Air Fryer Frozen Wings: How Long Until They're Crispy?

Cooking frozen chicken wings in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get crispy and juicy wings without the mess of deep-frying. But how long do they take to cook?

How to cook frozen wings in an air fryer

Preparation

If your frozen wings are stuck together, separate them by microwaving for 30 seconds. You can also leave them out of the freezer for about 15 minutes. Prepare the air fryer basket by spraying it with olive oil or non-stick spray.

Cooking

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Place the wings in a single layer in the fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded. If your air fryer is too small, cook the wings in batches.

Cook the wings for 10 minutes to defrost. Then, add olive oil, garlic, paprika, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss the wings until they are coated and place them back in the air fryer.

Cook for another 10-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. You can flip the wings halfway through.

Serving

You can serve the wings as they are or toss them in your favourite sauce. Popular options include buffalo, blue cheese, BBQ, honey BBQ, and ranch dressing. Serve with celery and carrot sticks on the side.

Storage

Store leftover wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. To reheat, place the wings back in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 375°F.

How long to cook frozen wings for

The cooking time for frozen wings in an air fryer will depend on the type of wings you are cooking. Breaded wings, sauced wings, and plain wings will all have different cooking times. The cooking time will also depend on the size of the wings and your air fryer.

Plain Frozen Wings

For plain frozen wings, you can cook them for 20 minutes at 400°F for chicken wings with crispy skin and tender meat. You don't need to defrost them first unless they are stuck together. If they are stuck together, you can microwave them for about 30 seconds to separate them. You also don't need to flip them or move them around during cooking, but you should cook them in a single layer.

Reheating Frozen Wings

For reheating frozen wings that have already been cooked, you can put 12 wings in the air fryer basket at 350°F and cook for 12 minutes. If you are cooking more than 12 wings, increase the cooking time to 14-16 minutes. These wings will get crispy but may end up a little dry, so you may want to serve them with a sauce.

Breaded Frozen Wings

For breaded frozen wings, you can cook around 16 wings in the air fryer at 400°F for 14 minutes. There is no need to shake and redistribute them during cooking.

Saucy Frozen Wings

For sauced frozen wings, add two packages (around 16 wings) to the air fryer and cook for 18 minutes at 400°F. However, keep in mind that saucy wings may end up with rubbery skin and spots where the sauce has burned.

General Tips

• It is important not to overcrowd the air fryer to ensure the wings cook evenly and get crispy.
• The internal temperature of the wings should reach 165°F.
• You can serve the wings with carrot and celery sticks and a dipping sauce like blue cheese or ranch dressing.
• You can store leftover wings in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

Other Variations

Some recipes suggest defrosting the wings in the air fryer at 400°F for 10 minutes before tossing them with seasonings and cooking for an additional 10-12 minutes. Other recipes suggest cooking the wings for 6 minutes at 400°F, breaking them apart, cooking for another 4 minutes, seasoning them, cooking for 8 minutes, flipping them, and then cooking for a final 5 minutes or until they reach your desired level of crispiness.

How to make frozen wings in an air fryer

Ingredients

• Frozen chicken wings
• Olive oil
• Spices (e.g. garlic powder, paprika, salt, black pepper, Old Bay seasoning)
• Your choice of wing sauce (e.g. buffalo sauce, honey BBQ sauce, blue cheese, ranch dressing)
• Meat thermometer (optional)

Method

• Defrosting (optional): If your frozen wings are stuck together, defrost them in the microwave for about 30 seconds or let them sit out of the freezer for 15 minutes. This will make it easier to separate them.
• Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 400°F.
• Add wings to the air fryer: Place the frozen wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer with some space between them to allow for even cooking. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer. If necessary, cook the wings in batches.
• Cooking time: The cooking time will depend on whether your wings are pre-cooked or uncooked, and may vary depending on the size of the wings and your air fryer model. As a guide, cook pre-cooked frozen wings for 11-14 minutes, and uncooked frozen wings for 16-19 minutes. Flip the wings halfway through. The internal temperature of the wings should reach 165°F when they are fully cooked.
• Add sauce (optional): If you want to add sauce to your wings, it's best to do this after cooking to avoid burning the sauce. Place the cooked wings in a bowl and toss them in your chosen sauce.
• Serve: Serve the wings with carrot and celery sticks, and your choice of dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Tips

• If your wings are packed in ice, you may need to drain water from the air fryer basket during cooking.
• It can be harder for spices to stick to frozen wings. If necessary, toss the wings in a bowl with spices after they have cooked for 10 minutes, then return them to the air fryer.
• Always ensure that your chicken wings are fully cooked before consuming.

Tips for making chicken wings in the air fryer

Preparation

Before you start cooking, you'll want to prepare your air fryer basket by coating it with olive oil or non-stick spray. This will help prevent the chicken wings from sticking to the basket. You should also ensure that your wings are not overcrowded in the basket—they should be placed in a single layer with some space between them to allow for even cooking and crisping. If your air fryer is too small to fit all the wings, cook them in batches.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature will depend on the type of wings you are using. Precooked frozen wings will take less time to cook than uncooked frozen wings. For example, one source recommends cooking precooked frozen wings for 11-14 minutes, while uncooked frozen wings should be cooked for 16-19 minutes. Another source recommends cooking frozen wings for 20 minutes at 400°F. However, it's important to ensure that the internal temperature of the chicken wings reaches 165°F to ensure they are fully cooked.

Seasoning

You can season your chicken wings before or after cooking them in the air fryer. If you want to add a dry rub or seasoning, it may be easier to do so after the wings have cooked for about 10 minutes, as the spices can have a hard time adhering to frozen wings. You can also add olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper to your wings before cooking.

Sauces

If you plan on adding a sauce to your chicken wings, it's best to do so after they have finished cooking. Adding sauce before cooking can cause it to burn in the air fryer. You can place the cooked wings in a bowl and toss them in your favorite sauce, or brush the sauce directly onto the wings. Some popular sauce options include buffalo, BBQ, honey BBQ, blue cheese, and ranch.

Serving

Chicken wings can be served as an appetizer or a main course. They go well with fresh vegetables like celery or carrot sticks, and you can also serve them with other air-fried appetizers like french fries or onion rings. For an even heartier meal, you can make some air fryer tater tots, potato skins, jalapeño poppers, or mac and cheese on the side.

How to make frozen wings crispy

Step 1: Prepare the Wings

If your frozen wings are stuck together, you can microwave them for 30 seconds to separate them. You can also let them thaw on the counter for 15 minutes. However, there is usually no need to defrost or thaw them before placing them in the air fryer.

Step 2: Season the Wings

You can season the wings with a dry rub or a sauce. If you are using a dry rub, you can use a combination of spices such as garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. For a saucier option, you can toss the wings in your favourite sauce, such as BBQ, buffalo, or honey garlic. If you are adding a sauce, it is recommended to do so after cooking the wings to avoid burning the sauce.

Step 3: Place the Wings in the Air Fryer

Place the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring that they are not overcrowded. This will allow for even cooking and crisping. If your air fryer is too small to fit all the wings, cook them in batches.

Step 4: Cook the Wings

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Then, cook the wings for 11-14 minutes for pre-cooked frozen wings, and 16-19 minutes for uncooked frozen wings. Flip the wings halfway through. The exact cooking time will depend on the size of the wings and your air fryer, but you should ensure that the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Step 5: Serve the Wings

Once the wings are fully cooked and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and serve with your favourite dipping sauces and sides. Some popular dipping sauces include ranch, blue cheese, and BBQ sauce. Sides such as celery sticks, carrot sticks, and fries go well with wings.

Tips for Crispy Wings:

• Add a little baking powder to the wings before cooking to make them extra crispy.
• Toss or flip the wings every few minutes to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
• Increase the temperature to 400°F for the last few minutes of cooking to get crispy skin.

Frequently asked questions