Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks and Baby Potatoes

Chicken drumsticks take 28–32 minutes at 375°F to cook through to 165°F and develop a crispy, rendered skin. Halved baby potatoes need 18–20 minutes at 375–400°F to become golden outside and fluffy inside. Start drumsticks at 375°F, cook for 10 minutes, then add the potatoes and continue for another 18–20 minutes. Everything finishes at the 28–30-minute mark. Shake the basket at 15 minutes (when you add the potatoes) and again at 25 minutes to ensure even browning on all sides.

1. Preheat air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes. 2. Pat drumsticks dry. Coat with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. 3. Place drumsticks in a single layer. Cook at 375°F for 10 minutes. 4. Halve baby potatoes. Toss with olive oil, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper. 5. After 10 minutes, shake the basket. Add potatoes around the drumsticks. Cook 18–20 more minutes. 6. Shake the basket again at 25 minutes. Cook until drumsticks reach 165°F internally and potatoes are golden. 7. Serve immediately.

Smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder are a fail-safe base for both chicken and potatoes. The chicken fat that renders off during cooking bastes the potatoes, adding extra richness. For BBQ-style drumsticks, brush with BBQ sauce in the final 5 minutes of cooking — the sauce caramelizes beautifully. Lemon-herb seasoning (lemon zest, thyme, garlic) gives a lighter, fresher flavor. Herbes de Provence on both components creates a French countryside feel. Season the potatoes slightly more generously than you think necessary — they absorb flavor as they cook.

Drumstick size varies: smaller drumsticks (3–4 oz) may be done at 25 minutes; larger ones (5–6 oz) could need 32–35 minutes. The skin is the best indicator — it should be deep golden and pulling away slightly from the bone. For extra crispy skin, let drumsticks air-dry uncovered in the fridge for 1 hour before cooking. Quartered regular potatoes work the same as baby potatoes. For a complete meal, add a handful of green beans in the final 10 minutes alongside the potatoes.