Air Fryer Frog Legs: Amazingly Tasty & Easy Recipe | AirFryAndEat (2024)

Frog legs may seem like an unusual ingredient, but they are delicious when cooked properly! This air fryer frog legs recipe crisps them up perfectly with a flavorful flour coating.

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If you’re feeling adventurous in the kitchen, give this recipe a try. The frog legs come out tender on the inside with a crispy, textured exterior from the air fryer. The flour mixture has paprika, onions, and peppers to give a robust, chicken-like taste.

Baking powder is essential for getting the coating extra crispy and airy. Let’s get into the easy steps you’ll take to make this unique appetizer or main dish! I provide the complete list of ingredients and instructions further below.

💖 Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and Easy to Make – From start to finish, you can have these frog legs on the table in under 30 minutes. A few minutes to prep, pop them in the air fryer, and you’re enjoying tasty appetizers or a main dish in no time.

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Crunchy and Juicy Perfection – The air fryer yields exceptionally crispy frog legs with tender, juicy meat inside. The preheat and precise temperature control gives you the textures you crave in this Southern delicacy.

Healthier Method of Cooking – By using an air fryer instead of deep frying, you slash calories, fat, and avoid the oil mess. You get all the flavor and crunch without the grease!

✨ Recipe Ingredients

For this frog legs air fryer recipe you will need:

• 1 pound (450g) Frog Legs
• 2 tablespoons All Purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
• 3/4 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt

👨‍🍳 How To Make

Follow this easy air fryer frog leg recipe:

Step 1

Start with rinsing the frog legs and then patting them dry with a paper towel. Brush them with olive oil.

Step 2

Place them in a resealable plastic bag.

Step 3

Add these ingredients to a small bowl:baking powder, smoked paprika, flour, onion powder, pepper, and salt. Mix them together.

Step 4

Place the flour mixture in the bag with the legs frogs. Seal it, and then shake and toss the bag so that the legs are evenly coated.

Step 5

Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil. Preheat the air fryer to 380F (175C).

Step 6

Place the frog legs without overlapping. You may need to air fry them in batches. Air fry for 7-8 minutes, or until they are golden brown on the outside. That’s it! Enjoy these amazing air fryer frog legs!

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💡Tips

1. Allowing Frog Legs to Reach Room Temperature

For even cooking, it is best to allow refrigerated frog legs to stand at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before breading and air frying. Cold legs from the fridge will take longer to cook, resulting in an over-browned exterior but undercooked center.

2. Check Internal Temperature

While the breading may brown in just 7-8 minutes, the interior temperature is what matters most. Use a food thermometer to check that frog legs reach an internal temp of 165°F. This ensures the delicate meat is cooked through.

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3. Allowing Rest Time Before Serving

Once golden brown, remove baskets from the air fryer and allow fried frog legs to rest 5 minutes before serving. The short standing period enables very hot oils contained within the skin or breading to redistribute evenly throughout each piece.

4. Cook in Small Batches

Only air fry a few frog legs at a time so that they aren’t crowded together. Crowding prevents even exposure to the hot circulating air, resulting in uneven cooking. Fry legs in batches for the same amount of time for consistent texture and browning.

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5. Use a Well-Oiled Basket

The air fryer basket must be thoroughly oiled and heated before placing the breaded frog legs inside to cook. Use an oil with a high smoke point like avocado, grapeseed, or rice bran oil. Well-oiled and preheated, the basket will yield evenly golden and crispy frog legs.

Variations

1. Cajun Blackened Frog Legs– The spicy Cajun flavors transform the delicate frog legs into a fiery delight in this variation. A blend of paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, thyme, and oregano adds a kick while lemon juice and butter baste the legs as they sizzle to a beautiful blackened finish.

The crispy char on the outside yields to succulent meat on the inside. Feel free to adjust the spice level to your taste.

2. Frog Legs Teriyaki– For a sweet and salty twist, marinate the frog legs in a ziplock bag with a homemade teriyaki sauce. The sauce is a simple mixture of soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, ginger, and garlic.

Allow it to marinate for 30 minutes or up to overnight. The tender flesh of the frog legs absorbs the flavors of the sauce. Roast them in the air fryer until glossy, basting with more teriyaki sauce for the last few minutes. The contrast of the crispy browned exterior and the sticky, savory teriyaki frog meat is sublime.

3. Lime Chili Frog Legs– The bright freshness of lime and heat of chili peppers make these frog legs pop. Simply mix some lime juice and zest, olive oil, cumin, oregano, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper together to make a quick marinade.

Pour it over the frog legs and let them soak for 15-20 minutes. Shake off any excess marinade before air frying until crisp on the outside while remaining moist inside. The tangy, lively flavors make this a fun and tasty riff on the original.

4. Frog Legs with Roasted Garlic Lemon Butter– For an elegant take, whip up a savory brown butter sauce spiked with roasted garlic and lemon. Melt the butter in a skillet until it turns a nutty golden brown, then add minced roasted garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley and red pepper flakes.

Toss the crispy air-fried frog legs in the velvety sauce until fully coated. The rich butter sauce seeps into every tender bite of meat, countered by the bright citrus notes. It’s restaurant quality cooking made easy at home.

5. Crispy Fried Frog Legs with Spicy Mayo– You can’t go wrong with an extra crispy coat for ultimate crunch and texture. After flouring the legs, dip them into beaten egg and then seasoned panko breadcrumbs.

Air fry as usual until deeply golden. Serve them alongside a spicy sriracha mayo dipping sauce. The cool, creamy mayo gets kicked up with sriracha, garlic and lemon. Dunking the hot crispy legs into the spicy mayo makes for an awesome flavor and texture combo in each bite.

Keto / Low Carb Version

To make the ketpo version of this frog legs in air fryer recipe – instead of all-purpose flour, use a low carb alternative like almond flour or coconut flour.

Follow the rest of the recipe instructions, seasoning the frog legs well with the smoky paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper before coating with your keto-friendly dredge.

Gluten Free Version

To make a gluten-free version of this air fryer frog legs recipe, simply replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend. I recommend using a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend that contains ingredients like rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch, and xanthan gum.

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Follow all the same steps, but use the gluten-free flour blend instead of regular flour when coating the frog legs. The xanthan gum in the flour blend will help replicate the binding properties of gluten and ensure the coating sticks to the frog legs.

Dipping Sauces

Here are 5 delicious dipping sauces that would pair excellently with the air fryer frog legs:

1. Lemon Aioli– would beautifully cut through the rich flavor of the fried frog legs. The tart lemon and garlic notes brighten up the dish. Aioli is a popular dipping sauce that goes well with many fried foods.

2. Spicy Sriracha Mayo – would add a nice kick of heat and vinegary tang to balance out the crispy fried coating on the frog legs. The creaminess of the mayo also cools down the spiciness. This East Asian-inspired sauce is a crowd-pleaser.

3. Mint Raita – made with Greek yogurt, mint, lemon, and spices is another excellent choice. The cooling qualities of the mint and yogurt would perfectly offset the crispness of the fried frog legs. Raita often accompanies Indian dishes.

4. Mexican-style Avocado Salsa Verde- with tomatillos, avocado, cilantro, jalapeño, and lime would make for a very flavorful pairing. The bright herby flavors of the salsa verde would liven up the rich frog legs.

5. Alabama white BBQ Sauce- made with mayo, apple cider vinegar, horseradish, and black pepper, would make a tasty Southern-inspired dipping sauce.

Storage

The breaded frog legs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To retain crispiness when ready to eat, place the frog legs in a single layer on a baking sheet and air fry at 350°F for 4-5 minutes until heated through and crispy.

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For longer storage, the uncooked frog legs can be frozen for up to 3 months. Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container.

Side Dishes Ideas

Here are 5 side dish ideas that would pair well with the air fryer frog legs:

1. Air Fryer Green Bean Fries– Crispy, crunchy air fryer green bean fries would be a nice complement to the fried texture of the frog legs. The fresh flavor of the green beans would balance the rich, meaty frog legs. Green beans are also commonly served as a side to fried foods.

2. Air Fryer Asparagus Fries– Asparagus has a wonderful fresh, green flavor that would go well with fried frog legs. Turning the asparagus into fries gives you that nice crunch to contrast the tender frog meat. Asparagus fries are a bit unique too, so they make the meal more interesting.

3. Air Fryer Eggplant Fries– The mild, somewhat nutty flavor of eggplant makes a great partner to richer foods like fried frog legs. Air frying eggplant into fries gives you a crispy, golden exterior while keeping the inside tender. The eggplant offers a lighter component to fill out the meal.

4. Air Fryer Frozen Crinkle Fries– You can’t go wrong with a classic like crinkle fries alongside fried frog legs. The potato fries offer a familiar flavor and texture contrast to the unique frog legs. Crinkle fries get ultra crispy in the air fryer, so you get that satisfying crunch with each bite.

5. Air Fryer Frozen Steak Fries– Steak fries are another fried classic to consider. Their hearty potato flavor and crispy exterior stands up well to the fried frog legs.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need to remove the skin from the frog legs before cooking them?</b>

No, you do not need to remove the skin. The skin gets very crisp and tasty when air fried. Leaving it on helps keep the meat moist and adds flavor.

2. What dipping sauces go well with fried frog legs?

Tangy sauces like ranch, bleu cheese, honey mustard, and sweet & sour sauce all pair nicely. Lemon or lime wedges also complement the flavor. Avoid overpowering sauces that will mask the delicate frog taste.

3. How can I tell when the frog legs are fully cooked?

Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer for 165°F. Visually, the meat will turn from translucent to opaque white when fully cooked. The breading will be crispy brown. Pieces should detach easily from bones.

Why Air Fried Frog Legs Are a Healthier Choice

Frog legs are considered a delicacy in certain cuisines around the world. While they can be tasty when fried or deep fried, these cooking methods add a significant amount of unhealthy fat and calories. Using an air fryer to cook frog legs is a much healthier alternative.

Air frying uses rapidly circulating hot air to cook foods crispy on the outside while keeping the inside moist. Unlike deep frying, air frying does not submerge food in bubbling oil. This eliminates much of the excess fat calories from the cooking process.

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Air frying also requires only a tablespoon or two of oil rather than several cups used in deep frying. The result is a product with substantially lower fat and calorie content per serving.

When air fried, frog legs have a light crispy breading similar to deep fried legs but with 80% less fat. Less fat means fewer calories overall, making air fried frog legs a healthy way to enjoy this rare treat. Air frying also reduces harmful trans fatty acids that are caused by frying in commonly used frying oils.

For those who love the taste of fried frog legs but are trying to eat healthier, using an air fryer is a great solution. Air fried frog legs retain all the flavor and crunch, but with many fewer calories, much less fat, and reduced trans fats.