Craving crispy, juicy chicken wings without the mess of deep frying? These Air Fried Chicken Wings are a total game-changer, for the win! Quick, easy, and irresistibly crunchy, thanks to a secret ingredient!
Why Make Wings in an Air Fryer?
Air fryer wings give you everything you want—crispy skin, juicy meat—with less grease and no deep-frying mess. The hot circulating air does the crisping, and for even better results, I add baking powder to the spice rub. It reacts with the skin’s moisture and helps create that extra-crispy texture we all love. Easy cleanup, no splatter, all the flavor.
Success Tips
- Pat those wings dry—seriously! Don’t skip blotting the wings with a paper towel before seasoning. Removing moisture is one of the easiest ways to help your wings crisp up beautifully in the air fryer without any breading at all.
- Test a small batch first. Every air fryer heats a little differently, so I always recommend trying a few wings first. If they’re not as crisp as you like, bump up the temp slightly or add a few more minutes next round. Once you find your sweet spot, you’ll have your perfect wing routine dialed in.
- Give ‘em space! Resist the urge to cram the basket full. Overcrowding means less airflow, which equals soggy wings. A little breathing room makes all the difference for that golden, crispy finish we all love.
If you love easy air fryer meals like Turkey Breast in the air fryer or crispy favorites like Southern Oven Fried Chicken Drumsticks, you’ll want to try this flavorful air-fried chicken breast next!
Air Fryer Wings Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken Wings: They can be whole wings or separate wingettes (called flats) and drumettes, whichever you prefer.
- Avocado Oil: Use a high-heat oil to help the skin crisp up without smoking!
- Spices: A combination of kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried onion flakes, and black pepper will season up the air fryer chicken wings to perfection.
- Baking Powder: The key to extra crispy skin—don’t skip it! Just make sure it’s aluminum-free to avoid any bitter aftertaste.
- Green Onion: A fresh garnish that adds color and a pop of brightness to the finished wings!
- Dipping sauce: If desired, serve some dipping sauces on the side like ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing!
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make Air-Fried Chicken Wings
Step 2 – Preheat & Prep Seasoning
Preheat air fryer to 400°F (about 5 minutes). Pat wings very dry with paper towels—this helps them crisp.
Note: Every air fryer is different. Test a batch and, if needed, bump up the temp by 15–25° to get that perfect crunch.
In a large bowl, mix oil, salt, spices, and baking powder. Add wings and toss well, rubbing the seasoning in so they’re fully coated.
Step 2 – Air Fry
Spray the air fryer basket with oil (avoid Pam—it can damage your appliance).
Add seasoned wings in a single layer, leaving space between them. Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes, flip, then cook 6–8 minutes more, until golden and 185°F inside.
Let rest 3 minutes. Garnish with green onion or your favorite topping, and serve with dips or sauces alongside your favorite snacks.
Tips For Making Crispy Air Fryer Wings
- Preheat your air fryer, always. Starting with a hot air fryer helps seal the outside of the wings right away, leading to better browning and less steaming.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook them in batches if needed.
- Toss wings in sauce after cooking. If you want to sauce your wings, make sure to do it after cooking to prevent soggy skin. If the sauce cooled the wings down, you can toss them back in the air fryer for just a few minutes before serving.
- Line the bottom with foil for easier cleanup. Placing a bit of foil in the drawer under the basket (not in it) catches drips without blocking airflow. It makes cleaning up way faster and protects your air fryer long term.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe Variations
This air fryer chicken wings recipe is a base recipe that can be used to make all your favorite flavors of wings! Here are some of my personal favorites:
- Buffalo Wings: Toss cooked wings in buffalo sauce or your favorite hot sauce and return to air fryer for 1–2 minutes.
- Honey Garlic: Drizzle with a mix of honey (try my hot honey), soy sauce, and garlic for a sticky glaze.
- Lemon Pepper: Add lemon zest and extra pepper to your seasoning mix.
- Spicy BBQ: Finish with your favorite BBQ sauce and a pinch of cayenne.
How to Serve Air Fried Chicken Wings
These wings are super versatile and fit into various meals and gatherings. Here are a few of my favorite ways to serve them:
- Game Day: They are perfect alongside cowboy crack dip and BBQ chicken sliders perfect for football season or big games.
- Parties & Potlucks: Pair them with Philly cheesesteak dip and air fryer Italian sausage and peppers to round out your party table with lots of flavor.
- As a fun weeknight dinner: Serve with crispy steak fries and a classic wedge salad for a satisfying meal the whole family will love.
- Don’t forget the dips! Wings and dipping sauces are a match made in heaven—try serving them with buttermilk ranch, blue cheese dressing, or barbecue sauce so everyone has their favorite.
- More Dip Choices: Honey Bourbon Sauce, Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce, Alabama White BBQ Sauce, Creole Mustard Dipping Sauce and Yum Yum Sauce.
Storing Crispy Air Fryer Wings
If you have leftovers (rare, but possible!), let them cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
How to Reheat Wings In Air Fryer
To bring back that crispy texture, preheat your air fryer to 375°F and heat the wings for about 4–5 minutes. Flip halfway through for even reheating.
No Air Fryer? How to bake in the oven.
Here’s the best way to bake these wings in the oven for crispy results:
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220 °C) (use convection if you have it for extra crispiness).
- Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment and place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with a bit of oil.
- Prep the wings just like in the air fryer version—dry them well, toss in oil and seasonings, then arrange them in a single layer on the rack (not touching).
- Bake & Flip: Bake up to 60 minutes, flipping every 20 minutes, until golden and crispy and the internal temp hits 185°F. You can broil for the last 2-3 minutes if you want a little more browning.
- Let them rest a couple of minutes before serving!
More air fryer recipes to try!
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds chicken wings trimmed of excess skin (may use flats or drummettes)
- 1 tablespoon avocado or other high-heat oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika or regular is fine too
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon baking powder optional, adds crispness
- ½ teaspoon dried onion flakes
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 green onion chopped for garnish
- ½ cup Ranch dressing or Blue Cheese Dressing or favorite sauce
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (205° C). It takes around 5 minutes. Blot the Chicken Wings really dry with paper towels. Note: all air fryers heat a little differently, try a batch, if not to your crisp liking, increase the temperature in 15-25° increments until you find the best match.
- In a large bowl mix together the Oil, Salt, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Baking Powder, Onion Flakes, and Pepper.1 tablespoon avocado, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon dried onion flakes, ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Add Chicken Wings and toss to coat Chicken with spices, rubbing in with your hands to get them fully coated.1 ½ pounds chicken wings
- Generously spray the air fryer basket with spray oil (not Pam or other similar as it will gum up your appliance over time).
- Place the seasoned chicken wings in the basket without overcrowding. Close the air fryer and bake for 10 minutes. Flip the wings and cook for another 6-8 minutes, until they appear golden brown (should reach 185°F internal temperature).
- Remove Wings from air fryer and allow to sit for 3 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped Green Onion or your favorite garnish. Serve with favorite dip, or sauce, along with your favorite snacks.1 green onion, ½ cup Ranch dressing or Blue Cheese Dressing
Notes
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220 °C) (use convection if you have it for extra crispiness).
- Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment and place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with a bit of oil.
- Prep the wings just like in the air fryer version—dry them well, toss in oil and seasonings, then arrange them in a single layer on the rack (not touching).
- Bake for 35-45 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy and the internal temp hits 185°F. You can broil for the last 2-3 minutes if you want a little more browning. Let them rest a couple of minutes before serving!
Nutrition
Denise
Thank you for sharing this recipe.
So happy you liked it, Denise!!