Crisp Air-Fryer Skin-on Chicken Legs - Delectably Tender & Juicy

 

A while back I bought a large package of chicken leg quarters that I got for a fairly good price.  I brought it home and divided up into single pieces, wrapping each one individually in plastic wrap and then putting it into a small zip lock baggie. I then popped them all into a large zip lock baggie and into the freezer.  Double bagging. It's the best way to prevent freezer burn!

Dividing my meat and poultry up like that and freezing it individually means that any time I want to cook myself just one piece of meat or chicken, I can just thaw out one, or if I want more, I can thaw out more. When you are a person living on your own, these are the kinds of things that save money and time in the long run.

I took one out this morning and decided to cook it in my air fryer because it is hot as heck out there and humid. I did NOT want to turn on my oven. I am sure that if you are in North America at the moment, you can empathize! We are all in the same hot and sticky boat.

 

I borrowed this recipe from Kitchen Sanctuary. and downsized it to cook only one chicken leg quarter, because, there is only me in the house and I didn't want or need any more than that.

I was intrigued as it used baking powder to help to crisp up the skin. I wondered if you would be able to taste the baking powder in the end product, and amazingly, you do not. It did specify aluminum-free baking powder, so that is probably key to not tasting it.  

I have a real sensitivity to aluminum in the baking powder used in baked goods. It's like my cilantro. It makes my mouth feel all weird and that is all I can taste. That means that I enjoy very few ready-baked goods. If all I can taste is baking powder, it spoils the experience for me. I did add some paprika for color.

Altogether I was very pleased with how it came out. You do have to babysit it a bit by shaking it in the basket every 10 minutes, but that is basically all the effort it takes.  The air fryer does all the work, your kitchen stays nice and cool, and at the end you have a tasty piece of chicken with a crisp skin.  Juicy and delicious.

 

    WHAT YOU NEED TO

MAKE AIR FRYER CHICKEN LEG QUARTERS

Aside from an air fryer, only a few simple ingredients.  There is nothing complicated about this.

• 1 chicken leg quarter (a piece of chicken that is the thigh and leg joined together)
• 1/2 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp ground paprika

Mak sure you use an aluminum-free baking powder. Make sure you use baking powder and not baking soda. The two are not the same thing.  

You can use smaller pieces of bone in chicken, i.e. the legs and or the thighs.

Feel free to add your own combination of spices and herbs to make this your own.  Although the quantities are given for one chicken leg quarter, you can certainly multiply everything to air fryer as many pieces of chicken as you wish to cook. 

I don't recommend air frying any more than four at a time. My air fryer has two thin baskets that would enable you to cook in two layers.  What you don't want to do is to crowd anything.

 

HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER 

CHICKEN LEG QUARTERS

It's not rocket science.

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400*F/200*C. (Only if your air fryer requires you to do so.)
2. Remove your chicken leg quarter from the packaging and pat dry with some paper kitchen toweling. (Don't skip this step as it is integral to the crispiness of your chicken skin.)
3. Whisk together the baking powder, salt, pepper and paprika. Sprinkle this all over the chicken coating it on both sides as best as you can. (Alternately you can shake the seasonings and the chicken together in a zip lock baggie.)
4. Place into the air fryer basket.
5. Cook for 35 to 40 minutes. Give the basket a shake every ten minutes. (Mine did not stick at all. No need to spray the basket first with any non-stick spray.)
6. When done the chicken should be golden brown and the internal temperature at its thickest point should register 165*F/75*C.

 

WHAT I ENJOYED ABOUT THIS RECIPE

• I enjoyed the fact that it went together quick and easily and didn't use a lot of complicated or hard to find ingredients.
• I enjoyed the fact that I didn't have to turn on my oven and my kitchen stayed nice and cool.
• I liked the crispy skin on the chicken. I was quite surprised that you could not taste the baking powder at all. For that reason, it is important that you use an aluminum free one.
• I love that you could easily tailor the seasonings used to things which you and your family really enjoy.
• The chicken was perfectly cooked without being dried out in the time it took to cook. 
• You can easily multiply the ingredients to make as many chicken leg quarters as you wish, or even a combination of smaller cuts, ie. legs, thighs.
• Simple, simple, simple.

 

WHY I THINK YOU WILL ENJOY THIS RECIPE

1. These chicken leg quarters are quick and easy to make without a lot of effort and a load of dishes to wash afterwards.

2. Your kitchen will stay nice and cool.

3. They cook simply and quickly without any frying in oil. This makes them healthier than conventional fried chicken.

4.  The end result is chicken that is succulent and juicy inside with a crisp and flavor-filled skin on the outside. Not greasy in the least.  Super juicy and flavor-filled!

 

DELICIOUS SIDES 

TO SERVE WITH THESE CHICKEN LEGS

FRENCH ONION RICE - My sister and I fell in love with this delicious rice dish the very first time we made it. This has become a favorite in both of our households. This savory rice dish combines what we love about French Onion Soup with the heartiness of rice. It is really tasty and not at all difficult to make. I cannot think of anything it wouldn't go with. I could actually sit and eat just a dish of this and be quite happy.

PERFECTLY CREAMY MASHED POTATOES - Nothing goes better on the side of anything than a pile of fluffy and creamy mashed potatoes. Top with gravy or a pat of butter and you have the perfect side!

DILLED CARROTS - Julienned carrots are cooked first in some butter for a few minutes. You then add some chicken stock, honey and dill, cover and cook them for a few minutes longer, until they are lightly glazed and crispy tender.

SWEET POTATO BROCCOLI & CHEESE BAKE - Colorful, delicious and filled with fiber. This dish is low in fat and high in taste!  Well, so long as you use a low-fat cheese.  If you are not watching your fat, by all means use the full fat cheese.

  

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Yield: 1 serving

Author: Marie Rayner

Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Leg Quarters

Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 40 MinTotal time: 45 Min

These come out nice and crispy without being dried out. A good basic chicken leg quarter. Quantities are given for one. You can multiply to cook as many as you wish.

Ingredients

• 1 chicken leg quarter (a piece of chicken that is the thigh and leg joined together)
• 1/2 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp ground paprika

Instructions

1. Preheat your air fryer to 400*F/200*C.
2. Remove your chicken leg quarter from the packaging and pat dry with some paper kitchen toweling.
3. Whisk together the baking powder, salt, pepper and paprika. Sprinkle this all over the chicken coating it on both sides as best as you can.
4. Place into the air fryer basket.
5. Cook for 35 to 40 minutes. Give the basket a shake every ten minutes.
6. When done the chicken should be golden brown and the internal temperature at it's thickest point should register 165*F/75*C.

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