Ready in minutes, these air fryer turkey wings are dry-brined with savory and sweet seasonings. Serve these as a main dish for a family dinner or appetizer for game day or the holiday season.
If desired, pat dry the turkey wings, then in a large bowl rub them with oil and sprinkle with spices up to 24 hours ahead of time, keeping them covered in the fridge and bringing out 30 minutes before air frying.
Preheat air fryer to 370° F (188° C) and make sure the air fryer basket or tray is in the air fryer. *Note that all air fryers heat a little differently, if using a countertop-style air fryer, you may need to increase the heat slightly and bake a few minutes longer.
Pat turkey wings dry with paper towels and place in a large bowl. Drizzle with oil and turn to coat.
Combine turkey wing rub ingredients in a small bowl, sprinkle turkey rub all over wings, then turn with your hands rubbing the turkey seasonings all over the wings. (At this point, the wings may dry brine in the fridge up to 24 hours.)
Place wings in a single layer (do not overlap, they won’t crisp or cook accurately) doing in batches if necessary. Air fry for 10-15 minutes, flip, and continue cooking for another 5 minutes or so.
Notes
Cook time will vary based on the air fryer brand and model you use. Always cook turkey until it reaches an internal temperature of 165° F, be sure to use a meat thermometer.If using a countertop-style air fryer note that turkey wings give off a lot of grease, place a small tray under your wings on a lower rack to catch the drippings.Air Fryer Turkey Gravy from Drippings If you have more turkey drippings, feel free to double this recipe:
⅛ cup turkey drippings
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 cup turkey or chicken Broth, or one cup water and one teaspoon better than bouillon (chicken or turkey)
1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon butter
Whisk the turkey drippings and all-purpose flour together in a small saucepan over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the turkey or chicken broth until thickened to desired consistency. Add ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and butter, whisking until combined, taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.Whole or Split Turkey Wings I chose split turkey wings for this recipe because they fit easier into the air fryer and are more accessible. At your local supermarket, you'll discover whole turkey wings and those conveniently split into wings and drumettes, which are the uppermost and meatier section of the wing. If your wings come with wing tips (they are typically removed), freeze them and use them when making your giblet turkey gravy. If you have trouble finding turkey wings, check with your local butcher.Variations & Substitutions If you are in a hurry and don’t want to measure out the seasonings to make your turkey wing rub, then use your favorite seasoning blends in place of the rub, such as Creole seasoning, Steakhouse seasoning, try this Carrabba's grill rub.Storage Tips Fridge | Store cooled turkey wings in an airtight container for 3-4 days, freeze up to 4 months. Reheat: To reheat in the air fryer; preheat air fryer to 330-350° F and cook for about 8 minutes until warmed through.No Air Fryer? Oven Baked Turkey Wings Lay turkey wings on a aluminum foil lined rimmed baking sheet and bake in a preheated 400° F (205° C) oven for about 30 minutes. If desired, place wings on an oven-safe baking rack or roasting rack. Serve with hot honey, regular honey, pan gravy, honey mustard, homemade chunky blue cheese or your favorite dipping sauce.