Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Chicken Wings are the answer when you want crispy chicken wings and you want them done FAST. Eat them as-is or toss them in your favorite sauce, then try not to eat an entire batch.
Although Homemade Salsa, French Onion Dip, and Loaded Potato Skins are all crowd-pleasers, when you think game day snacks, I bet the first thing that comes to mind is chicken wings. They are practically synonymous with game day, and lucky for you, this air fryer chicken wings recipe is easy to make at home.
Are they deliciously crispy and succulent? Heck yeah. But like Air Fryer Bang Bang Chicken, they’re also way healthier than the traditional version since they trade deep frying for the air fryer, which means a lot less oil.
As with any respectable wing recipe worth its salt, that crispy skin gives way to tender, juicy meat. (Also, you will NOT be able to eat just one or two. I’m warning you now. Wear stretchy pants.) I add wing seasoning to this recipe to make the skin extra flavorful, but you can also toss these babies in a bowl of buffalo wing sauce to make them sticky, messy, and finger lickin’ good. They are the best chicken wings.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for this recipe. For the full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card.
- Chicken Wings – Split these into flats and drumettes.
- Oil – You can use olive oil or avocado oil. The oil is what makes the outside crispy.
- Wing Seasoning – Or another seasoning blend you like. Try Lemon Pepper Seasoning, Blackening Seasoning, The BEST Dry Rub or Cajun Seasoning. Or keep it simple with kosher salt and black pepper.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Wings
You’re just a few minutes away from crispy air fryer chicken wings! Here’s what you’ll need to do.
- Prepare. Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels, then toss them with oil in a large bowl. Add the seasonings and toss again.
- Cook. Add the wings to the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 8 minutes, flip, and then cook another 8 minutes until crispy and golden brown depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Serve. Transfer the crispy wings to a plate or toss with wing sauce before serving.
If you want extra crispy chicken wings, add 1 teaspoon baking powder to the seasoning then allow the wings to rest in the refrigerator for 4 hours.
Tips for Making Air Fryer Chicken Wings
These simple tips will give you perfect crispy chicken wings.
- Dry the wings before seasoning. Removing excess moisture from the chicken wings before adding the oil will help the skin crisp up during cooking. If you oil damp wings, you’re trapping the moisture in.
- Room temperature is best. Allow your chicken wings to come to room temperature before air frying for even cooking.
- Give them space. The #1 rule of air frying is to make sure there is enough room for the hot air to circulate around the food. This creates an evenly cooked and crispy exterior. If you need to cook the wings in batches, do that!
- Don’t forget to flip. Flipping the wings halfway through cooking ensures that both sides get evenly cooked and crispy.
Wing Sauce Ideas
Toss your air fryer chicken wings in any of these sauces after they’re done cooking, or come up with your own ideas!
- Classic Buffalo sauce. Combine melted butter, Frank’s red hot sauce sauce, vinegar, and garlic powder for a traditional air fryer chicken wing recipe.
- Spicy Barbecue Sauce. Or your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce.
- Garlic Parmesan. Stir together melted butter, minced garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, and parsley.
- Sweet chili sauce. Give your air fryer wings some Asian-inspired flair with store-bought sweet chili sauce.
- Teriyaki sauce. Another sweet, sticky, savory combo.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Store leftover air fryer chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also transfer them to a freezer bag and freeze them for up to 3 months; if you do this, thaw them in the fridge before reheating.
When it’s time to reheat, preheat your air fryer to 350˚F. Arrange the leftover wings in a single layer in the basket and heat for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are warm and crispy on the outside. Toss with your favorite wing sauce.
Serve with carrot sticks and celery sticks on the side.
Dipping Sauce Recipes for Chicken Wings
- Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
- Ranch Dressing
- Green Goddess Salad Dressing
- Honey Mustard
- Polynesian Sauce
- Roasted Garlic Aioli
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer French Toast
- Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Air Fryer Honey Soy Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Crispy Green Beans
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer Margherita Pizza
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Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings, split
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons wing seasoning
Instructions
- Pat the chicken wings dry, thoroughly, with a paper towel and transfer to a mixing bowl.
- Drizzle the oil over the wings and toss to coat. Sprinkle with the seasoning and toss again to coat evenly.
- Preheat air fryer to 400˚F.
- Arrange the wings in the basket of an air fryer being sure to leave space between each wing (you may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your basket) and air fry for 16 minutes, stopping to flip the wings over halfway though cooking time. Cook until crispy and golden brown.
- Serve with dipping sauce or toss if your favorite wing sauce.