Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

These Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings are perfectly cooked, with a crispy outside and a juicy center. They will satisfy your taste buds, whether you’re making them for a family get-together, game day, or just because you’re craving something spicy!

Using an air fryer is the secret to making great Buffalo wings at home. These air fryer buffalo chicken wings are among the best wings you’ve ever tried, yet they’re incredibly quick and simple to prepare.

They turn out incredibly juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside with just a teeny small amount of oil. This means you can eat wings with less fat and guilt, and they fit into most diets, including keto and gluten-free. 

Cut some carrot and celery stalks, grab your preferred blue cheese dressing for dipping, and enjoy a great feast! 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I’m sure this Air Fryer Buffalo chicken wings recipe will become a family favorite, and for good reason! Cooking Buffalo wings in the air fryer is a total game-changer. 

Here’s why:

• Foolproof Recipe: This is one of the simplest air fryer recipes you’ll find, yet the results are as tasty as classic deep-fried wings.
• Crispy and Juicy: These wings always turn out irresistibly crispy on the outside and unbelievably juicy on the inside.
• Quick and Simple: These delicious Buffalo wings can be on the table in less than 30 minutes, and you won’t have to worry about the mess or spillage of oil.
• A healthier option: With no need for deep frying or breading, these wings are much lower in carbs and fat, but they’re still packed with flavor.

So, this air fryer recipe in fact has everything you need to enjoy Buffalo chicken wings in a quick, flavorful, and healthier way! 

Ingredients for Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

Making crispy, flavorful Buffalo chicken wings in the air fryer is easy with just a few simple ingredients:

• Chicken party wings: You can use frozen or fresh wings. If you’re using frozen wings, simply extend the air fryer time to ensure they cook through without losing their juicy, flavorful texture. 
• Cooking oil: You can use any cooking oil. Any neutral cooking oil, such as avocado, canola, or olive oil, works well. Lightly coating the wings with oil allows the air fryer to produce gorgeous crispy wings.
• Baking powder: This secret ingredient is essential for achieving that delicious crunch! By increasing the pH of the chicken skin, baking powder helps to form tiny air pockets that give the skin an additional crispy texture. 
• Seasoning: I keep it simple with classic salt and black pepper, but feel free to add other spices or herbs to suit your taste.
• Buffalo wing sauce: Use a high-quality store-bought buffalo sauce or homemade buffalo wing sauce.
• Butter: Use regular butter or vegan butter (for dairy-free wings). Your wings become even more delicious when the butter melts with the Buffalo sauce, adding a deep, smooth layer of flavor.

Ingredients Substitution/Additions

If you want to enjoy this recipe without the sauce, try my Air Fryer Chicken Wings. Or add extra flavors to your wings before air frying by using different spices and seasonings, such as garlic salt, lemon pepper, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning, or other dried herbs.

How To Make Buffalo Chicken Wings In Air Fryer

It only requires a few easy steps to make Buffalo chicken wings in air fryer, and the air fryer will take care of the rest of the job!

1. Prepare the Chicken Wings: Drain the chicken wings and pat both sides dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
2. Season: In a large bowl, toss the chicken wings with the olive oil, baking powder, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
3. Air Fry: Place the chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer. Air fry at 400º F for 10 minutes.
4. Prepare the Buffalo Sauce: While the wings are in the air fryer, heat the butter and Buffalo sauce in a small pot over medium until the butter is melted. Stir and remove from the heat.
5. Rotate and Continue Air Frying: Rotate the wings and air fry for an additional 9–12 minutes at the same temperature, or until the skin is crispy and golden brown.
6. Coat the Wings with Buffalo Sauce: In a large bowl, gently toss the cooked chicken wings with the Buffalo sauce mixture until fully coated with the sauce. 
7. Serve: Serve with your desired sides and dipping sauce.

Serving And Pairing Suggestions

Serve air fryer buffalo chicken wings accompanied by Fingerling Potato Salad or Crispy Baked Potato Wedges. Since the air fryer is already out, you could us it to make air fryer french fries. In addition, prepare a light ranch dressing or serve with blue cheese dressing, and celery and carrot sticks.

Storage Tips

• Refrigeration: Keep any leftover air fryer chicken buffalo wings refrigerated in an airtight container. When properly stored, they should last for 3-5 days.
• Freezing: To freeze the air fryer buffalo chicken wings, place them (without sauce, add sauce after reheating) in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Once the wings are completely frozen, store them for up to three months in a freezer-safe bag.  
• Reheating: You guessed it, the air fryer is a great way to reheat buffalo chicken wings! Reheat at 380°F in 3-5 minute intervals. Between every round, give them a good flip. This will restore them to their crispy, “fresh-out-of-the-fryer” state.
• It isn’t suggested to microwave them because they become soggy. 

Expert Tips

The following tips and tricks will help you make the best air-fried buffalo chicken wings.

• If using frozen chicken wings, defrost them completely before cooking for the greatest results.
• Before seasoning your wings, make sure to pat them dry using paper towels. This helps make them very crispy.
• Before placing the chicken in the air fryer basket spray it with oil. The small amount of oil gives the wings an additional crispy texture and helps prevent sticking.
• Air-fry the wings in a single layer. Don’t stack or overcrowd the air fryer basket. More hot air circulation around the wings is better!
• Halfway through, flip the wings to make sure both sides receive an adequate amount of hot air. If your wings aren’t crisping up as nicely as you’d want, you may also shake the air fryer basket a little bit every now and again.
• Once the wings are air-fried, immediately toss them into a mixing bowl and mix them with the buffalo sauce. By doing this, the sauce will warm up and adhere better to the cooked wings.
• Wings come in a variety of sizes and shapes, so adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• Don’t omit the baking powder. This will ensure that your wings are crispy and delicious.  

FAQ’s

Why Is It Called A Buffalo Wing?

Wings are a classic bar snack or appetizer. They come in mild or spicy variations, and boneless variants are also frequently served. The dish’s origins are in Buffalo, New York, hence the name. There are different stories about its origin, but the basic recipe is the same.

Are Buffalo Wings Hot Or Spicy? 

Buffalo wings are usually not very spicy; they are more like medium-hot wings. You can always increase the spiciness by incorporating additional cayenne or other chilies. Additionally, both bleu cheese dip and ranch dressing have cooling effects.

How Long Does It Take To Air Fry Chicken Wings?

Air fry chicken wings at 400˚F for 8 minutes per side, or 12 minutes total, until crispy and golden brown. 

Can Wings With Sauce Be Air-Fried?

Wings with sauce should not be air-fried. Always toss the air-fried wings in the sauce for the juiciest, best-coated wings. 

How Long To Reheat Leftover Buffalo Wings In The Air Fryer?

Remove the leftover wings from the refrigerator and allow them to thaw. Turn the air fryer on to 350°F. Coat the wings in cooking spray and carefully place them inside the basket, allowing some room for the hot air to flow. Reheat until the internal temperature reaches 165° F, which could take up to 10 minutes. 

Can Chicken Buffalo Wings Be Prepared Ahead Of Time?

Yes. If you wish to make the wings ahead of time, keep the air-fried wings in the pre-heated oven to 160°F until party time. Then, right before serving, toss the chicken wings in the sauce to keep them from becoming soggy.

More Chicken Recipes To Try:

If you tried and liked these air fryer chicken Buffalo wings, I’m sure you’ll also love my other chicken recipes:

• Air Fryer Chicken Wings: Tender, juicy, and perfectly crispy (and no spice)
• Baked Chicken Breast: A classic dinner staple
• Grilled Chicken Breast: Perfectly seared and juicy
• Chicken Katsu: Crispy and juicy 
• Chicken Katsu: Juicy and flavorful
• Chicken Fried Chicken: Crispy and extra crunchy
• Grilled Chicken Fajitas: Easy and loaded with zesty flavors
• Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken: Simple but tasty.

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

Written by Matt | Plating Pixels

These Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings are perfectly cooked, with a crispy outside and a juicy center.

5 from 12 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Chicken, Dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 2

Calories 711 kcal

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Large bowl
• Saucepan

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 2 pounds chicken wings
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup buffalo wing sauce
• 3 tablespoons butter

Instructions

 

• Drain the chicken wings and pat both sides dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
• In a large bowl, toss the chicken wings with the olive oil, baking powder, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
• Place the chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer. Air fry at 400º F for 10 minutes.
• While the wings are in the air fyer: Heat the butter and Buffalo sauce in a small pot over medium until the butter is melted. Stir and remove from the heat.
• Rotate the wings and air fry for an additional 9-12 minutes at the same temp, or until the skin is crispy and golden brown.
• In a large bowl, toss together the cooked chicken wings with Buffalo sauce mixture and serve with your desired sides and dipping sauce.

Notes

The following tips and tricks will help you make the best air-fried buffalo chicken wings.

• If using frozen chicken wings, defrost them completely before cooking for the greatest results.
• Before seasoning your wings, make sure to pat them dry using paper towels. This helps make them very crispy.
• Before placing the chicken in the air fryer basket spray it with oil. The small amount of oil gives the wings an additional crispy texture and helps prevent sticking.
• Air-fry the wings in a single layer. Don't stack or overcrowd the air fryer basket. More hot air circulation around the wings is better!
• Halfway through, flip the wings to make sure both sides receive an adequate amount of hot air. If your wings aren't crisping up as nicely as you'd want, you may also shake the air fryer basket a little bit every now and again.
• Once the wings are air-fried, immediately toss them into a mixing bowl and mix them with the buffalo sauce. By doing this, the sauce will warm up and adhere better to the cooked wings.
• Wings come in a variety of sizes and shapes, so adjust the cooking time accordingly.
• Don't omit the baking powder. This will ensure that your wings are crispy and delicious.  

Nutrition Facts

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

Serving Size

 

5 wings

Amount per Serving

Calories

711

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

57

g

88

%

Saturated Fat

 

19

g

119

%

Trans Fat

 

1

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

11

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

23

g

Cholesterol

 

219

mg

73

%

Sodium

 

5114

mg

222

%

Potassium

 

793

mg

23

%

Carbohydrates

 

2

g

1

%

Fiber

 

0.2

g

1

%

Sugar

 

0.01

g

0

%

Protein

 

45

g

90

%

Vitamin A

 

711

IU

14

%

Vitamin C

 

2

mg

2

%

Calcium

 

208

mg

21

%

Iron

 

3

mg

17

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings, air fryer chicken buffalo wings, Buffalo chicken wings air fryer

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