Air-Fryer Chicken Wings: The Perfect, Quick, Crispy Treat

Chicken wings are a beloved snack, especially on game day. They are juicy, crispy, and seasoned to perfection. While they can be deep-fried or baked in an oven, using an air fryer is a healthier option that reduces cooking time and delivers the same crispiness without the added calories of frying oil. To make chicken wings in an air fryer, you'll need to dry the wings, season them, and then cook them at the right temperature and for the appropriate amount of time. The result is a delicious batch of crispy, juicy chicken wings that will be a hit with your family and friends!

Air Fryer Chicken Wings Characteristics and Values Table

Air fryer chicken wings cooking time

Air fryer chicken wings are a quick and easy dish to make, with a cooking time of around 15-20 minutes. They are a healthier alternative to deep-fried chicken wings, with less oil and fat, but still tasty and crispy.

The cooking time for air fryer chicken wings can vary depending on the size of the wings and the air fryer being used. It is important to ensure that the wings are cooked through and that the skin is crispy. The temperature and cooking time can be adjusted to achieve this. For example, if you are cooking larger wings, you may need to increase the cooking time at 360ºF to render the fat and ensure they are cooked all the way through. Similarly, if the wings are smaller, you may need less time at this temperature.

The key to getting crispy chicken wings is to ensure they are dry before cooking. This can be done by patting them with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. You can also increase the temperature of the wings during the last few minutes of cooking to get a crispier finish. It is recommended to cook the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overlapping, as this allows the air to circulate and crisps the skin.

The cooking time for frozen chicken wings will be longer, with an additional 10 minutes or so needed to ensure they are cooked through and crispy.

How to season chicken wings for the air fryer

To season chicken wings for the air fryer, you should first pat them dry with paper towels. This step is important as it ensures the wings will be crispy. You can then season the wings with a variety of different seasonings.

One option is to mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and baking powder (ensuring it is aluminum-free) in a small bowl and then sprinkle this over the wings. You can also add olive oil to this mixture to create a marinade, and you can add hot sauce to the marinade if you want a spicy kick. Alternatively, you can season the wings with a basic blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.

If you want to add a sauce to your wings, it is recommended to cook the wings first and then toss them in the sauce afterward. This will ensure the wings are crispy. You can also toss the wings in sauce and then place them back in the air fryer for 2 minutes to "bake" the sauce in. Popular sauces include buffalo sauce, hot honey, BBQ sauce, and ranch.

How to reheat chicken wings in an air fryer

If you have leftover chicken wings, you can easily reheat them in an air fryer. This method will ensure they are crispy and juicy again.

First, place your leftover chicken wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure they are not overlapping or touching. If you are reheating a large batch, you may need to do this in a few batches.

Set the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the wings for 10 minutes. Then, flip them over and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes, or until they are heated through.

You can serve the reheated wings with your favourite dips, such as cilantro lime dip, blue cheese, or buffalo sauce. You can also serve them with sides like corn on the cob, French fries, or a simple wedge salad.

If you are cooking the wings from frozen, simply follow the recipe to prep and season the wings, then place them in the air fryer basket and cook for about 10 additional minutes, or until they are crispy.

Reheating chicken wings in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to enjoy crispy and juicy wings without having to deep fry them or use a long oven cook time.

How to cut chicken wings for the air fryer

Preparing chicken wings for the air fryer is simple. You can buy chicken wings that are already separated into drumsticks and wingettes, or you can buy whole wings and cut them yourself. To do this, first separate the full wings into drums and flats. You can then further separate the flats into two parts: the small tip, which is often discarded, and the rest of the wing, which can be cooked.

Once you have cut your chicken wings into the desired number of pieces, it is important to pat them dry with paper towels. This will help ensure that your wings come out crispy.

Air fryer chicken wings recipes

Air fryer chicken wings are a healthier alternative to deep-fried wings, and they are also quicker to cook. They are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The air fryer's speed and temperature create a very crisp skin that is difficult to replicate in an oven.

Ingredients

• Chicken wings (separated into drums and flats)
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Lemon pepper seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Paprika
• White pepper
• Baking powder (aluminium-free)

Method

• Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels. This is an important step to ensure the wings become crispy.
• Season the wings. Mix salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and baking powder in a small bowl, then sprinkle over the wings. Alternatively, you can use a basic marinade of olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Place the wings in the air fryer basket, skin-side up, in a single layer with a little space between each wing.
• Spray the wings with cooking spray.
• Air fry at 400 degrees, turning the wings every 5 minutes, until they are crispy and browned (15-20 minutes).
• Rest for 5 minutes, then toss in your chosen sauce.

Tips

• For the crispiest skin, dunk the wings in sauce rather than tossing them in a bowl.
• If you are cooking from frozen, add 10 minutes to the cooking time.
• For larger wings, you may need to increase the cooking time to render the fat and cook the wings all the way through.
• If the skin isn't crispy enough, add a few more minutes to the cooking time.

Frequently asked questions