In my book, its not really a Super Bowl party without chicken wings. Crispy wings drenched in an irresistible sauce (or flavorful dry rub) is the perfect snack to power me through any game day. While I love our classic buffalo wings, sometimes I just dont have the patience (or time) to turn the oven on. The solution? The air fryer. If youre short on time (or want to avoid a messy kitchen), making this party staple in the air fryer is faster, less-involved, and results in extra-crispy wings ready to be drenched in your favorite sauces and seasonings.
Keep reading down below for all of my tips on how to make the crispiest wings possible in everyones favorite kitchen gadget:
What People Are Saying: “Been making these wings this exact way for a couple of years now. Tried and true recipe. ” – PurpleBucket.
Air fryers have become an increasingly popular kitchen appliance for making quick, delicious meals and snacks. One of the most beloved foods to make in an air fryer is crispy, juicy chicken wings! The air fryer allows you to achieve that crunchy, fried texture without the grease and mess of deep frying.
Cooking chicken wings in an air fryer results in wings that are moist on the inside with perfectly browned, crispy skin on the outside. Though store-bought frozen wings can certainly be used, fresh chicken wings are ideal for getting the best possible air fryer results. With just a few simple steps, you can enjoy restaurant-quality wings from the comfort of your own home.
Benefits of Cooking Wings in an Air Fryer
Putting your chicken wings in an air fryer instead of baking them in the oven or deep-frying them has a number of benefits.
- Requires little to no oil, resulting in healthier chicken wings
- Wings cook quickly, in about 20-25 minutes total
- Crispy skin from circulating hot air mimics deep fried texture
- Chicken stays juicy and tender inside
- Smaller kitchen appliance, convenient for cooking smaller batches
- Easy cleanup with less mess than frying on the stovetop
Air fryers make deep-fried wings crispy while using up to 75% less oil. They are a great choice for people who want to cut back on the fat and calories in this tasty appetizer.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Follow these tips for foolproof, delicious air fryer chicken wings every time
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Choose fresh, high-quality wings – Look for plump wings with a good ratio of meat to bone. Fresh wings make the juiciest, most tender air fryer chicken.
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Pat the wings dry all the way through. Use paper towels to soak up any extra water on the wings before cooking. The drier the wings, the crisper the skin becomes.
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Use a lot of seasonings—taste is important! Cover the wings in Cajun, lemon pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and other seasonings.
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Don’t overcrowd the basket – Cook wings in a single layer, spacing them out to allow for maximum air circulation.
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Flip wings midway – Rotate and flip the wings during cooking for even browning and cooking on all sides.
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Use a meat thermometer – Check wings are cooked through to an internal temp of 165°F.
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Toss in sauce after cooking – Wait until wings are fully cooked before tossing in any sauces or glazes.
Step-by-Step Guide for Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Follow this simple process for crispy, mouthwatering air fryer chicken wings:
1. Pat Wings Dry
- Start with 2 pounds of fresh chicken wings, separated into drummettes and flats.
- Pat the wings completely dry with paper towels, removing any excess moisture or liquid.
2. Season the Wings
- Place the wings in a large mixing bowl. Season generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and other desired spices.
- Toss the wings until they are fully and evenly coated in the seasoning mix.
3. Preheat Air Fryer
- Preheating is important for crispy wings! Preheat air fryer to 375°F.
- While air fryer preheats, prep your wings.
4. Cook Wings in Batches
- Working in batches, place wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overcrowding.
- Cook at 375°F for 12-15 minutes initially.
5. Flip and Rotate Wings
- After 12-15 minutes, flip wings over and rotate their position.
- Continue cooking for 8-10 more minutes.
6. Repeat with Second Batch
- Transfer first batch of cooked wings to a plate and keep warm.
- Repeat process with second batch of raw wings.
7. Check Internal Temperature
- Wings are done when internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- If needed, cook wings for a few more minutes until 165°F.
8. Toss in Sauce (Optional)
- Once wings are fully cooked, you can toss them in your favorite sauce!
- Buffalo, barbecue, teriyaki, and garlic parmesan sauce are all delicious options.
And that’s it – your hot, crispy, sauce-coated air fryer chicken wings are ready to enjoy! Whether cooking for game day or a weeknight dinner, follow this straightforward method for finger-licking good wings any night of the week.
Cooking Times for Air Fryer Chicken Wings
The exact cooking time for air fryer wings can vary slightly depending on the size of the wings and your preferred level of crispiness. For reference, here are some general guidelines:
- Smaller wings – 18-22 minutes
- Medium wings – 20-25 minutes
- Larger jumbo wings – 23-28 minutes
Be sure to check the internal temperature and adjust cooking times as needed to ensure food safety. Air fryers make the process quick and easy, so fire up your fryer and enjoy your wings in less time than it takes for a pizza delivery!
Flavor Ideas for Air Fryer Wings
The possibilities are endless when it comes to flavoring air fried chicken wings! Here are some popular seasoning and sauce combinations to try:
- Buffalo – traditional buffalo sauce paired with blue cheese or ranch dip
- BBQ – sweet and tangy barbecue wings never disappoint
- Garlic Parmesan – a mouthwatering blend of garlic, parmesan, parsley, etc.
- Honey Sriracha – the perfect balance of sweet and heat
- Jamaican Jerk – spicy and full of flavor from Caribbean-style spices
- Lemon Pepper – zesty lemon and cracked black pepper
- Teriyaki – sweet teriyaki glaze sticky teriyaki wings
Get creative and make each batch of wings uniquely your own. The air fryer handles the cooking – you handle the flavor!
Make Ahead and Storage Tips
Since air fryers cook wings in smaller batches, here are some tips for getting organized:
- Season all the wings at once, then cook in batches.
- Let cooked wings rest in a warm oven until the rest are finished.
- Refrigerate sauced wings if making ahead and reheat later.
- Store cooked plain wings in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze wings up to 3 months; reheat straight from freezer.
Proper storage keeps your wings tasting fresh. With an air fryer, wings can be made ahead or cooked right before serving.
Common Air Fryer Chicken Wing Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about cooking wings in an air fryer:
Should wings be cooked from frozen or thawed?
Thawed wings are best, but frozen wings can work too. Add a few extra minutes to the cook time if starting from frozen.
Do you need oil or grease?
Minimal – a light coating of oil helps wings get crispy. Use just 1-2 tsp oil total on the wings.
How much wings can an air fryer hold?
Depends on air fryer size, but you’ll need to cook in batches to avoid overcrowding. For a typical 3-4 quart air fryer basket, do 1 pound of wings at a time.
Is flipping the wings important?
Yes! Flipping halfway during cooking helps the wings brown and crisp up evenly on all sides.
Can you reheat leftover wings?
Absolutely! Reheat wings at 300°F for 4-5 minutes until heated through. They won’t get quite as crispy, but still tasty.
Enjoy Your Air Fried Wings!
With an air fryer and this handy guide, you are equipped to make amazingly delicious chicken wings at home easily. Invite over friends and family to enjoy your latest wing creations together. The air fryer handles the cooking so you can focus on fun and flavor. Dip those tender, juicy wings in your favorite sauces and enjoy this classic appetizer to its fullest!
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- When it comes to chicken wings, 2 pounds is the right amount to feed everyone at your party. should feed around 4 people, and 1 lb. to feed about two more people, so figure out how many pounds you need based on your group’s size. Don’t want to buy by the pound? Three to four wings per person will do. Remember that you’ll need to cook the wings one at a time to make sure they get crispy.
- Cooking Spray: Spray nonstick cooking spray inside the chicken wings so the skin doesn’t stick to the air fryer.
- Hot Sauce: You can pick any hot sauce you like, but I like Frank’s Red Hot the best. If you don’t want Buffalo, try one of our other wing sauce recipes.
- Cream: To give our Buffalo sauce body and richness, we melt butter.
- Worcestershire Sauce: A little Worcestershire sauce gives our Buffalo sauce a tangy, smokey taste. This is something we don’t always put in our Buffalo sauces, so if you don’t have it, you can leave it out. I love how it adds another level of flavor.
- You could put garlic powder on our chicken wings, but I’m going to add some to the Buffalo sauce to make it taste even better.
Add your wings to a bowl, and season them well with kosher salt and pepper. Then, give them a toss to make sure they are coated evenly. Next, spray the inside of your air fryer with nonstick cooking spray to prevent any sticking.
Don’t crowd the basket when you put the wings in the air fryer; spread them out evenly. Cook at 380° for about 12 minutes. Flip the wings, then cook for 12 more minutes. Increase the heat to 400°, then cook for 5 minutes more to lock in that crispy exterior.
While they’re cooking, make your Buffalo sauce by combining melted butter, Buffalo sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder in a large bowl. Once your wings are done, add them to the bowl, and toss to fully coat. Serve with your desired sauce, and get to dipping!.
The full list of ingredients and instructions can be found in the recipe below.
- How to make crispy wings in the air fryer. If you want the crispiest wings possible, dry your chicken wings completely with paper towels before you season them. Even better, put your wings in the fridge without covering them for an hour or two before cooking them. For even crispier wings, cook them in an air fryer in a single layer. If you put too many wings in your basket, they won’t be as crisp or cooked evenly, which is something no one wants.
- If I use an air fryer, how long should I cook my wings? Mine were done in about 30 minutes. First, I heated the air fryer to 380° and cooked the wings for 12 minutes. Then I flipped them over and cooked them for another 12 minutes. Then I turn up the heat to 400° and cook for another 5 minutes to get perfectly crisp wings.
- Dipping sauces. While blue cheese is always a good choice, I would be remiss if I didn’t suggest that you make your own ranch dressing if you like ranch. The cool, sour taste of buttermilk and lots of fresh herbs go well with these wings.
Easy Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe
FAQ
How long do you cook chicken wings in the air fryer?
Chicken wings typically need to be air fried for 20-30 minutes at 400°F (200°C), flipping halfway through. The exact time will vary based on the size of the wings and your specific air fryer model.