Air Fryer Tandoori Drumsticks

Ingredients

• 6 chicken drumsticks (bone-in), deeply slashed
• ½ cup thick yogurt
• 2 tsp red chilli powder
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste (or 3 garlic cloves)
• 1 tsp garam masala (optional)
• ¼ tsp turmeric (optional)
• Juice of 1 lemon (optional)
• 1 tbsp butter, to finish (optional)
• Salt, 1 tbsp oil

Steps

1. Make 2–3 deep cuts down to the bone in each drumstick, so the marinade and heat can reach the meat closest to it, which otherwise cooks slowest.
2. Rub the drumsticks with lemon juice and salt, working it into the slashes.
3. Coat generously with the yogurt-spice marinade of red chilli powder, ginger-garlic paste, garam masala and turmeric.
4. Cover and rest for 1 hour, or overnight, so the flavor and acidity work into the cuts, not just the surface.
5. Shake off any excess marinade before cooking so it chars instead of steaming.
6. Preheat the air fryer to 200°C and arrange the drumsticks in a single layer.
7. Air fry for 11 minutes.
8. Flip each drumstick over.
9. Air fry for another 11 minutes.
10. Brush with a little melted butter, letting it melt into the char rather than pool on top.
11. Air fry for a final 2 minutes so the butter sets into the glaze.
12. Check with a thermometer at the thickest part near the bone — it should read 74°C, the last spot to cook through.

Tip: Shake off extra marinade before cooking so it chars instead of steaming.

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Nutrition (per serving)

Estimated from standard ingredient data — actual values vary by brand and exact quantities used.

Serving & Storage