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Chicken tikka drumsticks with uneven char in an air fryer basket
TrendyTadka Editorial

Air Fryer Chicken Tikka Drumsticks

Skinless chicken drumsticks cook juicy in the air fryer with a thin tandoori-style yogurt coating and a 165°F doneness check.
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Prep Time 6 minutes
Cook Time 24 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Indian-inspired
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ingredients
  • 6 skinless chicken drumsticks about 2 pounds
  • 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
  • 2 garlic cloves finely grated
  • 2 teaspoons Kashmiri chile powder or sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Cooking spray
  • Lemon and cilantro for serving

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Pat drumsticks dry and cut two shallow slashes into the thick side of each.
  2. Mix yogurt, oil, lemon, ginger, garlic, chile powder, garam masala, cumin, and salt. Coat drumsticks thinly; discard marinade that touched raw poultry.
  3. Spray the basket and arrange drumsticks in one layer. Air-fry 10 minutes.
  4. Turn and cook 8 minutes, then turn again and cook 4 to 8 minutes more until browned and each piece reaches 165°F beside the bone.
  5. Rest 3 minutes and serve with lemon and cilantro.

Notes

  • Do not rinse raw poultry.
  • Keep slashes shallow rather than cutting to bone.
  • Use clean tongs and a clean plate for cooked chicken.
  • Color is not a doneness test.