Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Once you try these Air Fryer Chicken Wings you’ll never want to make them any other way! They’re tender, juicy and so addictively crispy that no sauce is necessary. They’re ready in minutes and will be the hit of any gathering!
I’m afraid I’ve been holding out on you. I’ve been making these ultra crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings behind the scenes for the past year and am finally getting around to sharing them with you!
I’m sorry it took so long, but rest assured that they’re worth the wait. 🙂
Wings are one of my favorite things to make for game day. My Instant Pot chicken wings are doused in a lip smacking honey buffalo sauce, but this recipe doesn’t even require a sauce.
They’re so crispy that there’s an audible crunch when you bite into them, which makes them completely addictive just the way they are.
There’s simply no reason to complicate something when it’s already perfect, but whether or not to serve these wings with sauce is completely up to you. 🙂
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Making chicken wings in the air fryer results in perfectly tender, crispy wings every single time.
- This is an easy air fryer recipe that’s easily scaled to feed a crowd.
- Air fryer chicken wings are extremely versatile and may be served as a main dish with your favorite sides or as an appetizer with (or without!) dipping sauce.
Recipe ingredients
The glory of this air fryer chicken wings recipe is that it only includes a few basic ingredients that can easily be changed up with your favorite seasonings or sauces.
Ingredient notes
- Chicken wings. I used 1.5 lbs. of drums and flats for this recipe which served about 4, but you can easily scale it to feed a crowd.
- Oil. The oil helps the seasonings adhere to the wings and also promotes browning. I used avocado oil for it’s high smoke point, but it may be substituted with your favorite high heat oil.
- Seasonings. These air fryer chicken wings are simply seasoned with smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper, which provide plenty of flavor. They may be subbed with whatever seasonings you have on hand, or you can spice things up with my blackened seasoning or jerk seasoning!
How to make chicken wings in air fryer
Once you try making chicken wings in the air fryer, you’ll never want to make them any other way. They’re perfectly tender, juicy and addictively crispy!
They’re also extremely easy to make and cook up in about 20 minutes.
Pro tip: For the crispiest wings possible, be sure to cook the wings in a single layer and don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Toss the wings with the oil in a large bowl. Combine the seasonings and toss with the wings until evenly coated.
- Place the chicken wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer with some space between each one to allow the air to circulate well for more even cooking and maximum crispness.
- Cook for 10 minutes at 390 degrees, then flip the wings.
- Cook for an additional 10-12 minutes or until crispy and cooked through.
FAQs
Only use high smoke point oils in the air fryer as low smoke point oils can burn and result in a rancid flavor. My favorite heart healthy high smoke point oils are avocado, grapeseed and coconut oil.
Chicken wings take 20-25 minutes to cook in the air fryer depending on their size. Flip the wings halfway through the cooking time for evenly cooked, crispy wings.
Yes, frozen wings may be cooked in the air fryer…simply add about 5-6 minutes to the cooking time. Freeze in a single layer in a zip top bag for best results to pop into the air fryer when you’re ready. You may also add a frozen block of chicken wings and cook for about 5 minutes, then break them apart and cook in a single layer, flipping halfway through the cooking time.
For the crispiest chicken wings, cook them in a single layer in the air fryer at 390 degrees with space between each wing, which allows the air to circulate well and cook the wings more evenly. Flip the wings halfway through the cooking time for extra crispy wings.
Air fryer chicken wings are a much healthier option than wings fried in an excessive amount of oil. Only 1 tablespoon of oil was used in this entire recipe to help the seasoning adhere to the wings and promote browning.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: For the crispiest wings, cook in a single layer and do not overcrowd the pan.
- This recipe is easily scaled to feed a crowd, but the wings will need to be cooked in batches for crispy, evenly cooked wings.
- Change things up with your favorite seasoning blends.
- Serve air fryer chicken wings with bbq sauce, buffalo sauce, Greek yogurt ranch or enjoy as-is!
More air fryer recipes you’ll love:
- Air fryer bacon
- Air fryer baked potatoes
- Air fryer broccoli
- Air fryer brussels sprouts
- Air fryer chicken breast
- Air fryer corn on the cob
- Air fryer jalapeño poppers
- Air fryer meatballs
- Air fryer potato skins
- Air fryer pork chops
- Air fryer salmon
- Air fryer shrimp
- Air fryer zucchini fries by Sweet Peas and Saffron
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs. chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil or other high smoke point oil
- 1.5 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Place the chicken wings in a large bowl and toss with the olive oil.
- Combine the smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper and stir well until combined, then toss with the chicken wings until well coated.
- Place the chicken wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer (you may need to cook them in batches depending on how large your air fryer is).
- Cook for 10 minutes at 390 degrees, then flip and cook 10-12 minutes more until crispy and cooked through. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Pro tip: For the crispiest wings, cook in a single layer and do not overcrowd the pan.
- This recipe is easily scaled to feed a crowd, but the wings will need to be cooked in batches for crispy, evenly cooked wings.
- Change things up with your favorite seasoning blends. My blackened seasoning or jerk seasoning recipes will really spice things up!
- Serve air fryer chicken wings with bbq sauce, buffalo sauce, Greek yogurt ranch or enjoy as-is!
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
