Air Fryer Chicken Wings
You’ve discovered my new favorite way of making wings…Air Fryer Chicken Wings. They’re tender, they’re juicy, and they’re perfectly crispy. These air fied chicken wings are also healthier, with no frying needed. Plus they’re cooked in just 20 minutes.
I’m confident to say… you’ll never make chicken wings any other way again! A close alternative could be my grilled Buffalo Wings, but let’s focus on chicken wings in the air fryer for now. Get ready for some of the best air fryer chicken wings.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
In a nutshell, chicken wings in air fryer mean no messy deep-frying. Plus, they’re healthier than traditional fried wings. Best part? You can even cook these from frozen—no thawing necessary. I’ll provide tips for that as well. It’s also great as leftovers, and these party wings can simply be reheated in the air fryer.
Also, let’s not forget it’s fall—which means sports are in full swing. And these crispy air fried chicken wings will be the perfect (read: irresistible) game-day snack.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings Ingredients
- Chicken wings: You can use fresh or frozen wings. Air fryer frozen chicken wings will turn out equally juicy and delish—just with a few extra minutes in the air fryer.
- Cooking oil: Don’t worry, it’s not for frying, but it does help with crispiness. Just a tablespoon is needed. You can use any cooking oil. I sometimes toss in avocado oil for a change.
- Baking powder: This is a critical ingredient for crispy air fryer chicken wings. More on this in the FAQ’s later in this post.
- Salt and black pepper: Just the right seasonings for basic chicken wings.
Which Ingredients Can Be Substituted?
You don’t need to replace any ingredients, but you can add to them.
If you’re following a keto diet—these wings are already low-carb. Just make sure any sauces used are keto-friendly. Buffalo sauce is an ideal choice and used to make my Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings. Just be sure to toss the wings in sauce after cooking to ensure perfectly crispy skins.
And, good news! No flour or breadcrumbs here, so this air fryer chicken wings recipe is already gluten-free.
How to Make Chicken Wings in Air Fryer
Prep the wings. If you’re using fresh chicken wings, begin by draining them and patting both sides dry.
Season the wings. Toss the wings into a bowl and add oil, baking powder, salt, and pepper. The good part is, you don’t need to marinate!
Air Fry. To make all-around crispy chicken wings in an air fryer, place them in a single layer. Begin cooking at 400 ˚F for 10 minutes.
Flip ‘n’ crisp. After 10 minutes, rotate the wings and continue air frying for another 9-12 minutes. At this point, the skin should be golden brown and crispy.
And, there you have it. Your perfectly crispy and tender chicken wings air fryer are ready to be served immediately—on their own, or with a dipping sauce, like my mango lime dipping sauce.
How to Prep Ahead of Time
If you’re planning on cooking these later, you can add in the baking, powder seasonings and oil during the day and let them sit in the fridge. All you’ve got to do is cook them in the air fryer as directed when you’re ready to eat.
I tested this myself, and I couldn’t tell the difference in tenderness or crispiness. I like this method because you can make a bigger batch (with less cleanup) and only cook what you want at a time over a few days.
And if want to save even more time… why not store prepped wings in the freezer? Yep, that’s actually possible. Let the wings cool to room temperature and freeze them on a baking sheet. You can then transfer them to a freezer-safe container. Before using, you can thaw them and reheat them in an air fryer
Substitute Cooking Methods
You can, of course, deep fry your chicken wings. But beware—these would have them drenched in oil.
A healthier alternative to frying is baking your wings in the oven. All you’ve got to do is preheat your oven to 400 ˚F and bake for around 45 minutes to 1 hour. (Or until they’re nice and crispy). Remember to flip them after 30 minutes for even cooking.
You might have noticed, air frying your wings is the quickest and healthiest of ‘em all!.
Expert Tips
- If you’re using frozen chicken wings in air fryer, you can increase the initial air fryer chicken wings time by 5 to 7 minutes (that is, before the flipping step).
- Need some extra crisp? Increase the temperature of the wings during the last few minutes of cooking.
- You can add more flavors to your wings as you prefer, such as garlic salt or lemon pepper.
- Save the sauce: Toss the wings in sauce or dip them after they are cooked with the dry seasonings.
Common Mistakes in Making Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Sometimes, I like to call these “air fryer chicken wings with baking powder” for a reason. As tempting as it may sound… don’t skip the baking powder. This is critical for the crispiness.
Also, sometimes, when in a hurry, you may tend to put wings over one another, or even too close in the basket. That’s a big no-no. If the wings are too close, they’re going to steam instead of crisp. Instead, you can cook them in batches.
Also, wet wings = soggy wings. Make sure to pat them as dry as possible before tossing them in the air fryer. On that note, if you’re adding any sauce, but sure to toss the wings in sauce after they are cooked. Otherwise, the skin won’t crisp.
FAQs
How long to cook chicken wings in air fryer?
Air fry 1 pound of wings for 20 minutes at 400 degrees F., rotating the wings halfway through.
How long to cook FROZEN chicken wings in the air fryer?
Reduce the heat a bit from thawed wings to allow more even cooking. Air fry frozen wings at 380 degrees F. for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Why does baking powder make air fryer chicken wings crispy?
This is a critical ingredient that reacts with the chicken skin, raising its pH level. This creates tiny air bubbles, giving an extra crispy texture.
Why are my wings not crispy in the air fryer?
Sad, soggy wings? Say it isn’t so! Make sure you pat the wings dry before seasoning. Also, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Plus, don’t skip the baking powder. This will ensure they are nice and crispy.
Should I flour my wings before air frying?
Nope, not necessary. The baking powder does just the trick.
Are wings better in the oven or air fryer?
If it isn’t clear already—I love my wings in the air fryer. This is because they use less oil and are a lot quicker. But if you’re cooking in a big batch, using an oven can be a more convenient option.
Serving Suggestions
One reason I love air fried chicken wings is because of how versatile they are. Serve them with a side of easy creamy mashed potatoes. Or perhaps a quick BLT coleslaw salad. You can also keep it classic with celery sticks.
Also, a quick serving suggestion: I know many people love their wings tossed in sauce before serving. But for the crispiest skin ever, dunk your wings in sauce instead of tossing the sauce and wings together into a bowl.
Storage Tips
These wings are best enjoyed when cooked fresh—but if you do have leftovers, you can keep them in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
You can then reheat chicken wings in the air fryer at 400°F for 6 minutes. Microwaving is not recommended because they will be soggy.
More Chicken Recipes To Try:
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings: Just as tasty as this recipe, but with Buffalo Sauce!
- 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 Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
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 remaining ingredients until evenly coated.
- Place the chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer. Air fry at 400º F for 10 minutes.
- 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.
- Serve immediately as is or with your favorite wing dipping sauce.
So happy I tried your recipe and preparing dinner has never been easier. It was a big hit with my family and I find it healthier than deep frying it in oil.
Nnnniiiccceeee….I’ve not had my wings with mayo or mustard before. It’s not too late, to try it. Thanks for your recipe.
I have an air fryer. I am honestly useless with it. Every time I use it, it turns out to be too dry or burnt. Hopefully, this recipe will come out right.
Chicken wings are something I love. It has been a while since I have eaten any. Air fryer sounds great. I just got one. So I need to try
These are so yummy, we definitely love making them from time to time. Easy to make and also tastes delicious.
I’ve been looking for recipes to use with my air fryer. It’s such a resourceful tool, and great to have for meal prep!
This sounds like a yummy recipe that my family would really enjoy. I’ve not tried making wings in my air fryer yet although I have made other chicken recipes.
Oh my goodness these are so easy! What I love most though is that you don’t have to heat up a vat of oil to make them! Perfect to toss with buffalo sauce too. Thanks for the great recipe!
YES!!! These were super crispy!!! The air fryer is perfect for chicken wings.