Description
This Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe delivers perfectly crispy and flavorful wings without the hassle of deep frying. Coated in a blend of spices and baking powder, the wings come out juicy inside with an irresistibly crunchy exterior. Optional buffalo or BBQ sauce adds a tangy, spicy, or smoky finish, making these wings a quick and delicious appetizer or meal, ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Wings
- 10–12 chicken wings (fresh or frozen)
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil (for coating)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika (smoked paprika is great too!)
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 1 tbsp baking powder (this helps with crispiness!)
Sauce (Optional)
- ¼ cup buffalo sauce or BBQ sauce (or both!)
- 1 tbsp melted butter (optional, for a creamy finish)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes. This ensures it’s hot enough to give the wings a crispy texture right from the start.
- Prep the Chicken Wings: If using frozen wings, thaw completely. Pat dry with paper towels to remove moisture, which helps crispiness. In a large bowl, toss wings with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and baking powder for a flavorful, crispy coating.
- Air Fry the Wings: Arrange wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, avoiding overcrowding for proper air circulation. Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway (around 12 minutes) to cook evenly. For extra crispiness, cook another 5 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Make the Sauce (Optional): While wings cook, heat buffalo or BBQ sauce in a small pan. Add melted butter if desired for a richer texture, stir well, and set aside.
- Toss in Sauce (Optional): Once wings are cooked and crispy, transfer to a bowl, pour the sauce over, and toss to coat evenly. Mix sauces if a tangy-sweet flavor is preferred.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley or extra seasoning. Serve wings with ranch or blue cheese dressing and celery sticks for a classic wing experience.
Notes
- Pat wings thoroughly dry before seasoning to achieve maximum crispiness.
- Baking powder is key to crisp skin; do not omit.
- Adjust cayenne pepper according to your preferred spice level or omit if sensitive to heat.
- Cooking times may vary depending on wing size; check for internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) for doneness.
- Try different sauces like honey garlic, teriyaki, or lemon pepper for flavor variations.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
