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The Crispy Skin On These Air Fryer Chicken Wings Blew Me Away
These air fryer chicken wings were actually one of the first air fryer recipes I ever cooked. And they blew me away so much that I was completely hooked on this appliance ever since. Here’s why they seriously renewed my love for wings:
- The crispiest skin you’ll ever have – I only like chicken wings when they are crisp, otherwise they’re not even worth it. That crispy skin is my top priority whenever I make them, whether it’s baked chicken wings or slow cooker chicken wings. But cooking wings in the air fryer? It beats all the other methods in crispness by a landslide.
- Juicy, flavorful, and tender inside – The crispy skin might be the best part, but let’s not forget about the inside. These wings come out super juicy.
- Just a few simple ingredients – You can certainly jazz them up with spices and sauces (see my variations below), but when I’m in a rush, I love a simple recipe with as few ingredients as possible.
- Fast and easy – These air fryer wings only need a few minutes of your hands-on time, and cook much faster than the oven. I usually prepare my side dish (or other appetizers if I’m going that direction) while they cook.
I love these crispy air fryer chicken wings for game day or when we’re hosting a party, but let’s be real, I’d recommend them for any day. Make them with me!
Reader Review
“Easy to prepare and delicious results! This is now the only chicken wings recipe I use.” –Cristine
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Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for making air fryer chicken wings crispy, what each one does in my recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Chicken Wings – I buy them already trimmed into wingettes and drumettes. Feel free to separate whole chicken wings at the joint yourself if you like.
- Olive Oil – Although the air fryer doesn’t require as much oil, I always add some for flavor and extra crispness. Avocado oil works, too. That being said, I tested this recipe without oil as well, and yes, you can skip it if you want to.
- Baking Powder – My surprising “secret” ingredient for the crispiest air fryer chicken wings! It soaks up extra moisture, helping to dry the skin. Be careful not to use baking soda, which won’t work and will leave an aftertaste. (I grabbed it by mistake once and that was, um, not a good experience!) Also, I’ve found aluminum-free baking powder works best to avoid any metallic taste.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper – If you want a more flavorful seasoning, see my variations below.
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How To Cook Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Dry and season. Pat the chicken wings very dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Place them in a large bowl and toss with baking powder, oil, salt, and pepper. I find tongs helpful for mixing easily.
- Air fry wings at lower heat first. Arrange the chicken wings in the air fryer basket, in a single layer. Air fry for half the time at lower heat (see my times and temperatures below).
- Crank up the heat to get them crispy. Flip the wings over, increase the air fryer temperature, and continue air frying until crispy.
My Recipe Tips For Crispy Skin
- Bring the chicken to room temperature if you have time. This is not required, but I noticed that letting them sit out for 20-30 minutes before cooking helps them cook more evenly.
- Drying the skin is key. Moisture is the enemy of crispy skin, so patting dry with paper towels helps you achieve maximum crispiness. I actually do this with all my chicken recipes, even ones without skin, because it also (somewhat counterintuitively) helps lock moisture inside.
- The baking powder is crucial. This is my main trick for extra crispy skin! Don’t skip it.
- The right salt ratio is most important for flavor. While you can customize spices any way you like, I feel strongly about the salt! My rule of thumb is a teaspoon of salt per pound of any meat, but since chicken wings are mostly bones, I use about 1/4 to 1/2 that amount. If you use my air fryer chicken wings recipe and want to scale it, the amount on the recipe card will update for you!
- Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. This ensures that the air can flow through and crisp up the skin. It’s okay if the wings touch a little, but try not to have their entire sides touching. Cook in batches if needed!
- My air fryer recommendations: I have and love this air fryer. The pictures above are from an older one I used to have, but I like this new one so much better because I can fit more wings in it. If you want to make an even bigger batch at once, this version has a space for two racks. I keep it in storage and pull it out when we have company to make larger batches!
- Checking internal temperature is optional. I almost never say this, but air fryer chicken wings are pretty much guaranteed to be done by the time they get crispy. If you want to check, though, aim for 165 degrees F with a meat thermometer.
- Why change the temperature part-way through? Starting at lower heat makes the meat super juicy, and increasing the heat later gets them extra crispy. It’s the best of both worlds! I’ve tested starting out at high heat, as well as several temperature combos, and in my experience the two-temp approach I use in this recipe turned out the best.
- Can you cook them from frozen? Yes, you just need a special method! Follow my recipe for air fryer frozen chicken wings.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Super Crispy)
By
Make extra crispy air fryer chicken wings with my easy recipe! These turn out crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside every time.
Instructions
[ See step photos See my tips ]Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Pat the chicken wings very dry with paper towels. (This will help them get crispy.)
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In a large bowl, toss the wings with baking powder, olive oil, sea salt and black pepper.
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Place the chicken wings in the air fryer in a single layer, without touching too much. (Cook in batches if they don't fit.)
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Air fry chicken wings for 15 minutes at 250 degrees F.
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Flip the wings over. Increase the air fryer temperature to 400 degrees F. Air fry for 15-20 minutes, until chicken wings are done and crispy.
Did you make it? Leave a review or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 4-6 chicken wings, or 1/4 of the entire recipe
- Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you get super crispy air fryer chicken wings every time, with a juicy inside.
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat: The best way is to reheat wings in the air fryer again! Somehow even after doing it a gazillion times, I’m still always amazed at how they turn out almost like they were cooked fresh. Just air fry for a few minutes at 350 degrees F, until hot and crispy.
- Freeze: Arrange the wings in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a zip lock bag and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can reheat right from frozen, although the result is better if you thaw first.
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I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
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Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Seasoning Variations
Air fryer chicken wings are flavorful all on their own, but below are some of my favorite sauces and seasonings. Just don’t skip the baking powder — it’s a must for crispy skin!
- Simple Spices – When I want to level up these air fryer wings in a simple way, I just add garlic powder and paprika in addition to the salt and pepper. Takes all of 5 seconds.
- Lemon Pepper – I love homemade lemon pepper seasoning, but store-bought is just fine. These taste just like my baked lemon pepper wings, but crispier!
- Buffalo – Cook the crispy wings in the air fryer as usual, and finish by tossing in a mixture of butter and buffalo sauce (or any other hot sauce you love). My buffalo wings recipe has the perfect ratio! I also use the same sauce for my air fryer buffalo cauliflower.
- Cajun – I use Cajun seasoning less often because my kids can’t take the heat, but my husband loves it! You’ll need to skip the salt if your seasoning is salted like mine.
- Garlic Parmesan – Cook the wings as usual and toward the end, toss in the sauce from my Crock Pot garlic parmesan wings. I like to also add some Italian seasoning with this one.
Serving Ideas
I’ve served these crispy air fryer chicken wings for many kinds of occasions, from an appetizer at parties to the main dish at dinner (why not?). Try them with:
- Dipping Sauce – If nothing else, I have to have sauce! I serve my air fryer chicken wings with blue cheese or ranch dressing (pictured above) most often. If you want some sweetness, try my teriyaki sauce, BBQ sauce, or even jalapeno honey (that’s what I’m using in my picture in the circle at the top).
- Crudites – Carrots and celery sticks are classic, but I’ve totally made these wings a busy-night “girl dinner” with cucumbers, radishes, or bell pepper strips.
- Air Fryer Veggies – Make your entire meal using one appliance by pairing my air fryer wings recipe with air fryer eggplant, air fryer brussel sprouts, or air fryer zucchini.
- Fries – Make some air fryer french fries, or try my lighter rutabaga fries or air fryer sweet potato fries. Sometimes I even make a combination!
- Other Apps – For a party, I like to make a spread with a dip, such as Rotel dip or spinach dip, and a bite-sized appetizer, like zucchini pizza bites or Caprese skewers.
344 Comments
Cristine
3Easy to prepare and delicious results! This is now the only chicken wings recipe I use.
Gerry R. Campos
2I share this with recipe with friends, colleagues and anyone who loves crispy wings. Huge hit. I am hooked on this as my only crispy wings recipe.
Nita
1I doubled the recipe and prepared it for a small gathering we hosted. Served with a choice of dipping sauces, it was a big hit! Super simple to make, it was the last dish made so they were piping hot and had the best crisp ever!
Wholesome Yum D
0Nita, I love hearing that it was a hit at your gathering! Fresh, hot, and crispy sounds like the perfect way to serve it—thanks so much for sharing how it went!
Diane
1I thought I had wings but they were thighs. It worked well. The thighs were delicious and will try this again with wings. Thanks for the secret ingredient.
Wholesome Yum D
1So glad it worked out with thighs, Diane! Let me know what you think of the wings when you give it a try!
Laurie Hill
1I always use aluminum free baking powder to make chicken skin crispy. It eliminates any metallic taste to the chicken.
Carolyn
0These wings are great! 5 🌟 stars.
Wholesome Yum D
0Thank you, Carolyn! I’m so glad you loved the wings, 5 stars makes my day!
Joni
0Love this recipe. It’s my go-to every time for crispy, juicy wings.
Wholesome Yum D
0Love hearing that these have become your go-to wings, Joni! Thanks for coming back to the recipe!
Karen
0My first attempt at fried wings in the air fryer and we were not disappointed. Yummy and crunchy! Will definitely be my new easy go to fried wings recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad this will be your go-to air fryer wings recipe, Karen! Hope you make it again soon.
Bonnie Geier
0My first time making chicken wings in an air fryer. These turned out amazing. My air fryer doesn’t go down to 250 degrees, so I cooked them 7-8 minutes on 300. I turned them over then bumped it to 400 degrees for 9-10 minutes, turning them one more time in the middle of that 10 minutes. Our wings were smaller in size. But they turned out awesome. I would highly recommend. Delicious.
Wholesome Yum D
0I’m happy they turned out delicious, Bonnie! It’s so helpful to hear what worked for you. Thanks for sharing!
Jenny
0So, so good. I only had whole wings… had 2 with a little white wing sauce and a salad for lunch and I was thrilled…. definitely making with buffalo sauce next time. Thank you!😋
Wholesome Yum D
0That sounds like such a tasty lunch, Jenny! I’m happy the whole wings worked well. I hope you enjoy them just as much the second time around!
MG
0First, the good news wings came out very crispy but OMG way too much salt. I only used 1/2 of a teaspoon and then tossed the wings with Frank’s Red Hot. Should be a warning about not using salt if you’re gonna use Franks. I ended up throwing the wings away.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Sorry to hear that! Yes, you may need less salt on the wings if you’re also adding a salty sauce. For next time, instead of tossing them I’d recommend dipping in ranch!
Mary Jo
0I’m so glad I found your website! I just made this easy and simple chicken wing recipe in my air fryer and they came out PERFECT!! Thank you for the step by step directions. I’m looking forward to trying your other recipes. I’m gluten free and use a lot of plant based milk in my cooking as well.
Wholesome Yum D
0I’m so glad you found me, Mary Jo! It makes me so happy to hear the wings turned out perfectly and that the step-by-step directions were helpful. I hope you find lots of new favorites here, and I’m excited for you to try more recipes. Happy cooking!
Cathy T
0I made the wings according to your recipe and they turned out great! Would the same technique, including starting low temp and finishing high temp work also for bone in chicken thighs?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad you liked them, Cathy! I usually use a different method for chicken thighs, but that’s a great point, this method should work great for those, too. Let me know how it goes if you try!
joey
0Crispy skin as promised. Definitely making these again!
Wholesome Yum D
0Joey, glad they delivered on that crispy skin promise! Love hearing you’ll be making them again!
Gary Killgo
0Have you tried using cornstarch instead of baking powder?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Gary, Both can work, but the way they work is different. Baking powder makes a lighter, crispier texture.
Daisy
0Sorry. Not impressed. Definitely did not turn out as crispy as the photos looked, even after extending the cooking time. Will keep searching for a really crispy air fryer wing recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
1Sorry to hear that, Daisy! This is usually if there’s too much moisture on the wings before cooking. Make sure to dry them super well next time.
Kim
1I used this for wings first. I did sub the salt for seasoned salt. Husband loved it. Today I tried it for thighs. It turned out crispy and very moist. Cooked a little longer than the wings but otherwise everything was the same. So crispy!
Wholesome Yum D
0So glad it worked so well for you both times, Kim! Cooking the thighs a little longer is exactly the right move. Sounds like this one’s becoming a go-to for you!
debbie
0These wings were crispy and juicy! My first attempt at air frying wings, and they came out perfect. Thank you for the recipe.
Wholesome Yum D
0That’s great to hear, Debbie! I’m so glad your first air fryer wing attempt was a success, crispy and juicy is the best combo!
Todd c
0Baking powder made them too salty and not recommend
Maya | Wholesome Yum
4Hi Todd, Sorry to hear your wings were salty. The baking powder should not add any noticeable salty flavor. Did you by chance use baking soda instead? That causes an aftertaste that some might describe as salty.
Melanie
0I made these Air Fried wings and they turned out super crispy and delicious. I tossed them in Sweet Thai Chilli sauce afterwards and WOW, they were amazing.
Wholesome Yum D
0Love that, Melanie! Tossing them in Sweet Thai Chili sauce sounds like such a tasty twist. So glad they turned out super crispy and delicious!
Grannycan
0Love your recipes, can’t wait to try the baking powder tip!
Query: My InstaPot Vortex only goes to 400 degrees F. I notice you have the same, but raised the heat to 430 degrees F, must be newer than mine. Will 400 work for this recipe?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
1I’m so happy you love my recipes, thank you! I originally developed this recipe with a different air fryer that went higher, but yes, you can do 400 degrees F using the Vortex and it works just fine — that’s what I do now. Hope this helps!
Kerryn
0These are the best, simple to make and yummy. A favourite in my house now.
Wholesome Yum D
0Thanks, Kerryn! Simple and yummy is always the goal, so happy they’re a hit!