Air Fryer Boneless Wings: A Tasty, Crispy Treat

Air fryers are a great way to make delicious, healthy, and easy boneless wings at home. With an air fryer, you can achieve the same taste and texture as deep-fried wings but with less oil and fewer calories. Making boneless wings in an air fryer is also less messy and healthier than traditional frying methods.

To make boneless wings in an air fryer, you'll need boneless chicken breasts or thighs cut into bite-sized pieces, a breading or flour mixture, and your choice of sauce. The breading process typically involves dipping the chicken pieces in a wet mixture, such as whisked eggs, and then coating them in a dry mixture of flour, spices, and sometimes breadcrumbs. The chicken pieces are then placed in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cooked at a temperature between 350-400°F for around 8-15 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

After cooking, the wings can be tossed in a variety of sauces, such as buffalo, barbecue, teriyaki, or honey sriracha sauce. Boneless wings are best served fresh and crispy, paired with dipping sauces like ranch or blue cheese, and sides such as celery and carrot sticks.

How to make boneless wings in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Eggs
• Flour (all-purpose, rice, or almond)
• Cornstarch (optional)
• Breadcrumbs (panko or gluten-free)
• Spices (garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper)
• Olive oil spray
• Buffalo sauce
• Blue cheese or ranch dressing, for dipping

Utensils:

• Air fryer
• Shallow bowls
• Whisk
• Meat thermometer (optional)

Method:

• Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.
• Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels.
• Prepare the flour mixture by mixing the flour, cornstarch (if using), and spices in a shallow bowl.
• Whisk the eggs in a separate shallow bowl.
• Dip the chicken pieces in the egg mixture, then coat them in the flour mixture.
• Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each piece.
• Spray the chicken pieces with olive oil.
• Cook at 350-400°F for 8-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. The cooking time will depend on the size of your chicken pieces and your air fryer, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking. The internal temperature should reach 165°F.
• While the chicken is cooking, prepare the buffalo sauce by mixing butter and hot sauce in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Once the chicken is cooked, toss it in the buffalo sauce.
• Serve immediately with blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.

Tips:

• If you're making a large batch, cook the chicken in batches to ensure even cooking.
• For gluten-free boneless wings, use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs.
• To make the wings extra crispy, spray them with olive oil before cooking.
• If you're serving the wings later, store the buffalo sauce separately and toss the wings in the sauce just before serving.

How to make frozen boneless wings in an air fryer

Ingredients

• Boneless chicken wings (frozen)
• Olive oil spray
• Salt (optional)
• Favourite sauce (e.g. buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce, teriyaki sauce, honey garlic sauce)

Utensils

• Air fryer
• Meat thermometer
• Bowl
• Saucepan (optional)

Method

• Place the frozen boneless wings in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overlapping or overcrowding the basket.
• Spray the wings with olive oil.
• Set the air fryer to 350-400°F and cook for 10-20 minutes, checking regularly to avoid overcooking. The cooking time will depend on the size of your wings, and you may need to cook them in batches.
• Once the wings are cooked, transfer them to a bowl.
• If desired, prepare your sauce by mixing together the ingredients in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Pour the sauce over the wings and toss until they are fully coated.
• Serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauce, such as blue cheese or ranch dressing, and carrot and celery sticks on the side.

Tips

• If your frozen wings are stuck together, you can microwave them for about 30 seconds to separate them before placing them in the air fryer.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure proper air circulation and even cooking.
• It is important to cook the wings thoroughly until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to check this.
• For extra crispiness, spray the wings with olive oil before cooking and/or broil for a minute or two before removing from the air fryer.
• If you are making a large batch, you can keep the cooked wings warm in the oven (at a low temperature) while you cook the rest.
• If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes.

How to reheat boneless wings in an air fryer

Reheating boneless wings in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (177°C). It is important to preheat the air fryer to ensure the wings are heated evenly and to achieve that coveted crispy texture.
• While the air fryer is preheating, take your boneless wings out of the refrigerator. Allowing the wings to come to room temperature before reheating will ensure the best results.
• Line the air fryer basket with foil or parchment paper. This step is optional but recommended for easy cleanup.
• Place the boneless wings in a single layer on the lined basket. Make sure to leave space between each wing for proper air circulation and even cooking. You may need to reheat in batches if you have a large quantity.
• Set the timer for 2-5 minutes. Keep a close eye on the wings to avoid overcooking. The exact time will depend on the size of the wings and your air fryer model.
• Flip the wings halfway through the cooking process to ensure even heating and crispiness on both sides.
• Check the internal temperature of the wings with an instant-read thermometer. The wings are ready when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
• Once the desired temperature is reached, remove the wings from the air fryer and serve immediately.

Tips for the Best Results:

• Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the wings are thoroughly cooked without overcooking.
• If your wings have sauce on them, baste the sauce over the wings before reheating.
• If your wings are frozen, let them thaw in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours before reheating.
• Store leftover wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze for longer-term storage.

By following these steps, you can enjoy delicious, crispy boneless wings from your air fryer, tasting just like they did the first time!

What to serve with air fryer boneless wings

Air fryer boneless wings are perfect for a quick and delicious weeknight dinner or a game-day snack. They go well with a variety of sauces and dips, and can be served with a range of side dishes. Here are some ideas on what to serve with air fryer boneless wings:

Sauces and dips

• Buffalo sauce
• Blue cheese dressing
• Ranch dressing
• Honey buffalo sauce
• Honey sriracha sauce
• Teriyaki sauce
• Barbecue sauce
• Gochujang (spicy Korean BBQ sauce)

Side dishes

• Fries: Cut potatoes into slices, spray them with olive oil, and cook them in the air fryer.
• Carrot and celery sticks
• Pizza

How to make gluten-free boneless wings in an air fryer

Ingredients

You will need:

• 1.5 pounds of chicken breast
• 2 large eggs, whisked
• 3/4 cup almond flour (or a gluten-free flour blend)
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons tapioca flour
• 1 teaspoon of chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon of paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
• Hot sauce, ranch or blue cheese, carrot sticks, and celery to serve

Method

• Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
• Mix together the almond flour, tapioca flour, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, and salt and pepper in a small bowl.
• In another bowl, whisk the eggs.
• Dip each piece of chicken first in the egg mixture, then in the flour mixture.
• Place the chicken in a single layer in your air fryer, leaving a little room between each piece. Spray with avocado oil or olive oil spray if desired.
• Set your air fryer to 375°F and cook for 15 minutes, pausing halfway through to turn the chicken pieces and ensure even cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches.
• While the chicken is cooking, make your buffalo sauce by combining hot sauce, ghee, lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, and salt to taste in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until combined, about 2-3 minutes.
• Once the chicken is cooked, add it to a large bowl and pour the buffalo sauce over it. Carefully mix to coat the chicken, being gentle so that the breading doesn't come off.
• Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing, and carrot and celery sticks on the side.

Tips

• For an extra crispy texture, pat the chicken dry before placing it in the air fryer.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket – leave space between each piece of chicken so that air can circulate properly. You may need to cook the chicken in batches.
• For a gluten-free breading option, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond flour.

Frequently asked questions