teaspoon black pepper
-
·1/2 teaspoon sea salt
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·1 teaspoon five-spice powder
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·1 tablespoon butter
-
·1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
COOKING STEP
Step 1
Finely chop the garlic and place it in a small bowl. Add some water to soak it for 10 minutes.
Step 2
Cut a few slits in the center of each chicken leg to help the marinade soak in.
Step 3
Rinse the chicken legs and pat them dry with paper towels.
Step 4
Pour the garlic water over the chicken legs. Add 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, black pepper, sea salt, and five-spice powder.
Toss everything together until evenly coated and marinate for 1 hour.
Step 5
Place the marinated chicken legs in the air fryer and cook at 180°C (350°F) for 20 minutes.
Step 6
While the chicken is cooking, mix the remaining garlic with butter, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, and chopped parsley.
Step 7
After 20 minutes, remove the chicken from the air fryer and spread the garlic-butter mixture on top of the legs.
Step 8
Return the chicken to the air fryer and cook at 180°C (350°F) for another 10 minutes, or until golden and crispy.
More Air Fryer Recipe Recommendations
Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings Air Fryer Recipe
Homemade Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer
Air Fryer Banana Chips: A Quick and Crispy Snack
Recipe Variations
1. Vegetable Pairings
When marinating the chicken legs, add chunks of carrots or potatoes. Cook these together in the air fryer. The vegetables will absorb the chicken’s oils and seasonings, becoming sweet and tender. This makes for a more balanced, nutritious meal.
2. Fruit Pairings
Try adding apple slices or pineapple chunks when marinating the chicken legs. The fruit’s acidity helps tenderize the chicken, while the sweetness will infuse into the chicken during cooking, adding a unique fruity aroma.
For example, use half an apple sliced thinly and marinate it with the chicken. The baked chicken will have a fresh apple fragrance.
3. Bacon pairing
Wrap the chicken legs in bacon before placing them in the air fryer. The bacon will release fat as it cooks, making the chicken crispier. The salty, savory flavor of the bacon adds a new layer of taste to the chicken.
Cook at 180°C for 20 minutes, then increase the temperature to 200°C for an additional 5-10 minutes to crisp the bacon.
FAQs:
You can also place the chicken legs and marinade in a sealed bag, press out the air, and massage the bag gently to evenly distribute the seasoning. You can extend the marinating time to 2-3 hours if needed.
Start with a lower initial cooking temperature, such as 160°C for 15-20 minutes, to ensure the chicken legs cook through evenly. Then, increase the temperature to 180-200°C for 5-10 minutes to crisp up the surface.
Remember to flip the chicken legs halfway through the cooking process to ensure even heat distribution.
Also, adjust the cooking time based on the size of the chicken legs—larger ones will need more time, while smaller ones should cook for less.
Additionally, don’t overcook the chicken—once the set cooking time is up and the chicken has reached the desired color, take it out promptly.
