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These Air Fryer Chicken Wings have perfectly seasoned crisp skin with a juicy and tender inside. Cooking chicken wings in an air fryer is quick, easy and healthy, with little oil and no marinade.
If you are looking for easy game-day recipes, air fry chicken wings and you’ll be impressed at the result. Salty, garlicky and perfectly seasoned skin envelops the juiciest chicken meat ever. Just like air fryer chicken tenders, you won’t ever believe they are also healthy and keto.
I love cooking wings in an air fryer because they satisfy my fast food cravings in minutes, with minimal ingredients. There’s no need to marinate or flour your chicken, the seasoning blend will make the magic. I promise, they will taste like deep-fried wings but they aren’t! When you cook wings in an air fryer, the circulating air makes the skin so crispy with very little oil. Healthy and good for the diet!
My favorite way to eat them is dipping salty wingettes in keto BBQ sauce or Buffalo sauce. My girlfriend prefers honey mustard instead. But however you serve them, air fried wings will always taste delicious.
Recipe ingredients
This air fryer chicken wings recipe is very simple, it only requires 4 main ingredients. Here are some more details about what you’ll need. For precise amounts and quantities, scroll down to the recipe card – but only after reading through the next lines.
- Chicken wings. I recommend purchasing raw chicken wings that are already split into flats and drums, but you can also get regular wings and divide them yourself. If you want to air fry frozen wings, allow them to thaw completely before seasoning.
- Olive oil. Half tablespoon of olive oil helps the skin crisp up and improves the flavors. As an alternative you can use avocado oil or a neutral oil of your choice. Do not skip it.
- Salt. This recipe suggests a teaspoon of sea salt, but you can add more or less depending on your preferences.
- Seasonings. Garlic powder and lemon pepper ensure that that the air fryer wings are seasoned to perfection. If you don’t have lemon pepper, use regular black pepper.
How to make air fryer chicken wings
- Preheat the machine. Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200°C). After many trials, I find 390°F (or 200°C in Celsius degrees) to be the best temperature to fry chicken wings.
- Prepare the chicken. Split wings into flats and drumettes, if you haven’t already. Mine were already divided. Once you are done, use a clean kitchen towel or a paper towel to pat dry the wings completely. Do not skip this process, as it ensures that the skin crisp up nicely.
- Season to perfection. Add the dried chicken wings to a large bowl with olive oil, salt, garlic powder and lemon pepper (or just use black pepper). Toss very well to coat all pieces with olive oil and seasonings.
- Get ready for cooking. Arrange the seasoned wings in the air fryer basket, in a single layer. Do not overlap them, a little touching is fine. Lightly brush or spray the chicken with more oil.
- Air fry chicken wings. Bake in hot air fryer for 10 minutes, then flip and cook for 8 – 10 minutes more on the other side. Adjust baking time as needed, the wings are ready when golden brown and crisp outside but still tender inside.
How long to cook chicken wings in air fryer?
This recipe requires between 18 to 20 minutes. Cook in hot air fryer at 390°F (200°C) for 10 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for addition 8 to 10 minutes on the other side. You know they are done when the skin is golden brown and super crisp, but the interior is still juicy and tender.
Cooking times may vary depending on the air fryer that you are using. Some are more powerful than others. If you notice that after 20 minutes in total they are not crispy yet, cook them for 2 to 5 minutes more. Summary: Adjust cooking time as needed, keeping 20 minutes as a reference.
Success tips
- Before seasoning, pat dry the raw or thawed wings very well with the help of a clean kitchen towel or a paper towel. Do not skip this step, as it helps the skin crisp up to perfection. We just want them to be coated with little oil, salt and seasoning. No water.
- For an extra layer of flavor, lightly brush the dried flats and drums with BBQ sauce or Buffalo sauce before air frying. Do not go overboard with sauces, or the skin won’t get crispy.
- When placing seasoned chicken wings in the air fryer basket, arrange them in a single layer without that they overlap. Little touching is fine, but overcrowding the basket prevents the air from circulating and crisping the chicken.
- Serve air fryer fried chicken wings when they are still warm, with a selection of your favorite dipping sauces. My recommendations are BBQ sauce, hot sauce, Buffalo sauce, honey mustard, avocado dip or guacamole, and garlic mayo.
Why are my chicken wings not crispy?
Your chicken wings might not be crispy because of two common issues:
- Not patting them dry and
- Overcrowding the air fryer basket.
Make sure to dry the chicken before seasoning. Also, avoid placing too many pieces in the basket at once, as this can hinder proper air circulation. It’s always better to cook them in batches. Additionally, depending on your air fryer, you might need to adjust the cooking time to achieve the desired level of crispiness.
How to store and freeze air fryer chicken wings
How to store leftovers. Before storing, allow air fried chicken wings to cool completely to room temperature. Once cool, place them into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To reheat, cook in the air fryer basket at 390°F for 3 to 5 minutes until they are warm and crispy.
How to freeze air fryer chicken wings. Let cool first, then transfer the wingettes into zipper bags. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Before serving, take them out of the freezer, line over your air fryer basket and cook at 390°F for about 8 minutes until warmed through.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions
Yes, making air fryer frozen chicken wings is very simple. The recipe that you can find in the recipe card down below will remain the same. But you will need to remove the chicken from the freezer ahead of time, and let it thaw overnight in the fridge.
Yes, you can easily double or triple this recipe based on your needs. The procedures will remain the same, just increase all ingredient quantities proportionally. Additionally, you may need to air fry them in multiple batches.
The best air fryer for wings depends on your needs. There are mainly two types of air fryer in the market: basket-style and oven-style air fryers. Basket-style air fryers, like Ninja Air Fryer or Cosori, are compact and great for quick, crispy wings. Oven-style air fryers instead, have more space and extra cooking functions. Both are great, the choice is up to you. I used my Ninja.
Yes, you can also make baked chicken wings in the oven – but it will take more time. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C), prepare the wings as detailed in the recipe card down here, then line them over a parchment paper covered baking sheet. Bake in hot oven for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, flipping halfway through.
More air fryer recipes
- Air fryer chicken tenders
- Air fryer tofu
- Air fryer zucchini chips
- Air fryer corn on the cob
- Air fryer Brussels sprouts
- Air fryer sweet potato fries
- Air fryer potato chips
- Air fryer salmon bites
- Air fryer tortilla chips
- Air fryer chickpeas
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken wings, divided into flats and drums
- ½ tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ⅓ to ½ tsp lemon pepper, or use only black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 390°F (200°C).
- Split chicken wings into flats and drumettes, if you haven't already.Once you are done, use a clean kitchen towel or a paper towel to pat dry the wings completely.
- Add chicken wings to a large bowl with olive oil, salt, garlic powder and lemon pepper (or black pepper). Toss to coat all pieces with olive oil and seasonings.
- Arrange the seasoned wings in the air fryer basket, in a single layer. Do not overlap them, a little touching is fine. Lightly brush or spray wingettes with more oil.
- Cook chicken wings in hot air fryer for 10 minutes, then flip and cook for 8 – 10 minutes more on the other side. Adjust baking time as needed, the wings are ready when golden brown and crisp outside but still tender inside.
There’s definately a lot to know about this issue. I really like all the points you’ve made.
Delish !!! This Chicken Wings looks delicious ??
Hey my dear Liza,
thank you very much for your kind feedback! I agree, these chicken wings fried in air fryer are so delicious. With crispy skin and juicy inside, so good for a healthy fast food dinner 😉
Have a great Friday,
Matteo