The Best Air Fried Chicken Wings – 4 Ways
Air Fried Chicken wings are simply the best way to make wings. I am a huge fan of chicken wings, whether it be an appetizer at a restaurant or a snack on game day. This was something I had to order at the restaurant EVERY time we ate out. It felt like a hassle making these at home (the old-fashioned way) due to the amount of time it took to prepare these plus I am not too fond of deep-frying anything. That all changed when I purchased an air fryer. Making wings in the air fryer saves you time, effort, and all that oil for deep frying.
In my opinion, air-fried chicken wings are the best way to make wings. They are so easy to make and come out perfectly delicious and crispy. Now I find myself making these often at home. My family specially my kids enjoy these on a regular basis. It is so easy to prepare and cuts down half of the time compared to baking or deep frying. Plus, it does not get boring as you can try different flavors and sauces. I have listed the 4 most liked and easiest wing flavors in the recipe card.
Watch Us Make Air Fried Chicken Wings Here
To begin, prepare your wings by separating them into flats and drums. You may discard the tips. I have been experimenting with different spice combinations to achieve the perfect flavor. I like to season fresh wings and let them sit and marinate. I recommend letting it sit for at least 15- 30 minutes. The longer you marinate, the better the meat will taste. Below is the spice blend used in this recipe:
- Salt and Pepper
- Italian Seasoning
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Smoked Paprika
Can I use another spice blend for the air fried chicken wings?
Of course, you can! The spice blend I listed above is what I found to be the perfect combination. The spices in this blend are also found in most pantries. You may tweak the spice blend recipe to your liking as well. If space is an issue in your spice cabinet, you may purchase and use pre-made blends from the grocery store. I recommend using Tony Chachere’s seasoning blend without salt. You may also use any other cajun seasoning, ranch seasoning, or steak seasoning. It all depends on your preference.
Four suggested flavors of chicken wings
Below are the four suggested flavors on the recipe card. These are the most popular and common flavors of chicken wings. First air fry your wings with the listed seasoning blend and then add sauce/flavor or your choice.
Why air fry chicken wings?
- Its easy!
- Convinient
- Cuts cooking time in half
- Healthy
- Saves oil from deep frying
How to make crispy air fried chicken wings?
To achieve a crispy outer layer, it is important to keep the wings dry. Before adding any seasoning, be sure to pat dry the wings with a clean paper towel. I also use baking powder and corn starch in the recipe to help with the crispiness. IMPORTANT: Please do not confuse baking powder with baking soda and corn starch with cornflour. These may look and sound the same but these are two different things and can make a difference in the recipe. Note: The oil is used to activate the baking powder and help stick the seasoning to the wings.
Can I air fry frozen chicken wings?
I like to use fresh wings as opposed to frozen ones. Why? Because it is easier to season fresh wings. I am all about flavor when it comes to food. Seasoning and marination really add to the flavor. A tip to quickly defrost your meat is to submerge the meat in cold water. However, there may be circumstances when you forget to defrost or are short on time. You can though make these frozen. Just add 5 minutes extra to your total cook time at 390 F so approximately 30 minutes. Once cooked apply your favorite sauce for flavor.
Can I bake chicken wings instead of air frying?
Yes, you may bake chicken wings instead of air frying. Bake at 375 F for 40 to 60 minutes. While baking is still an easy and healthier option than deep frying, I would still recommend using an air fryer instead. Air frying cuts the time down in half and also does not heat up the entire house as a conventional oven does. If you don’t own an air fryer yet, then yes an oven can be used to bake these instead.
Air Fried Chicken Wings
Perfectly crispy chicken wings made in the air fryer. Prepare these delicious wings with this easy method including 4 different flavors.
- Air Fryer
Crispy Chicken Wings
- 2 lbs chicken wings
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp corn starch
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Buffalo Wing Sauce
- 1/2 cup hot sauce
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter (melted)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Honey BBQ Wing Sauce
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tbsp ketchup
Garlic Parmesan Wings Sauce
- 1/2 stick unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 2 tbsp parsley
- 1/4 cup parmsean cheese
Crispy Chicken Wings
Separate the wings into flats and drums. Discard the tips.
Pat dry the wings. Season the wings with the ingredients listed above and allow it to marinate for atleast 15-30 minutes.
Air fry the wings for 25 minutes at 375° F. Flip halfway at the 12 minute mark.
Buffalo Wings
To a bowl, add hot sauce, garlic powder, unsalted butter and mix.
Add the sauce to the previously air fried wings and serve.
Note: You may increase the amount of butter to reduce the spiciness of the hot sauce.
Honey BBQ Wings
In a bowl, add BBQ sauce, honey, ketchup and mix.
Add the sauce to the air fried wings. Air fry them for 4 minutes at 400° F. Flip halfway at the 2 minute mark.
Garlic Parmesan Wings
In a pan, melt butter. Once melted, add minced garlic.
Saute the garlic until fragrant.
Turn off the stove top. Add parmesan cheese and parsely. Saute for a few seconds.
Add the sauce directly on the air fried wings. Enjoy!
- Be sure to check your air fryer manufacturer’s recommendations on cooking time and temperature. Adjust accordingly.
- Please do not confuse baking powder with baking soda or corn starch with cornflour.
- You may bake this chicken in the oven at 375 F for 45 to 60 mins.