Air Fryer Hot Wings: The Perfect, Easy Crispy Treat

If you're looking for a quick, easy, and mess-free way to make hot wings, then look no further than your air fryer. With an air fryer, you can make juicy, crispy wings with less fat than deep frying and without the mess of hot oil splattering on your stove. The air fryer is perfect for when you're short on time or want to avoid a messy kitchen.

How long to cook wings in an air fryer

The cooking time for wings in an air fryer depends on the size of the wings and the desired texture. For example, larger wings may need a little longer to cook through, and you may want to increase the cooking time if you want your wings extra crispy.

As a general rule, wings should be cooked in the air fryer for around 22-30 minutes. This can be broken down into three cooking stages, with the wings being flipped between each stage: 10-12 minutes at 360-380°F, 10-12 minutes at 360-380°F, and a final 5-6 minutes at 390-400°F.

It is important to ensure that the wings are cooked through and that the skin is crispy. This can be achieved by checking the internal temperature of the wings, which should be at least 165°F, and by shaking or flipping the wings during cooking to ensure they cook evenly.

Tips for crispy wings

• Pat the wings dry with paper towels before cooking to remove any excess moisture.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer. Cook the wings in a single layer, in batches if necessary, to allow air to circulate and crisp up the skin.
• Use tongs to flip and separate the wings during cooking.
• Don't overlap the wings.

How to make extra crispy wings

Ingredients

• 2 pounds of chicken wings
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Lemon pepper seasoning
• Salt
• Buffalo wing sauce
• Thai sweet chili sauce
• Ranch or blue cheese dressing
• BBQ sauce
• Hot honey

Method

• Preheat your air fryer to 360ºF.
• Place the chicken wings into a gallon-size Ziplock bag. There's no need to pat off excess moisture with paper towels.
• Drizzle with roughly a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil, lemon pepper seasoning, and salt. Seal the bag, keeping the air inside.
• Give the bag a good shake to evenly coat the wings. Alternatively, you could season the chicken wings in a large bowl.
• Add the wings to the air fryer basket sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange in a single layer so they're not overlapping—touching is fine.
• Air fry the wings for 18 minutes, shaking the basket every 6 minutes, or until the chicken wings are golden brown. There's no need to flip them as the shaking will ensure the wings cook evenly.
• Increase the heat to 390ºF and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes, shaking the basket every 2 minutes, until the wings are brown and crispy.

Tips for Extra Crispy Wings

• Don't overlap the wings. Air fryers make foods crispy by circulating air around them, so if there's no room for air to circulate, the wings won't crisp up.
• Be flexible with the cooking time. Wings come in various sizes, so if your 2 pounds of chicken wings contains less than 20 wings (meaning they're quite large), you might need to increase the cooking time at 360ºF to render the fat and cook the wings all the way through. Similarly, if they're smaller, you may need less time at 360ºF.
• For the crispiest wings, pat them dry with paper towels before seasoning. Even better, let your wings chill uncovered in the refrigerator for an hour or two beforehand.
• Cook your wings in a single layer in the air fryer. Crowding the basket will result in wings that aren't as crisp or evenly cooked.
• For extra crispy skin, add baking powder to your seasoning. The baking powder reacts with the chicken skin to raise the pH level and creates tiny air bubbles, which also help form a crispy coating.

What to serve with air fryer hot wings

There are several options to serve alongside air fryer hot wings. Here are some ideas:

Dipping Sauces

A variety of dipping sauces can be served with air fryer hot wings, such as:

• Blue cheese dressing
• Ranch dressing
• Buffalo sauce
• Apricot glaze
• Garlic-parmesan sauce
• Thai sweet chilli sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Hot honey

Side Snacks

Some side snacks that go well with air fryer hot wings include:

• Potato skin bites
• Pigs in a blanket
• Spinach-artichoke buns
• Crudité veggies
• Carrots and celery sticks

Drinks

Some drinks that could complement the spiciness of the hot wings:

• Beer
• Milk-based drinks

Desserts

Some dessert options to finish off the meal:

• Cookies
• Ice cream

How to store and reheat leftover wings

Leftover wings? Lucky you! Now you get to enjoy them all over again. Here's how to store and reheat them properly to maintain that delicious flavour and texture.

Firstly, let the wings cool down to room temperature. Place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to four days.

When you're ready to reheat, take your air fryer and set it to 360 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the wings in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Reheat in batches if necessary.

For crispy wings, reheat for around 5-6 minutes, shaking the basket every 2 minutes. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don't overcook or burn.

And there you have it! Your leftover wings are now ready to enjoy again. It's like having your own take-out at home.

How to cut up whole chicken wings

To cut up whole chicken wings, you'll need to separate them into drumettes and flats. Find the joint that connects the two, and slice through it firmly with your knife. You can also remove the wing tips and discard them or save them for stock.

• Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. This will help them crisp up.
• Season the wings generously with salt before placing them in the air fryer. You can also add other seasonings like black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, or smoked paprika.
• Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not overlapping. Crowding the basket will result in unevenly cooked wings. You may need to cook the wings in batches.
• Air fry the wings for about 20-30 minutes at around 360-400°F, flipping or shaking the basket occasionally to ensure even cooking. Adjust the cooking time as needed depending on the size of your wings.
• For extra crispy wings, you can add a small amount of baking powder to the seasoning mix. This will react with the chicken skin to create a crispy coating.

Frequently asked questions