Looking for a delicious and healthy air fryer chicken wings recipe? Look no further than these air fryer chicken wings! You don’t have to wait for the next super bowl, these are perfect for lunches, dinners, and parties. They are crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. Plus, they are a lot healthier than traditional chicken wings. Air frying is a great way to cook food without using a lot of oil. In this article, we will show you how to make air fryer chicken wings with step-by-step instructions. So turn on your air fryer and let’s get started!
Chicken wings
I am using about 1 pound of fresh chicken wings for this air fryer chicken wings recipe. You can use frozen wings if you prefer or don’t have fresh chicken wings. If you decide to use frozen chicken wings you will need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Olive Oil
Olive oil helps with getting crispy chicken wings every time, as it helps to fry the chicken during the cooking process. Olive oil is a great oil to use for chicken wings. You don’t have to use olive oil if you prefer another variety of oil but I prefer to use light olive oil for these wings. If you are trying to cut back on calories from the oil you can lightly spray the wings with olive oil spray or avocado oil spray to get the same effect.
Seasoning
Salt and pepper are my go-to seasonings for these air fryer chicken wings mainly because I will be tossing them in sauce afterward. You can of course use more seasonings if you choose to. Some Popular options for air fryer chicken wings would be garlic powder, cayenne pepper, or a seasoning rub if you don’t plan on tossing them in sauce after.
Sauce
You can use any wings sauce that you prefer for this air fryer chicken wings recipe but I usually go with a hot sauce or buffalo sauce for my wings. BBQ sauce or a homemade sauce are also great options.
Why Use An Air Fryer?
Air Fryers are becoming more and more popular every day and there are several reasons why. Using hot air and eliminating oil from frying saves you a lot of unnecessary calories and eliminates grease and saturated fat from your food which could cause potential health issues in the future. They also are massive time savers, wings would take 45 minutes to an hour in a conventional oven but can be done in a fraction of the time with air fryer chicken wings.
Chicken Wings
Servings
4
Prep Time
5 Minutes
Calories
215
Cook Time
15-20 Minutes
Total Time 20-25 minutes
*Please note that the nutritional information provided is an estimate only and may vary depending on the ingredients used. The calories listed are per serving.*
Ingredients:
- 1lb chicken wings (frozen or thawed)
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- 2-4 tbsp Sauce of choice (We used hot sauce)
*Disclosure, below are affiliate links to products we recommend. We do not include links to products we have not used or honestly recommend*
What Tools You Will Need:
Directions:
Step 1
Preheat your air fryer and 400 degrees while you prepare the chicken wings.
Step 2
Place chicken wings on a cutting board or prep surface and pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
Step 3
Place wings in a large bowl and lightly drizzle with olive oil, toss to coat.
Step 4
Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss in the bowl once again to cover.
Step 5
Add wings to the air fryer basket and start cooking chicken wings for 15-20 minutes giving them a toss 2 to 3 times during the cook.
Step 6
Remove wings from the air fryer basket and place them in a large bowl, add your sauce and toss the wings to coat evenly.
Step 7
Serve and Enjoy with Your Favorite Dipping Sauce!
Notes:
- If you like crispy wings, lightly coat them in baking powder before adding them to the air fryer basket.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray if your air fryer tends to stick.
- When possible use fresh wings to cook faster
- Toss wings 2 to 4 times during the cook to get a nice even cook
- If you would like your wings extra crispy, cook them for a few more minutes.
Fresh Or Frozen Wings?
You can use frozen or fresh wings for this air fryer chicken wings recipe, although fresh will always be the fastest. If you want to use frozen wing we have included some helpful tips below to help you get similar results.
- Place frozen wings direction in air fryer after its preheated for 2-3 minutes. This will help soften them up so you can season them.
- After you have partially thawed the wings drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Then toss them until coated as we did with the fresh wings.
- Your cook time will be longer for frozen wings so be mindful of that. We recommend cooking at 25 minutes to start for frozen wings but your air fryer may be different.
How Long Do You Cook Chicken Wings In An Air Fryer?
When making air fryer chicken wings, you will want to cook them at 375-400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165 degrees. If you prefer crispy wings you will want to cook them for a little longer.
Why Add Sauce After Cooking Wings?
Tossing the wings in sauce after they come out of the air fryer is our favorite method for a couple of reasons. It gives your wings a chance to crisp up and cook evenly without being drowned in sauce. When you cover your wings before cooking there’s a good chance that they can burn or be undercooked at the same time. Most sauces contain sugar which burns and it doesn’t take much to burn them. In most cases, your sauce with caramelize and burn on the outside of your wings before the wings themselves are fully cooked and nobody wants raw chicken. This is why we recommend cooking your wings and getting the texture you desire before adding the sauce.
How Many Wings Can I Cook In My Air Fryer?
If you have a larger air fryer you can obviously cook more than a smaller air fryer can at one time. Since you don’t have to lay the wings in a single layer like you would in an oven most smaller air fryers handle 1/2 pound of chicken wings and some larger air fryers can cook more wings, up to 1 1/2 pounds at a time.
Leftover Chicken wings?
If you have leftover chicken wings, store them in an airtight container. When you’re ready to reheat the chicken wings, preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees and put them in for 5-7 minutes.
What Sauce To Use With Air Fryer Chicken Wings?
Your sauce is your choice obviously but we will give some recommendations for our favorite way to dress up chicken wings. If you are trying to keep calories on down on your chicken wings we recommend a hot sauce. Most hot sauces are lower in calories in our experience between 5 and 20 calories a serving. BBQ sauce or buffalo sauce are also popular options and you can also find low-calorie sugar-free versions of those as well.
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
If you like crispy wings that aren’t covered in the sauce then don’t worry it’s easy. Simply follow the steps for the recipe but instead of seasoning with salt and pepper use your favorite spice rub. Cook until they are at your desired level of crispiness and serve with a side of ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or any of your favorite dipping sauces.
Popular Spices For Dry Rub Wings
- Lemon Pepper
- Garlic Salt
- Onion Powder
- Smoked Paprika
- Black pepper
- Cayenne Pepper
- Garlic Powder
What Should I Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Wings?
So now you have the chicken wings but if you are trying to make a complete meal and not just a snack, what do you serve with those chicken wings? We have listed some of our favorite go-to sides for rounding out these chicken wings into a full meal below. Pick 2 and your dish will really come together.
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Beans
- Fries/ Tots
- Coleslaw
- Salad
- Pasta salad
- Corn on the cob
- Ranch Macaroni Salad
Cooking Chicken Wings In The Oven Instead?
If you don’t have an air fryer you can definitely still have awesome chicken wings. You will just need to cook them in the oven and your cooking time will be longer. Use the same prep methods as above and follow the below directions.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange chicken wings in a single layer.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes or until done to your liking and toss chicken wings in your preferred sauce.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 1 LB Chicken Wings (fresh or frozen)
- 1 TBSP Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper to Taste
- 2-4 TBSP Sauce Of Choice (we used hot sauce)
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer and 400 degrees while you prepare the chicken wings.
- Place chicken wings on a cutting board or prep surface and pat dry with paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Place wings in a large bowl and lightly drizzle with olive oil, toss to coat.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste and toss in the bowl once again to cover.
- Add wings to the air fryer basket and cook for 15-20 minutes giving them a toss 2 to 3 times during the cook.
- Remove wings from the air fryer and place them in a bowl, add your sauce and toss the wings to coat evenly.
- If you would like your wings to have a crisp to them you can add them back to the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes.
Video
Notes
- If you like crispy chicken wings, lightly coat them in baking powder before adding them to the air fryer.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray if your air fryer tends to stick.
- If possible use fresh wings to cook faster
- Toss chicken wings 2 to 4 times during the cook to get a nice even cook
- If you would like your chicken wings extra crispy, cook them for a few more minutes.
Nutrition
Summary
So there you have it, With just a few ingredients and a little bit of time, you can have delicious air fryer chicken wings that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Whether you’re serving them up as an appetizer at your next party or enjoying them as a main course, these chicken wings will definitely be a hit. What are your favorite air fryer recipes? Let us know in the comments below!
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