My air fryer chicken wings are crispy on the outside and oh-so juicy on the inside. I call these my game day and party staple wings because they are the number one go-to in my house!
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My Crispy Recipe for Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
My husband Ben is from Buffalo, and it seems he gets a hankering for chicken wings at least once every few weeks. If I’m being honest, it’s more like every week. That means air fryer chicken wings are a big deal in my house.
This is my air fryer recipe I’ve perfected over 8 years, and I just needed it to be perfect to get that nice golden-brown crunch. Now I am confident this is the best way to get crispy chicken wings in the air fryer. Just last time I made them Ben told me, “I don’t know how, but these get better every time,” so that’s proof enough, right?
In fact, this very air fryer chicken wings recipe is the exact reason why I have so many sauces on my site. I am constantly making these wings and creating sauces to smother them in because, honestly, it’s just fun to do!
And, if you love a good air fryer appetizer recipe, try my recipes for air fryer nachos, frozen chicken wings in the air fryer, bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers in the air fryer, and air fryer ravioli.
Air Fry Chicken Wings Ingredients
- Chicken wings – I use a mixture of drumettes and flats
- Olive oil – to help the seasonings and baking powder stick the wings and add the crispiness.
- Baking powder – My secret to extra crispy skin!
- Seasonings – I use garlic and onion powder
- Smoked paprika – Adds a smoky sweet flavor I love
- Salt and black pepper – to enhance the natural flavors of the wings
- Favorite wing sauce – wings are always super delicious when a favorite sauce is used!
How to Cook Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
STEP ONE: Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F.
STEP TWO: Combine the baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Pat the wings dry with a paper towel and add them to a separate, large bowl.
STEP THREE: Toss the wings in the olive oil, then sprinkle them generously with the seasoning.
STEP FOUR: Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray. If there are more wings than can fit, cook them in batches. Air fry the wings for 20 minutes, flipping the wings halfway through the cooking time. For extra crispy wings, increase the temperature to 400 degrees F and air fry them for an additional 5 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Check that the wings have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, remove them from the air fryer, and let them rest for 2 to 3 minutes before serving.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Wings
- Don’t skip the preheating step! This is what gets the wings that nice crispy skin without overcooking them.
- Make sure to leave some room in between each wing. Overcrowding can cause them to steam instead of crisp.
- I love extra crispy wings in my house, so I always cook them for an extra 5 minutes at 400 degrees F. This is what brings them even crispy than oven baked!
Air Fried Chicken Wings Sauces and Serving Ideas
For me, celery and carrot sticks are a must when air frying my chicken wings and then I love to switch up the sauce. My go-to sauces include honey garlic sauce, buffalo sauce, bbq sauce, honey hot sauce, lemon pepper with butter, and blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing for dipping.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings FAQs
How long to cook chicken wings in an air fryer
I find cooking my air fryer chicken wings for about 20 minutes at 380 degrees F, then for about 5 minutes at 400 degrees F to make them extra crispy. The additional time at a higher temperature gives them that nice crispy texture!
Why are my air fryer chicken wings not Crispy?
To get the crispiest wings, I pat them completely dry before seasoning and only place enough chicken wings in to fit nicely in a single layer so they cook evenly. I also increase the temperature to 400 degrees F for the last 5 minutes for super crispy results!
How to store leftover air fry chicken wings
Store any leftover chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
How to reheat chicken wings in the air fryer
I reheat my leftovers without sauce when I can to avoid extra clean up. I reheat them in a preheated air fryer at 350 degrees F for 2 to 3 minutes until the wings are warmed and crispy again.
How to cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer
This recipe is for raw fresh chicken wings, so frozen chicken wings in the air fryer will cook differently. I air fry raw frozen wings in a preheated air fryer at 400 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air fryer bacon
- Air fryer pork chops
- Air fryer chicken tenders
- Air fryer hot dogs
- Air fryer salmon
- Air fryer chicken legs
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Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken drumettes and flats separated
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F.
- Combine the baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Pat the wings dry with a paper towel and add them to a separate, large bowl.
- Toss the wings in the olive oil, then sprinkle them generously with the seasoning mixture. Toss them again to coat.
- Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray and air fry them for 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through cooking. For extra crispy wings, increase the temperature to 400 degrees F and air fry them for an additional 5 minutes.
- Check that the wings have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, remove them from the air fryer, letting them rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
- Don’t skip the preheating step! It ensures the chicken starts cooking immediately at the right temperature and lets the skin get extra crispy.
- Make sure to leave some room in between each wing. Overcrowding can cause them to steam instead of crisp.
- Store leftover chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
- Reheat leftover wings in a preheated air fryer at 350 degrees for 2 to 3 minutes until they’re warm and crispy again.
- Air fry raw frozen wings in a preheated air fryer at 400 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
I’m sure the confusion was because of the Buffalo sauce. That’s where the carbs are.
Oh yum! I tested these out and they were so crispy and good. I’ll be making them again this weekend for the game!
Oh I am so glad you loved them, Stephanie! They will be at our house for game day again too.
Sooo easy and delicious!
Thanks for your feedback, Judie! I’m thrilled you loved the recipe.
First time using air fryer. Wings were perfect….CRISPY!! Thank you.
Hi Jan, So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Congratulations on your new air fryer, you’re going to love it!
My family loved this! Thank you for sharing this recipe.
Hi Melody, You’re so welcome! I’m happy to hear your family loved the recipe!