These crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings take 5 minutes to prep with basic pantry seasonings. They can be cooked from fresh or frozen and have multiple different sauce options.
Air Fryer Wings are the easiest!
Air Fryer Wings are the easiest!Really though, Air Fryer Chicken Wings are a MUST on game day! I do still love my original crispy baked chicken wings but I love how air fryer wings effortlessly achieve the crisp we want and only take 5 minutes to prep.
Toss them up in any wing sauce you want; it's fun to have a few different flavors! My wing sauce recipe is a sweet and spicy buffalo sauce, but we also love them with Hot honey, BBQ sauce, and Ranch.
Check out all of my appetizers like Popcorn Chicken, Ham and Cheese Sliders, BBQ Meatballs, and Pulled Pork Nachos!
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Wings:
Dry and Season: Pat wings dry with paper towels. This step is essential for the wings to be crispy. Mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and baking powder (has to be aluminum free baking powder) in a small bowl then sprinkle it over the wings. Toss the wings so they all get evenly coated in the seasoning.
Air Fry: Place wings in the air fryer basket, skin side up. Turn them every 5 minutes during cooking time, until they are crispy and browned (15-20 minutes). Remove from air fryer and rest for 5 minutes before tossing in your favorite sauce. Try the buffalo sauce down in the recipe card or Honey BBQ, BBQ, or Ranch!
For Perfectly Crispy Wings:
- Pat them Dry. Use paper towels and get the wings as dry as you can before you add seasonings.
- Use aluminum-free Baking Powder. This will help the chicken wings have that perfectly brown crispy coating we love. I like to use the red label Rumford brand. Aluminum free is essential or the flavor will be off.
- Don't Stack the Wings. When you arrange the wings in the air fryer, make sure they are in a single layer and have a little space between.
Recipes Variations:
- Baked Chicken Wings.
- Frozen Chicken Wings: Follow the recipe to prep and season the wings then cook them in the air fryer frozen. Add on about 10 additional minutes, until they are cooked and crispy.
Serve With:
- Fresh Veggies and Homemade Ranch
- Other finger foods or game-day appetizers, like:
- French Fries
- Potato Wedges
- Baked Mac and Cheese
- Rice Pilaf
- Buttermilk Cornbread
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Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 pounds chicken wings , halved at joints, wing tips discarded
- 2 Tablespoons baking powder (aluminum free)*
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Buffalo Sauce:
- 1/3 cup Frank's Wings Hot Sauce
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon water
Instructions
- Dry wings with paper towels. This is essential to getting a crispy coating.
- Season: Combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and baking powder in a small bowl then sprinkle seasoning over the wings, tossing to evenly coat.
- Air Fry: Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees. Spray the fry basket with cooking spray. Arrange wings in an even layer, skin side up. Spray the top of the wings with cooking spray and air fry, turning the wings every 5 minutes for about 15 minutes or until crispy. Total cook time will depend on the size of the wings and air fryer but may take up to 20 minutes.
- Sauce: Remove from air fryer allow to rest for 5 minutes before tossing in desired sauce.
- Buffalo wing sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat stir together all sauce ingredients. Mix well until sugar has dissolved.
Notes
Nutrition
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I originally shared this recipe April 2021. Updated December 2023 and January 2025.
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This are INSANE. I bought ranch, I bought buffalo sauce, but when I took the first bite plain, I ended up eating all of them without a single bit of sauce. They’re that good.
Made these a few days ago and Oh Em Gee these were amazing!!!! Absolutely love the sauce too, perfect for the wings and also going to try on burgers. 10 Stars all around, thank you for this recipe!