Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
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Juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, these air fryer chicken wings are finger-licking good! This easy to make snack comes together in 30 minutes and can easily be customized to BBQ Chicken wings or Buffalo Chicken wings.
Table of contents
After making Chicken 65 in the air fryer I was blown away with how quickly and easily the chicken not only cooked but also crisped. The meat was tender and absolutely bursting with flavor.
I wanted to see if it could also make a chicken that hadn’t been marinated just as crisp and succulent, which lead to these air fryer chicken wings!
These easy to make chicken wings make the perfect snack or dinner option. They are easily customizable and can be coated with your favorite sauce.
A Brief History of Chicken Wings
I was surprised to learn that wings are a relatively recent invention. Buffalo wings originated in Buffalo, NY in 1964- thus the name Buffalo wings.
They didn’t really gain popularity around the U.S. until the 1980s but ever since, they have been a staple on the menu at bars, restaurants, as well as backyard barbecues and Super Bowl parties.
They are also extremely versatile, making it easy to find a flavor everyone can enjoy!
Why we love these Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Aside from making the crispiest, juiciest wings, here are a few more reasons I prefer to use the air fryer for making chicken wings.
- Uses less oil than deep frying and it is hands-free.
- Crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside
- Faster than baking if making a small batch. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you can cook up to 3lbs of chicken in 30 minutes.
- Air frying cuts down calories.
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Ingredients at a glance
- Chicken Wings – About 3 pounds of chicken wings, patted dry.
- Oil – Avocado or peanut oil work well to coat the wings and help crisp them in the air fryer.
- Spices – I use salt and pepper for the base of the chicken and then flavor them up with different sauces.
- Hot Buffalo Sauce – To make these crispy wings into Buffalo wings, you will need buffalo wing sauce and butter.
- BBQ Chicken Sauce – Another flavor to try is BBQ. All you need to do is add some BBQ chicken sauce to these juicy wings.
Step by Step Instructions
- Dry the chicken wings by patting them with a paper towel.
- Toss the chicken in a mixture of oil, salt, and pepper until they are coated.
- Place chicken wings on the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd or stack them. This will take two batches.
- Air fry for 6 minutes at 400°F.
- After 6 minutes, flip the chicken wings over and cook for another 6 minutes at 400°F. Use tongs to flip the wings if you are using a CrispLid.
- Check the internal temperature after the cooking cycle completes to make sure it is over 165°F. If it’s not at this temperature, cook for an additional 2 minutes or until they reach 165°F.
- To Make BBQ Chicken Wings: Mix melted butter with BBQ sauce (at room temperature). Carefully remove the chicken wings using tongs and toss them in the sauce till they are completely coated.
- To Make Buffalo Chicken Wings: Mix melted butter with room temperature Buffalo sauce. Toss the chicken wings and coat completely with the mixture.
- Place sauce-coated wings back in the air fryer and fry for 3 minutes at 400°F.
- Serve hot with ranch, blue cheese dressing, or a dipping sauce of your choice.
Mix together oil, salt, and pepper. Coat with oil, salt, and pepper. 
Place in a single layer in air fryer. Cook 6 minutes at 400°F. Flip and cook 6 more minutes. Check the internal temperature. Coat with buffalo sauce. Or coat with BBQ sauce. Air fry 3 minutes.
Recipe notes
- Make sure to pat the chicken wings dry otherwise the oil won’t coat them properly.
- I prefer the chicken to be tender inside and crispy outside and 15 minutes does the trick. If you want it extra crispy, feel free to add 2-3 minutes to the cooking time.
- All air fryers don’t work the same – you may need to increase/decrease the cooking time depending on your model.
- When you are mixing butter with the sauces, make sure the sauces are either at room temperature or slightly warm otherwise the butter can solidify when combined with the cold sauce leaving behind a chunky mixture. To fix it, microwave it for about 8-10 seconds till the butter melts.
Reheat instructions
Cook the chicken wings in the air fryer for about 2-3 minutes to reheat. Toss in your favorite sauce and serve immediately.
Prep ahead
To prep ahead, you can cook the chicken, but do not coat it in the sauce. Refrigerate it for up to 2-3 days. When you are ready to eat, toss it in the sauce and cook for 3-4 minutes in the air fryer at 400°F and serve immediately.
How to safely thaw chicken wings
The best way to thaw frozen chicken wings is to move them from the freezer to the refrigerator and allow them to thaw overnight in the refrigerator. This prevents the chicken from sitting on the counter and growing bacteria.
Serve it with
The best thing about wings is that they go well with just about anything! Here are a few sides you can serve with these wings to take them from a game-day snack to a full meal!
Frequently asked questions
Yes! Using your air fryer to make chicken wings is much easier and healthier than the traditional deep frying method. It’s a quick hands off way to whip up crispy wings in no time!
Yes. I prefer to thaw the wings before cooking in the air fryer to decrease the amount of time they are cooking and reduce the risk of the wings drying out.
To cook the wings at 400°F I recommend cooking the wings for 6 minutes per side. You will know they are done when the internal temperature of the wing reaches 165°F.
You can stack your wings in the air fryer but they will not come out as crispy. This is why I prefer to air fry them in a single layer with multiple batches versus cooking all of the wings in one batch.
Other air fryer recipes you’ll love
If you love these crispy and easy to make air fryer chicken wings, then you will love trying out these air fryer recipes too!
- Air Fryer Chicken 65 – Crispy on the outside, tangy and juicy on the inside, Air Fryer Chicken 65 is a must make snack!
- Tandoori Chicken Tikka – This quick and easy Tandoori chicken tikka recipe is a delicious appetizer dish that is slightly charred on the outside and succulent on the inside.
- Crispy Air Fryer French Fries – These crispy vegan air-fryer French fries are so damn good that they could give the deep-fried ones a run for their money.
- Roasted Nuts – Making roasted nuts at home is easier than you think and barely takes a few minutes!
- Quick and Healthy Air Fryer Granola – Healthy and easy granola recipe made with whole ingredients that are good for you.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 lbs chicken wings
- 1 tbsp oil avocado or peanut
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Buffalo Chicken Wings
- 1.5 cups Hot Buffalo wings sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
BBQ Chicken Wings
- 1.5 cups BBQ Chicken sauce
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Pat the chicken wings dry using a paper towel.
- Toss them in a mixture of oil, salt, and pepper till they are completely coated.
- Place the chicken wings on the air frying basket in a single layer making sure not to overcrowd them – you’ll have to do it in two batches.
- Air fry them for about 6 minutes at 400°F.
- After the 6 minutes are over, flip° the chicken wings and cook again for another 6 minutes at 400°F. If using a CrispLid use tongs to flip the wings.
- Once the cooking cycle is complete, check the internal temperature to make sure it is over 165°F. If it does not reach the temperature, cook for another 2 minutes or until the temperature is reached.
- For BBQ Chicken wings: Mix melted butter with BBQ sauce (at room temperature). Carefully remove the chicken wings using tongs and toss them in the sauce till they are completely coated.
- For Buffalo Chicken wings: Mix melted butter with hot sauce (at room temperature). Toss the chicken wings in this mixture till they are completely coated.
- Put them back in the air fryer and air fry them for 3 minutes at 400°F.
- Serve hot with ranch or dressing of your choice.
Notes
- Make sure to pat the chicken wings dry otherwise the oil won’t coat them properly.
- I prefer the chicken to be tender inside and crispy outside and 15 minutes does the trick. If you want it extra crispy, feel free to add 2-3 minutes to the cooking time.
- All air fryers don’t work the same – you may need to increase/decrease the cooking time depending on your model.
- When you are mixing butter with the sauces, make sure the sauces are either at room temperature or slightly warm otherwise the butter can solidify when combined with the cold sauce leaving behind a chunky mixture. To fix it, microwave it for about 8-10 seconds till the butter melts.
Disclaimer: Approximate nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and can vary depending on the exact ingredients/brands used. If you have health issues, please work with a registered dietician or nutritionist.
