These Air Fryer Peruvian-Style Chicken Drumsticks are perfectly crispy, smoky, and made quickly in the air fryer. Seasoned in simple herbs and spices and served with cilantro lime crema for dipping, this is an ultra-flavorful meal you can serve for family dinners and lunches!
Jump to Recipe
Peruvian roasted chicken recipe
The air fryer is quickly becoming my new favorite kitchen tool. Without much oil at all, it can give anything from Asian pork meatballs to loaded sweet potatoes such a lovely crunch and crispy outside. Plus, most air fryer recipes (including Peruvian-style chicken) are cooked and ready to eat in no time.
These Air Fryer Peruvian-Style Chicken Drumsticks are special because they cook quickly in the air fryer, are deliciously crispy, and taste smoky and savory. You can thank the handful of simple seasonings and honey for their bold flavors!
The best part? Because the drumsticks are air fried, all they need is 1 tablespoon of oil for a perfectly crispy crunch!
This is an easy recipe you can prepare for both weeknight dinners and meal prep. Pair a few drumsticks with cauliflower mash, 10 Minute Apple Cabbage Slaw, and baked asparagus for a protein-packed and delicious meal!
Tools you need for this Peruvian-Style Chicken Drumsticks
What is Peruvian-style chicken?
Otherwise known as Pollo a la Brasa, Peru chicken is marinated in smoky and tangy seasonings and roasted until charred and crispy. It’s a popular choice in Peruvian restaurants and traditionally served with salad, plantain, fries, or rice.
What you’ll need to make Peruvian-style chicken drumsticks
- Chicken drumsticks – I used skin-on drumsticks but skinless works too. Feel free to adapt this recipe to any cut of chicken you like, whether it’s the breasts, thighs, wings, or even the whole chicken! You can’t go wrong with Peruvian spiced chicken. Just adjust cook times.
- Oil – Extra virgin olive oil will coat the chicken and help it crisp up in the air fryer.
- Honey – For just a touch of sweetness in the Peruvian chicken marinade.
- Herbs and seasonings – A mix of cumin, smoked paprika, dried oregano, fresh garlic, and salt is used to season the chicken.
- Cilantro lime crema – Most Peruvian chicken recipes are served with a Peruvian green sauce (aji verde) drizzled on top or on the side for dipping, but I went with this cilantro lime crema, made from Greek yogurt, cilantro, lime, garlic, and jalapeno, instead. Chimichurri or pesto could work as a more herbaceous replacement.
How to make Peruvian chicken drumsticks in the air fryer
There’s no marinating required in this recipe, so all you have to do is air fry and serve! Here’s how it’s done:
- Combine the seasonings.
Stir all of the herbs, seasonings, honey, and oil together in a bowl.
- Season the chicken drumsticks.
Toss the drumsticks in the bowl with the marinade until they’re coated. Feel free to use your hands to massage everything onto the chicken.
- Air fry the chicken.
Coat the air fryer basket in cooking spray and then add the seasoned drumsticks in an even layer. Cook until crispy, making sure to flip them halfway through the cooking time.
How to make fresh Peruvian green sauce recipe
A tangy, creamy, and spicy crema is the best compliment to this air fryer chicken recipe. It’s so easy to make and takes seconds to blend together:
- Blend the sauce.
Add all of the sauce ingredients to a mason jar and blend with an immersion blender, use a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
- Serve and enjoy!
Drizzle the sauce over the air fried chicken drumsticks or serve it in a bowl on the side for dipping. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy!
Frequently asked questions
To make roasted Peruvian chicken, lay the seasoned drumsticks on a greased baking sheet and roast in a 400ºF oven for 40 to 50 minutes.
Technically, you don’t need to marinate the drumsticks in this recipe. If you have a little extra time, feel free to toss the drumsticks in the oil, honey, and spice marinade, cover the bowl with plastic, and marinate in the fridge for 2 hours.
You can serve the Peruvian chicken with cilantro crema sauce for dipping, as well as a side of brown rice, salad, plantain, steamed vegetables, and roasted potatoes.
The internal temperature of cooked chicken should reach 165ºF when it’s safe to eat. Use an internal thermometer to check the thickest part of each drumstick when the cooking time is up.
If you’re making this recipe for meal prep or end up with leftovers, store the drumsticks in an airtight container in the fridge. They’ll stay fresh for 4 to 5 days.
More flavorful chicken dinner recipes
- Extra Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Vegetables
- Keto Chicken Kofta
- Instant Pot Chicken Carnitas
- Caprese Chicken Bake
Did you try these Air Fryer Peruvian-Style Chicken Drumsticks? Let me know what you think in the comments below, or share a picture on Instagram! I love to share all of your recreations on my page.
Air Fryer Peruvian-Style Chicken Drumsticks
Ingredients
Peruvian-Style Chicken Drumsticks
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 cloves garlic, grated
- 1 ½ pound chicken drumsticks, skin on or skinless
- cooking spray, for air fryer
Peruvian Aji Verde Sauce
- ¾ cup plain greek yogurt, or sour cream
- ½ bunch cilantro, plus more leaves for garnish
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, more to taste
- 1 clove garlic, smashed or more to taste
- ½ jalapeno, seeded for less heat
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
Peruvian-Style Chicken Drumsticks
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F for 3 minutes.
- In a bowl add all the chicken seasoning and stir to combine.
- Pat the drumsticks with a paper towel, then add to the bowl with seasonings, massage in to coat evenly.
- Coat fryer basket with cooking spray right before adding chicken. Arrange the drumsticks in the basket.
- Cook for 17-20 minutes or until the meat thermometer reads 165F. Flip halfway with tongs. If the skin seems to be burning faster, turn down the heat to 380F and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes.
Peruvian Aji Verde Sauce
- Add sour cream or yogurt, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, jalapeno, and salt in a mason jar, pulse with an immersion blender, in a food processor or blender, and pulse until smooth. (For a thicker sauce: add the cilantro, garlic, lime juice, and salt to the jar and blend, then add the yogurt or sour cream and mix with a spoon until desired consistency is reached.)
- Drizzle the sauce on the chicken and add some in a small serving bowl on the side for extra dipping. Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves. Enjoy with salad, cauliflower rice, rice, or mashed potatoes.
Victoria
Hi! Making these tonight! So excited. Can I grill the drumsticks instead of air fry?
lena
Hi Victoria, yes, you can totally grill these up. I have a whole spatchcock chicken recipe with the same ingredients and sauce and its so delicious grilled. Can’t wait to hear what you think.
Esther
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS! Made this for the second time, both times with thighs. Making sandwiches this time:)
Jacquelyn
This recipe was a HIT with my entire family! It was quick, very easily prepared, and loved by all! Highly recommend and cannot wait to test it out on other cuts/meat options (especially shrimp) 😍
Irina
So so good ! Definitely going to be a staple dish!!! Also I marinated the drumsticks in a ziplock bag for 2 days and they were so flavorful!! A very good make ahead meal
Alina
100000% honest review! OBSESSED! I usually never eat the chicken skin, always end up removing it. This…. finger licking goood! My husband and I ate the whole batch, and licked the plate clean. So so good! For sure going to make it again! Also this would be so awesome to make for family and friends coming over!
lena
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Finger licking good is how
I feel about it too.
Nataliya
The recipe was easy to make and was absolutely delicious. I made this for family dinner & everyone loved it.
lena
So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for making it! It’s a new favorite drumstick recipe for sure.
lena
This makes me so happy to hear. I love it too, so easy and delicious. Glad you enjoyed it as well.
Kris
Delicious! I followed the recipe exactly originally and had to make adjustments. The skin burned quickly and overall took around 30 min to finish all the way so next time I would do 380 and 30 min. The sauce I think I overblended because it was very watery. If your looking for tips, maybe pulse the sauce instead of blending. I fixed it by stirring in more sour cream, one more garlic and salt. The marinade & flavors was so good! I will make it again:)
lena
Thank you so much Kris for your feedback. I will go in and add some adjustments and suggestions for others and revise the sauce to add less lime juice to make sure it stays thicker. And garlic is definitely something each person can adjust more or less per their taste. Apprecite you leaving a review. Happy Cooking!
Luda
I’m so happy I bought drumsticks in Trader Joe’s today! Have to make this tomorrow! Looks amazing😋😋
lena gladstone
Yay, I can’t wait for you to try this recipe Luda. It’s so easy and delicious. You can either marinate the chicken longer or make it right away, both will be delicious.