Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Crispy!)

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This air fryer chicken wings recipe is my favorite way to cook wings, because it’s the BEST way to get super crispy chicken wings! With just a couple simple ingredients and a few minutes of prep time, this air fryer recipe is as easy as it gets and as crispy as air fryer bacon, but also easy to customize with your favorite sauce. It’s perfect for game day, or (let’s be real) any day! Let me show you how to cook chicken wings in the air fryer perfectly — including the simple steps and a few key tips for the crispiest skin ever.

And if you don’t have an air fryer, you can easily make baked chicken wings or slow cooker chicken wings instead.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for air fryer crispy chicken wings, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

• Chicken Wings – Buy them trimmed, or separate whole chicken wings at the joint (to make wingettes and drumettes) before cooking.
• Olive Oil – Although optional, olive oil helps the seasoning adhere to the wings better and gets them more crispy. Any neutral oil, such as avocado oil, also works.
• Baking Powder – This surprising ingredient makes CRISPY wings! This is because it soaks up extra moisture, helping to dry the skin. Be careful not to use baking soda by mistake, which won’t work and will have an aftertaste. Also, aluminum-free baking powder works best to avoid any aftertaste.
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper – For simple seasoning. See more flavor ideas below!

How To Cook Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer

This section shows how to make chicken wings crispy in the air fryer, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

1. Prep. Pat chicken wings very dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
2. Season. In a large bowl, toss wings with baking powder, olive oil (if using), sea salt and black pepper.
3. Arrange. Place chicken wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, without overlapping. (Work in batches if needed.)

4. Cook. Air fry the chicken wings for half the time (see times below).
5. Turn. Flip the wings. Increase the air fryer temperature. Continue air frying until your crispy chicken wings are done.

How Long To Cook Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer?

Air fry chicken wings for 15 minutes at 250 degrees F first, then flip and air fry for 15-20 more minutes at 430 degrees F. The total time is 30-35 minutes.

Tips For The Best Air Fryer Wings

Use these foolproof tips to make delicious and crispy wings every single time.

• Let wings come to room temperature if you have time. This is not required, but letting them sit out for 20-30 minutes before cooking will help them cook more evenly.
• Dry the skin. Moisture is the enemy of crispy skin, so patting dry with paper towels helps you achieve maximum crispiness.
• Use the right salt ratio. A good rule of thumb for meat and poultry is a teaspoon of salt per pound of meat, but since chicken wings have mostly bones, only about 1/3 of their weight is actually meat. This air fryer chicken wing recipe is for 2 pounds of wings, which is about 11 ounces of meat, and that’s why I used 3/4 teaspoon of sea salt. Adjust accordingly if you make a bigger or smaller batch.
• Sprinkle baking powder on the skin. This is the main trick for extra crispy skin! Don’t skip it.
• Grease the air fryer if needed. Mine is pretty nonstick, but you can spray with cooking spray or brush lightly with olive oil before adding the wings if you like, for easier cleanup.
• 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. If you have patience to have them not touching each other at all, even better.
• Start at low temperature, then increase heat. Cooking the wings at 250 degrees F first makes the meat super juicy, and increasing the heat layer gets them extra crispy.
• Flip and max out the heat. Flipping halfway through helps with even cooking as well, and increasing the heat is necessary to crisp up the skin on the outside.
• Check internal temperature. Crispy chicken wings is usually a sign that they are done, but the best way to know for sure is to use a meat thermometer. Confirm that the internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees F, and make sure not to touch the bone when measuring.

Can You Cook Frozen Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer?

Yes, you can cook frozen wings in the air fryer. However, you’ll need to use the air fryer to quickly thaw them before seasoning.

Check out my frozen chicken wings in the air fryer post to learn how.

Seasoning Variations

Crispy wings in an air fryer are already flavorful plain, but you can also mix it up with a variety of seasonings or sauces:

• Simple Spices – Don’t want to make any special seasoning or sauce? Use basic spices like garlic powder or paprika to flavor wings.
• Lemon Pepper – Season with lemon pepper seasoning, or try my baked lemon pepper wings.
• Buffalo – Cook wings as written below, and finish by tossing in this buffalo sauce.
• Ranch – Skip the salt and season wings with dry ranch seasoning instead.
• Cajun – Skip the salt and season wings with Cajun seasoning.
• Garlic Parmesan – Cook wings as usual and toward the end, toss in the sauce from this garlic parmesan wings recipe. (Some Italian seasoning is also delicious with this one.)

No matter what seasoning or sauce you use, I recommend keeping the baking powder on the skin — it’s the key to super crispy skin

Storage Instructions

• Store: Keep leftover cooked wings in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
• Freeze: Place air fryer chicken drumettes and wingettes in an airtight container in the freezer for 2-3 months.

Can You Reheat Wings In The Air Fryer?

Yes, the fryer is a great way to reheat wings. Place leftovers in the air fryer basket, set the air fryer to 350 degrees F, and cook for about 5 minutes, or until hot.

What To Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are a delicious and easy way to cook up a tasty meal in no time. Here are some of my favorite pairings that will perfectly complement your crispy, flavorful wings!

• Dipping Sauces – Blue cheese dressing is a classic, and ranch dressing, sugar-free teriyaki sauce, or bbq sauce are always hits.
• Raw Veggies – Carrots and celery sticks are classic sides to crispy air fryer wings. You can also use cucumber, radishes, or bell pepper strips.
• Air Fryer Veggies – Serve the best air fryer chicken wings with a veggie like air fryer eggplant, air fryer brussels sprouts, or air fryer zucchini chips.
• Simple Salads – Veggie salads always pair well with wings! Try my creamy cucumber salad, coleslaw, or wedge salad.
• Other Appetizers – Serve wings with rotel dip, zucchini pizza bites, or Caprese salad skewers.

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

If you like these quick, easy, and crispy chicken wings, you might also like some of these other easy air fryer chicken recipes:

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Air Fryer Chicken Legs

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

4.82 from 162 votes

Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Super Crispy!)

Learn how to cook the BEST chicken wings in an air fryer! This air fryer wings recipe includes tricks for crispy skin + seasoning ideas.

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 35 minutes

Total: 40 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 4 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

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• 2 lb Chicken wings (flats and drumettes, either fresh or thawed from frozen) ▢
• 1 tbsp Olive oil (optional) ▢
• 2 tsp Baking powder ▢
• 3/4 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

1. Pat the chicken wings very dry with paper towels. (This will help them get crispy.)

2. In a large bowl, toss the wings with baking powder, olive oil (if using), sea salt and black pepper.

3. Place the chicken wings in the air fryer in a single layer, without touching too much. (Cook in batches if they don't fit.)

4. Air fry the chicken wings for 15 minutes at 250 degrees F. (If your wings are frozen, add an extra 10 minutes at this step.)

5. Flip the wings over. Increase the air fryer temperature to 430 degrees F (or the highest your air fryer goes). Air fry for about 15 to 20 minutes, until chicken wings are done and crispy.

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Recipe Notes

Serving size: 4-6 chicken wings, or 1/4 of entire recipe

Nutrition info does not include the optional olive oil.

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 275

Fat 19g

Protein 22g

Total Carbs 1g

Net Carbs 1g

Fiber 0g

Sugar 0g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keywords: air fryer chicken wings

Calories: 275 kcal

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