How to Cook Juicy, Crispy Chicken Wings in an Air Fryer

Chicken wings are a classic appetizer and game day snack. The crispy skin and juicy meat make them hard to resist! Traditionally, wings need to be fried in order to achieve that signature crunch. But deep frying wings can be time consuming, messy, and unhealthy.

Luckily, air fryers provide a quick and easy way to make crispy chicken wings without all the oil. Air frying uses super heated air to circulate around the food, producing a crispy exterior just like deep frying. Not only does this cut down on prep time, but air fried wings are also lower in calories and fat compared to their deep fried counterparts.

If you love snacking on wings but want a healthier cooking method, then keep reading to learn exactly how to make tender, juicy chicken wings with crispy skin in your air fryer.

Benefits of Cooking Wings in an Air Fryer

Here are some of the biggest benefits of using an air fryer instead of deep frying to make chicken wings

• Uses little to no oil – Air fryers only require a small amount of oil to coat the wings, not enough to submerge them like frying. This significantly reduces the amount of fat and calories.

• Makes wings crispy – The circulating super heated air crisps up the skin nicely. Wings come out with that same crunchy texture as deep fried.

• Cooks wings faster – With the high heat wings cook much quicker than baking them in the oven. Expect air fried wings in 20-30 minutes.

• Easier cleanup – With barely any oil, there’s hardly any splatter or mess. Just wipe down the fryer basket when finished.

• Allows for batch cooking – Fryer baskets easily hold 1-2 pounds of wings, perfect for feeding a crowd.

• Adds convenience – Toss the wings in the fryer straight from the freezer for even faster wings anytime.

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Follow these tips and tricks to ensure your air fried chicken wings turn out perfectly crunchy every time:

• Pat the wings dry – Make sure wings are patted down with paper towels before seasoning. Any excess moisture can make the skin soggy.

• Use baking powder – This helps achieve extra crispy skin by raising the pH level and speeding up browning.

• Season generously – Don’t be shy with spices and seasoning! The wings can handle lots of flavor.

• Preheat properly – Always preheat for 5 minutes before adding the wings to ensure the fryer is fully heated.

• Don’t overcrowd – Cook wings in a single layer with space between for maximum crispness. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding.

• Flip halfway – Flip the wings over about halfway during cooking to promote even browning.

• Check internal temp – Wings are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

• Let rest before saucing – Allow wings to rest 5 minutes before tossing in sauce to prevent sogginess.

How to Cook Wings Straight from Frozen

One of the most convenient aspects of the air fryer is that it can cook wings straight from frozen. No need to think ahead and defrost!

Follow this simple process:

• Use frozen wings right out of the freezer, no defrosting required unless they are stuck together.

• Separate any wings that may be stuck. Microwave 30 seconds if needed to loosen.

• Pat wings with paper towel. Season generously with desired spices.

• Arrange in a single layer in fryer basket, being careful not to overcrowd.

• Cook at 400°F for approximately 20-25 minutes, shaking basket halfway.

• Check internal temp, cook longer if needed until 165°F.

• Allow to rest 5 minutes before tossing in sauce as desired.

The air fryer does the hard work crisping up those frozen wings for you. Enjoy crunchy wings in under 30 minutes without having to plan ahead!

How Long to Cook Wings in an Air Fryer

The exact air fryer cook time will vary slightly depending on the size of the wings and your particular model of air fryer. For reference, most air fryer wing recipes call for cooking at 400°F for around 20-25 minutes.

Here are some more specific time ranges:

• Smaller wings: 17-22 minutes
• Medium wings: 20-25 minutes
• Larger jumbo wings: 22-28 minutes

For frozen wings, add an extra 2-5 minutes. Always check that wings have reached an internal temperature of 165°F with a meat thermometer for food safety.

If wings are close to being done but still need another 1-2 minutes after flipping, you can increase the heat to425°F. This gives them a final crisping boost.

Air Fryer Wing Flavor Ideas

One of the best parts about wings is all the flavors you can create! Feel free to get creative with different seasonings and sauces.

Popular air fryer wing ideas include:

• Plain – Toss with salt, pepper and granulated garlic or onion.

• Buffalo – Classic buffalo sauce made with hot sauce and butter.

• BBQ – Sweet and sticky barbecue wings are always a hit.

• Garlic Parmesan – Toss cooked wings in melted butter, garlic and parmesan.

• Lemon Pepper – Fresh lemon juice and lots of cracked black pepper.

• Honey Sriracha – Sweet and spicy! Add sriracha to honey for a glaze.

• Jerk – Caribbean jerk seasoning adds bold flavor.

• Cajun – Cajun seasoning mix brings the heat.

• Teriyaki – For a sticky and salty Japanese take.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to flavor combinations! Change it up by using different dry rubs or experimenting with various sauces.

Serving Suggestions

It’s easy enough to enjoy air fryer wings straight out of the appliance, but certain sides and dips can take them to the next level.

• Celery sticks – The classic pairing for serving Buffalo style wings.

• Ranch or blue cheese dressing – For dipping any style of wings; cool and creamy contrasts nicely.

• Carrot and celery sticks – Fun veggie sticks in lieu of plain celery.

• Fries or tater tots – Some crispy potatoes complement wings wonderfully.

• Veggie platter – Broccoli, cauliflower, etc pair nicely.

• Queso or cheese sauce – For a deliciously cheesy dipping option.

Don’t forget napkins and wet wipes! Wings can get messy, which is all part of the fun.

Game Day Wings 3 Ways

Chicken wings are a sports watching staple. Use the air fryer to whip up wings 3 ways for your next game day spread.

Lemon Pepper Wings

The fresh flavor of lemon brightens up these peppery wings. Toss cooked wings in lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and dried parsley.

Sweet and Smoky BBQ Wings

BBQ wings are all American. Toss cooked wings in your favorite bbq sauce. Sprinkle with smoked paprika for extra flavor.

Parmesan Garlic Wings

Savory and garlicky, this recipe can’t be beat. Melt butter with minced garlic, parsley, and grated parmesan. Toss with wings.

The Perfect Air Fried Chicken Wings

The air fryer allows you to make tender, juicy wings with an incredibly crisp crust in way less time than baking. Follow this simple procedure for perfect wings every time:

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds chicken wings, patted dry
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 Tbsp oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• Optional seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, etc

Instructions:

1. Pat wings completely dry with paper towels.
2. Toss dry wings with baking powder, oil, and desired seasonings in a bowl until fully coated.
3. Arrange wings in a single layer in fryer basket.
4. Air fry for 20-25 minutes at 400°F, flipping halfway.
5. Check temperature to confirm wings are 165°F internally.
6. Let wings rest 5 minutes before tossing in sauce if desired.
7. Serve wings hot with crunchy celery and a creamy dip like ranch or blue cheese. Enjoy!

Make the Best Wings with an Air Fryer

Air fried wings match the taste and texture of deep fried wings, but in way less time and with a fraction of the oil, calories, and mess. The air fryer lets you conveniently cook frozen wings anytime and experiment with lots of fun flavors.

Next game day, party, or lazy Sunday, look to your air fryer for finger lickin’ good chicken wings everyone will devour.