Sometimes you’re in the mood to make an elaborate three-course feast. Other times you just want something nutritious, delicious, and ready to eat in under 20 minutes. If you’re looking for the latter, whip up this easy air fryer chicken drumsticks and broccoli dish for a no-fuss weeknight dinner with minimal clean up.

While chicken and broccoli is known as the quintessential post-gym meal, these humble ingredients can be transformed with the right spices, seasonings, and preparation method. Using an air fryer lightly crisps the skin of the drumsticks and is the perfect way to cook poultry without diluting the flavor—no soggy boiled chicken and broccoli here!

Adding in a generous amount of onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika brings out the natural umami flavor of the chicken while olive oil provides some healthy fats and a way for the spices to cling onto every crevice of the meat. And because the broccoli is cooked at the same time as the chicken, it absorbs the juices and additional spices that would otherwise be lost in the cooking process, making the veggie just as infused with flavor as the meat.

Using an air fryer is the preferred method for the fastest cooking time and easiest clean up, but this recipe will work just as well in the oven. We love serving this recipe as its own meal, or with keto-friendly zucchini noodles for some extra veggies.

Yields 3 servings of Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks and Broccoli

The Preparation

16 ounces bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks
12 ounces broccoli, cut into florets
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
salt and pepper, to taste

The Execution

1. Gather and prep all ingredients. Cut broccoli into florets if needed. Pre-heat air fryer to 400F.

2. Drizzle half of the oil over the drumsticks, then season with onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and salt and pepper to taste.

3. Drizzle the other half of the oil over the broccoli and season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Add the drumsticks to the air fryer pan, then spread the broccoli around the chicken, trying your best to keep 1 layer of broccoli.

5. Cook for 8 minutes, then open the air fryer and flip the drumsticks. Cook for an additional 8-10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Serve immediately and enjoy!

This makes a total of 3 servings of Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks and Broccoli. Each serving comes out to be 481 calories, 32.1g fats, 5.1g net carbs, and 39.2g protein.

NUTRITION	CALORIES	FAT	CARBS	FIBER	NET CARBS	PROTEIN
16 ounce bone-in, skin-on chicken drumsticks	835	40.8	0	0	0	109
12 ounce broccoli	119	1.4	24.4	11.2	13.2	8.1
4 tablespoon olive oil	477	54	0	0	0	0
1/2 teaspoon onion powder	4	0	0.9	0.2	0.8	0.1
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder	5	0	1.2	0.1	1	0.3
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika	3	0.2	0.6	0.4	0.2	0.2
— salt and pepper	0	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	1444	96.3	27.1	12	15.2	117.6
Per Serving (/3)	481	32.1	9	4	5.1	39.2