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Get It Now- Why You’ll Love My Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Cook Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer
- My Top Recipe Tips
- How Long To Cook Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer?
- Seasoning Variations
- Storage Instructions
- What To Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- My Favorite Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Super Crispy!) Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
This crispy air fryer chicken wings recipe is my favorite way to cook them, because it’s the BEST way to get the crispiest skin ever! With just a couple simple ingredients and a few minutes of prep time, this air fryer recipe is as simple as it gets — but also easy to customize with your favorite sauce. It’s perfect for game day, or (let’s be real) any day! It has seriously renewed my love for wings.
Why You’ll Love My Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Super crispy skin – If I’m being honest, I only like chicken wings when they are crisp. If they’re not just right, no thanks! That’s why I’m kind of obsessed with achieving that irresistible crispy skin 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 2 simple ingredients – Plus salt and pepper. You can certainly jazz them up with other seasonings (see my variations below), but when I’m in a rush, I love a simple recipe that has as few ingredients as possible.
- Quick prep – Other than the hands-off cooking time, these only need a few minutes from you. I like to prepare my side dish (or other appetizers if I’m going that direction) while they cook.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for making air fryer chicken wings crispy, 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. I usually get them trimmed to avoid the extra fuss. This recipe is for fresh or thawed chicken, so if your wings are frozen, follow my recipe for air fryer frozen chicken wings instead.
- Olive Oil – I always add olive oil to help the seasoning adhere to the wings better and get them more crispy. You can use avocado oil as a substitute if you like. I tested the recipe without oil as well, though, and it still works, so you can skip it if you want to.
- Baking Powder – This is my surprising “secret” ingredient that makes the crispiest wings! This is because 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 – For simple seasoning. See more flavor ideas below if you want a more complex taste!
How To Cook Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer
This section shows step-by-step photos together with the instructions, to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Dry the chicken. Pat the chicken wings very dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Season. In a large bowl, toss the wings with baking powder, olive oil (if using), sea salt, and black pepper.
- Arrange. Place the chicken wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, without overlapping. (Work in batches if needed.)
- Cook at lower heat. Air fry the chicken wings for half the time at lower heat (see times and temperatures below).
- Get them crispy. Flip the wings over. Increase the air fryer temperature, and continue air frying until crispy.
My Top Recipe Tips
- 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.
- Dry the skin. 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.
- 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.
- The baking powder is crucial. This is the main trick for extra crispy skin! Don’t skip it.
- 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.
- Check internal temperature. Crispy chicken wings are 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.
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.
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! (This method came out better than starting out at high heat.)
Seasoning Variations
Air fryer wings are already flavorful plain, but you can also mix these up with a variety of seasonings or sauces. Here are some of my favorites that I’ve tried:
- Simple Spices – Don’t want to make any special seasoning or sauce? Use basic spices like garlic powder or paprika.
- Lemon Pepper – Season with my lemon pepper seasoning, or try my baked lemon pepper wings.
- Buffalo – Cook the crispy wings in the air fryer as written below, and finish by tossing in a mixture of butter and buffalo sauce (or your hot sauce of choice). See my buffalo wings recipe for the perfect ratio!
- Cajun – Use Cajun seasoning for a spicy, flavorful kick. I make this 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 this garlic parmesan wings recipe. (I like to also add some Italian seasoning 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 leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 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: To freeze for later, arrange the drumettes and wingettes in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Once solid, transfer to a zip lock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
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 them:
- Dipping Sauces – If nothing else, I have to have a sauce! I serve my air fryer chicken wings with blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing (pictured above) most often, but sometimes I opt for teriyaki sauce or BBQ sauce when I want some sweetness.
- Raw Veggies – Carrots and celery sticks are classic sides. You can also use cucumber, radishes, or bell pepper strips. I’ll be honest, on busy nights I’ve made a little veggie spread with these wings and called it dinner. 😉
- Air Fryer Veggies – Chicken and vegetables are the two foods I cook in my air fryer more often than anything else! Make your entire meal using one appliance by pairing this air fryer wings recipe with air fryer eggplant, crispy air fryer brussel sprouts, or air fryer zucchini chips.
- Fries – Make some air fryer french fries, or try lighter rutabaga fries. Sometimes I even make a mix of both!
- Other Apps – Making these 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.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
If you like these quick, easy, and crispy chicken wings, you might also like some of these other cuts I’ve made in the air fryer:
My Favorite Air Fryer
I have this air fryer and love it! 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!
Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Super Crispy!)
Make the extra crispy air fryer chicken wings with this easy method! These turn out crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside every time.
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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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 (if using), 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 the chicken wings for 15 minutes at 250 degrees F. (If your wings are frozen, add an extra 10 minutes at this step.)
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Flip the wings over. Increase the air fryer temperature to 430 degrees F (or the highest your air fryer goes). Air fry for 15 to 20 minutes, until chicken wings are done and crispy.
Did You Like It?
Leave a rating to help other readers, or get the recipe sent to your inbox.
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 are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂
252 Comments
Judy
0Horrible! All I could taste was the baking powder – and I made to sure to use aluminum free baking powder! So disappointing.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Judy, Maybe you would be interested in my other air fryer chicken wing recipe.
Kenobiwan
0Absolutely delicious! I always add olive oil to coat, and a couple tablespoons (or more; to taste) of old bay, though you could sub Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, or any other spices you like. Add sauce after for delicious messiness. Don’t forget to air fry with foil because these are messy.
janice sanz
0BEST air fryer chicken wing recipe ever. We aren’t kids, but three seniors in this house. And I have been cooking for what seems like ever, so I’m very picky. Thanks a bunch!!
Patty
0Didn’t make yet but how do you do these with air fryer temp. In oven that is air fryer?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Patty, I’m not exactly sure what you are asking about the air fryer temperature…
Kenobiwan
0I’ve made these a few times and I use an air fryer toaster oven. Foil over a pan bc they will get messy. You can probably get a similar result with a traditional basket air fryer but the toaster oven variants are superior in nearly every way except the space they take up. If your regular oven has an air fryer mode, use that. Basically the convection fan is what makes the magic.
You should be able to set your air fryer’s temp regardless of type. Start low, finish high. That’s a key to getting wings (or any thick or bone-in chicken) that is fully cooked but not burnt, while ensuring a nice crispy, roasty outer crust.
Christina
0I made this tonight and my husband and I loved it!! The perfect crunch!
janice sanz
0This is a terrific way to make crisp, flavorful, chicken wings. They turned out better than any others I tried. And such a simple recipe. Can’t beat it. Thanks SO much!!
Linda K.
0CRISPY BUFFALO WINGS FOR THE WIN!
These wings are delicious. We loved that they were crispy without breading. I used buffalo sauce, but I may experiment with different sauces next time. My air fryer only goes up to 400 degrees. It worked out, though. I selected 400 for 20 minutes after flipping the wings and they were done. I’ll be searching Maya’s recipes for a similar thigh recipe next.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0So glad you liked them, Linda! I do also have a recipe for air fryer chicken thighs.
Debra
0When I made these, I had to change the temp to 300 degrees at first, then 425 degrees. They came out perfect. I also used 1.5 lbs of wings, not 2 lbs.
Debra
0These wings were fantastic. My husband and I both agreed these wings are better than the ones we pay an extreme amount of money for when we get wings at a restaurant. He told me to make sure I keep this recipe handy, because he knows we will be making these again very soon! Thanks for a great recipe. By the way, we did use the oil on them.
Winston F Reed
0I don’t know of any air fryer that goes as low as 250F. I have found this recipes good at 380-400F.
Kenobiwan
0The lower temp helps dry them out a little better for extra crispness and also help them cook more thoroughly, reducing the risk of burning (maybe not always needed if it’s working for you!). If your air fryer doesn’t get low enough, you could try cooking them in the oven at that temp, then finish at high temp in the air fryer.
Kim
0Love these! They turned out so good, crispy and juicy! I did add some garlic powder as well when seasoning them. We tossed them in some mango habanero sauce once done! Thank you for sharing this recipe this will always be my go to!
Tameko
0Hello. First off, let me say I LOVE your simple, easy to follow, informative recipes. I like to season my chicken and let it sit for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Would you wait to add the baking powder just before cooking, or go ahead and add it when seasoning it?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Tameko, I would add it right before cooking.
Heather
0My husband is VERY picky about hot wings and this was an absolute WIN with him!! Thank you very much!
Rory
0Followed to the letter but after flipping gave a quick spray of Pam. Better than most orders of wings we had dining out!
Kimberly
0Amazing! My wings came out so good thanks to this recipe! I kept recipe as is and added Buffalo sauce (Franks Buffalo sauce + some butter) The Buffalo sauce stuck to the wings perfectly, so good (with or without sauce).
Added this to my recipes, thank you.
Travis
0I never comment on recipes. I have found some good ones but nothing has ever made me want to comment on a recipe before…until now. These are far and away the crispiest tastiest air fryer wings I have ever had. Unbelievable. The whole family enjoyed them. The first cook at 250 added time to the meal prep and I almost didn’t try the recipe but I am glad I did. If I could give more than 5 stars I would.
Molly DeVoe Tuemler
0So dang good. I eat them with no sauce. So crispy. Delish.
Abby
0These were so easy and delicious! I dipped them in ranch and the whole family loved them.
Sharina
0Been craving for chicken wings, and this recipe is soooo delish. They were so tender and flavorful. My new favorite!
Kristen
0These chicken wings were so juicy yet still so crispy, they were some of the best wings I have ever had.
Pegi Fitton
0This was a nice beginner recipe. The flavor was good, they browned nicely, and were crunchy. My only complaint was the buffalo sauce I used did not stay on the wings.
Diane Flower
0Both my daughter & myself (not to mention our little dog, minus the bonus of course) thoroughly enjoyed these wings so crispy with gentle spices & so easy to prepare & cook.
Susan
0These were delicious! I added 2 teaspoons of Weber Honey Garlic Seasoning for more flavor.
Also, it was easier to coat the wings without the olive oil. I can’t wait to make these again!
Anne Barron
04 ingredients! What’s not to love? Customizable to any sauces. My husband loved them (picky eater). Prefers them over fried.
Note: my air fryer only goes to 400 and 15 minutes was great for us. If I were to coat with a lot of sauce I would go 20.
Diana Dufresne
0These were awesome, my first time of using baking powder on the wing. Love cooking in the air fryer.
Ryan Larrabee
0Simply outstanding… did a two hour brine before and couldn’t believe how amazing they came out… you would never know they weren’t deep fried.
Ofelia
0Can I bake this recipe?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi, Here is a recipe for baked wings.
Sally W.
0When cooking in batches do you put them in the oven to keep warm? And if so, at what temperature.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Sally, You could keep them in the oven at the lowest temperature.
Jenny
0Ok can’t wait to try these wing recipes. Thank you
Lila
0These are by far the very best chicken wings recipe!! On the last 20 minutes I brushed a little olive oil for more crispiness – YUMMY!
Adrienne Garcia
0Easy & best spices for both real crispy wings & chicken.
Ginette
0Thank you for this great recipe. My husband said that he hasn’t ever had crispy chicken that was so good!
Laura Hahn
0Great recipe and easy. Love them
Bandy
0Hello, can you make this with chicken legs the wings were fab? Thanks.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Bandy, Here is my recipe for air fryer chicken legs.
Cathy
0If you are cooking in batches do you have to let the temperature decrease before you start the second batch, or can you just turn the temperature down and start again?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Cathy, No need to turn down the temperature between batches.
Kevin walsh
0My wings came out so small. How can you do the wings without any shrinkage?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Kevin, This is typical for wings, it’s normal for them to shrink a bit when cooking. There isn’t much you can do to stop this.
Pearl Groefsema
0Tried this recipe for wings the other night! One word OUTSTANDING! Easy and great flavor! Looking forward to making them again in the very near future!!!!
Lisa
0I’ve made this several times, but tonight’s was superlative! I added onion powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. I also planned earlier so I could let the wings sit out to dry and come to temperature. My air fryer is only 3 qts so I did only six cut up pieces at a time. Also important, sometime I eyeballed the quantities of salt, baking powder, pepper. Tonight I measured those (not the extras 🤷🏻♀️). I probably never added enough salt or baking powder to get the best results.
Peggy Robinson
0Dear Wholesome, I have the Aria counter top air fryer oven not the round container style basket style like yours. I was wondering will this recipe come out the same way in the oven style air fryer if I prepare & cook it according to this recipe?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Peggy, I have never made this recipe in that type of air fryer but it should work for you.
Jim J
0Typically, with the flat / toaster oven sized air fryers, the times are similar but you don’t need to flip halfway if you’re using the basket
Michael Scott
0I followed your recipe to a “T” and my wings didn’t come out looking like yours, at all! Mine remained white and pasty looking……to the point it was difficult to “see” if they were even cooked.
Biting and chewing them confirmed that they WERE, in fact, cooked thoroughly, but they certainly didn’t look appetizing.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Michael, To me, this sounds like an issue with the air fryer. If you followed the recipe and cooking time exactly the air fryer should have made the skin crispy on the outside.
Tess
0How long should we marinate the chicken pieces?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Tess, There is no need to marinate the chicken in this recipe.
Pamel Sloan-Montgomery
0The best air fryer recipe for crispy wings. Baking powder is key. Thank you
Scott
0Here’s the truth. Following this recipe ruined my Sunday dinner. This is, undeniably, be the worst recipe for wings I’ve ever tried. The baking powder is an absolute mistake. It imparts a flavor that throws everything completely off. It may be impossible for me to overstate how much you should avoid this recipe.
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Scott, Sorry this recipe didn’t turn out as expected. Did you only use 1 tsp per 1 pound of wings? This is a small amount of baking powder and should not overwhelm the flavor.
B Sa
0The wings recipe was my 1st recipe made in my new air fryer. I haven’t ever used an air fryer before. Boy, am I glad I chose this recipe. The wings were moist, juicy and, as advertised, super crispy! The only change I made was after tossing the raw wings in the baking powder mixture, I drizzled a little EVOO over the wings and tossed them to coat evenly. I’d read several crispy wing recipes and all others had used some oil on the wings before cooking. Again, the wings turned out great, hubby and I both loved them and they will be my go-to recipe for wings!
Rob Lumpkin
0Excellent comment and I agree with you. I also drizzled a little EVOO over the wings but after turning up the heat and they came out crispy, crunchy and juicy brown! Thanks for that addition!
Laura Campbell
0Hi there!
My ninja grill’s lowest temp is 300 🙁 Any tips on cooking times?
Wholesome Yum D
0Hi Laura, I would reduce the cooking time in step 4 to 10 minutes.
Kelly H
0These were EXCELLENT! The only change I made was to substitute the salt and pepper with BWW Salt and Vinegar dry rub. They were SO good!!
Mathew
0Best chicken recipe I every came across, and they are so delicious crispy and juicy when cooked.
Lori Hawkins
0My air fryer did not go as high or as low as the recipe stated, so I cooked the wings at 300 degrees for the first half and 400 degrees for the second. They came out tender inside and crispy on the outside. Threw on BWW sauce and it was like eating out!
Carole
0These wings are awesome! I use a lot of wholesomeyum recipes because they are so good but these wings are fantastic!!
Derek
0I tried this last night. Baking powder is that secret ingredient. Thank you, they turned out perfect 🙂
Derek
0I’m counting on you for this. Will give you full report on results : )
Peter M
0This works really well – thank you!!
Sharon Krezanski
0Dear Yum-Did your Air fry Eggplant tonight-YUM!-looked up recipe for Air Fry Chicken wings-going to do it!-Need to tell everyone-your recipes are easy to follow-not many ingredients & delish-Thank you so much-you are GREAT!!
Lois Clarke
0Easy and crisped up air fry wings perfectly.