Cooking frog legs might not be for everyone, I get that. But if you're here, then you must be looking for frog leg recipes, so I present to you these crispy Air Fryer Frog Legs!
These frog legs are coated in a simple flour mixture with just a few seasonings you probably have on hand, and they cook in less than 10 minutes! So if you have an adventurous palate, give these a try.
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Frog legs recipe
Frog legs might not be common in the US, but they're a delicacy that has been enjoyed in France for centuries. This version of frog legs, cooked in the air fryer, is definitely a modern twist on cooking frog legs.
It's a great "beginner" frog legs recipe because it's so quick and easy, and they turn out nice and crisp. Kind of like fried chicken. And everyone loves fried chicken.
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What do frog legs taste like?
Frog legs taste a little like chicken, and some people think they taste like a combination of chicken and fish (but without the fishy smell). Their texture is kind of like a big juicy chicken wing. If you like chicken, it's definitely worth trying frog legs to see how you like them and what you think of them!
And just like all other foods, frog legs will taste like whatever seasoning you put on them. In this recipe, they're coated in a mixture of flour, cornmeal, and cornstarch. This gives them a tasty coating that crisps up as it cooks. The coating is seasoned with paprika, garlic powder, and salt. It's simple, and the whole thing takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish.
Frog legs are especially delicious with lemon garlic aioli, and I give you several other dip ideas below.
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Where to buy frog legs
Frog legs are typically sold in the frozen meats or frozen seafood section of grocery stores.
If you have a local fish store or a large grocery store with a big seafood department, ask if they carry frog legs or if they can order some. Asian grocery stores often carry them.
And if you don't want to drive to every store near you or call every store nearby, you can search for frog legs on Instacart and see which stores near you have them so you can get them delivered. The H-Mart near my has frog legs on Instacart.
And of course, if you "have a guy" locally or have any smaller local stores that carry frog legs, then definitely get them there.
Alright, now onto the recipe!
Ingredients
- 8 frog legs, thawed if frozen (that's 8 pairs of legs, so 16 legs, technically)
- salt and pepper, to taste - you'll season the frog legs with salt and pepper
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour - this is the base of the flour coating
- ¼ cup cornstarch - this helps keep the frog legs nice and crisp by absorbing any extra moisture
- 2 tablespoons cornmeal - this helps give the frog legs a nice crunch. Make sure to use a fine grind or a medium grind cornmeal and NOT a coarse grind (which would be too hard and remain uncooked). A medium grind will give you more crunch and you'll feel the little bits of cornmeal as you bite into the frog legs. A fine grind will be less noticeable when you bite in, but will still give your frog legs crunch.
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt - this salt will be added to the breading mixture
- 4-6 tablespoons unsalted butter - this will be used to dip the frog legs before adding the breading mixture. I use butter for a delicious buttery flavor, but you can use olive oil if you want to.
- Fresh lemon slices, for serving
- Optional garnish: finely minced fresh parsley - this is honestly not needed, but it adds a pop of color so I add it when I want to be fancy!
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Equipment
- Air fryer
- Meat thermometer - this is a MUST! Frog legs need to be cooked to at least 145F in the thickest part of the meat, but get tough and rubbery if they are overcooked.
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Paper towels
- 2 medium bowls, large enough to fit a frog leg into. One of them should be microwave-safe, or you can melt the butter and then transfer it to a medium bowl.
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Instructions
Use a paper towel to dry the thawed frog legs and remove excess moisture. Season with salt and pepper on both sides and squeeze a little lemon juice on top.
In a medium bowl, combine all the dry ingredients (flour, starch and cornmeal along with the garlic powder, paprika, and salt). Mix together really well.
Melt the butter in the microwave.
Dip each frog leg into the butter on both sides. Transfer the buttery frog leg to the bowl with the dry ingredients and coat on both sides.
Transfer frog legs to your air fryer basket or rack, try not to crowd them or overlap them too much. Air fry at 375F for 8-9 minutes, or until fully cooked (internal temperature should be at least 145F) and golden brown on the outside.
Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the frog legs, garnish with parsley, and serve with your favorite dip.
Dip ideas for frog legs
Any of these dips below would work really well with the simple flavors of the frog leg breading and the squeeze of lemon juice on top:
- Tartar sauce (I have an easy recipe for tartar sauce in my fried anchovies recipe)
- "Fry sauce" - a combination of mayo + ketchup, plus you can add garlic powder, a splash or Worcestershire sauce, or lemon juice if you're feeling fancy
- Aioli
- Horseradish-tomato cocktail sauce
- Good old ketchup will work great too!
How to eat frog legs
Some people might be hesitant about how to dig in once your frog legs are cooked! Eat frog legs just like you would chicken wings: pick them up with your fingers, dip into your dip of choice (if you want) and take small bites of the meat, taking care not to bite the bone. Make sure you have plenty of napkins nearby!
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Air fryer cooking tips
→ Don't overcrowd the frog legs in the air fryer. The feet can touch and overlap just a little, but definitely place them down in a single layer.
→ Cook times will vary between air fryer and will depend on the size of your frog legs, so keep an eye on the frog legs after about 7 minutes and check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. If they're getting too brown but are still not 145F internally, lower the temperature to 325F. Avoid overcooking because the meat will turn tough and rubbery.
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What to serve with frog legs
Here are some great meal ideas for a frog legs dinner:
- Side salad and roasted young potatoes. Try an elegant beet salad, such as this beet carpaccio.
- Yellow squash tots and air fryer garlic parmesan fries, for a totally finger food snacky dinner.
- Garlic bread made with a homemade baguette, or try spreading this garlic confit or this feta sun-dried tomato spread on your baguette.
- Lemony asparagus rice, or a mushroom risotto.
- Grilled vegetable salad or this grilled asparagus white bean salad
I hope you get to make these frog legs and enjoy this fun food treat!
If you enjoyed this recipe, let me know with a comment and a star rating below. And don't forget to share it on Facebook and save it on Pinterest for later!
Air Fryer Frog Legs
Ingredients
- 8 frog legs - thawed if frozen (8 pairs of legs)
- salt and pepper - to taste
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cornmeal - use a fine ground or medium ground cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4-6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- fresh lemon slices and finely minced parsley - for serving
Special equipment
- Meat thermometer (frog legs need to be cooked to 145F)
- measuring cups and spoons
- 2 medium bowls (one of them should be microwave-safe)
Instructions
- Use a paper towel to dry the thawed frog legs and remove excess moisture. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.
- In a medium bowl, combine all the dry ingredients (flour, starch and cornmeal along with the garlic powder, paprika, and salt). Mix together really well.
- Melt the butter in the microwave. You can start with 4 tablespoons and melt more later if needed.
- Dip each frog leg into the butter on both sides. Transfer the buttery frog leg to the bowl with the dry ingredients and coat on both sides with the flour mixture.
- Transfer frog legs to your air fryer basket or rack. Air fry at 375F for 8-9 minutes, or until fully cooked (internal temperature should be at least 145F) and golden brown on the outside.
- Squeeze some fresh lemon juice over the frog legs, garnish with parsley, and serve with your favorite dip.
Notes
- Tartar sauce
- Fry sauce
- Aioli
- Horseradish-tomato cocktail sauce
- Good old ketchup will work great too!
- Side salad and roasted young potatoes. Try an elegant beet salad, such as this beet carpaccio.
- Yellow squash tots and air fryer garlic parmesan fries, for a totally finger-food snacky dinner.
- Garlic bread made with a homemade baguette, or try spreading this garlic confit or this feta sun-dried tomato spread on your baguette.
- Lemony asparagus rice, or a mushroom risotto.
- Grilled vegetable salad or this grilled asparagus white bean salad
Nutrition
The nutritional information displayed is an estimate and not to be used as dietary or nutritional advice. Consult a nutritionist or dietician for nutritional info based on the exact ingredients you use.
John H
Tuesday 26th of March 2024
Very simple and good. I made several like this and then some with just the spice and olive oil to a bit healthier.
Cindy
Friday 19th of January 2024
Errors in recipe. Corn starch-1/4 c tablespoons. Cook @ 35°F Trying recipe for 1st time tonite. Would be easier to know the actual amount of corn starch.
Kate
Monday 22nd of January 2024
Thanks for pointing that out, I fixed the typos. I hope you give it a try!