Air Fryer Buffalo Wings: Crispy, Tender, And Delicious

Air fryers are a great way to make delicious, healthy buffalo wings without the mess of deep frying. They're perfect for game day, a family get-together, or any time you need a little extra fun in your life. In this article, we'll teach you how to make juicy, tender, and spicy boneless buffalo wings in an air fryer with a crunchy exterior and moist interior. So, get your ingredients ready, and let's get started on making some mouthwatering wings!

Choosing your chicken

When it comes to choosing your chicken, you have a few options. You can use either boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken tenders. If you're short on time, you can also buy pre-cut chicken tenders, but fresh chicken breasts will yield the best results. Look for high-quality, individually wrapped chicken breasts from a trusted butcher or grocery store. You'll need around 1 to 1.5 pounds of chicken for this recipe.

Once you have your chicken, cut it into bite-sized pieces or nuggets. You can also cut them into strips if you prefer, but keep in mind that you want the chicken to be similar in size to wings. Aim for pieces that are around 1 inch by 2 inches in size. This will ensure even cooking and a better presentation.

If you're short on time or want to prepare the chicken in advance, you can store the uncooked, cut-up chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before cooking. You can also freeze the cut-up chicken and store it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Just add a couple of minutes to the cooking time if cooking from frozen.

Before coating and cooking the chicken, gently pat the pieces dry with paper towels. This will help reduce excess moisture and promote a crispier texture when cooked.

Preparing the chicken

Firstly, cut the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, cubes, or nuggets. Aim for pieces that are roughly 1 inch by 2 inches in size. This will ensure the chicken cooks evenly and resembles the size of traditional chicken wings.

Next, prepare the egg wash by cracking and whisking eggs in a shallow bowl or pie plate. The number of eggs you need may vary depending on the amount of chicken you are preparing, but you will likely need between two and four large eggs. Completely coat the chicken pieces in the egg wash.

After coating the chicken in the egg wash, it's time to prepare the flour mixture. In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. The exact ingredients and quantities may vary depending on your preferences, but typically you will need flour (all-purpose or gluten-free alternatives), and spices such as cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, and salt. You can also add cornstarch or baking powder for extra crispiness, but these are not necessary. Mix the dry ingredients well to ensure an even coating on the chicken.

Now it's time to bread the chicken. Working in small batches, remove the chicken pieces from the egg wash, allowing any excess to drip off. Then, coat the chicken thoroughly with the flour mixture. Make sure all sides of the chicken are covered. You can repeat this process a second time for a thicker coating, or if some pieces didn't get fully coated the first time.

Finally, place the breaded chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each piece to allow for proper air circulation. You may need to cook the chicken in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. Lightly spray the chicken with olive oil, avocado oil, or cooking spray to help achieve a crispy texture.

Preheat your air fryer to between 350-380°F. The exact temperature and cooking time will depend on your air fryer and the size of your chicken pieces, but on average, the chicken will take around 10-15 minutes to cook. Flip the chicken halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking and browning. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, which you can check with a meat thermometer.

Making the flour mixture

Firstly, gather your ingredients. The exact measurements may vary depending on your preferences and the number of servings, but the essential components include all-purpose flour, cornstarch or another thickening agent, and a selection of spices. The spices can be customised to your taste, but common choices include cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.

Next, prepare your flour mixture by combining the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix the flour and cornstarch, or alternative thickening agent, in the bowl. Then, add your chosen spices to this mixture. It is important to ensure that the spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour. You can adjust the quantities of each spice to personalise your flour mixture and create a unique flavour profile.

Once you have combined the dry ingredients, you can add your wet ingredients. Some recipes suggest adding eggs to the flour mixture to create a batter-like consistency. However, others recommend keeping the eggs separate and using them as an intermediary step between the chicken and the flour mixture. This is a matter of personal preference and the specific requirements of your recipe.

If you choose to add eggs to your flour mixture, whisk them in a separate bowl first and then combine them with the dry ingredients. The number of eggs required will depend on the quantity of flour and the desired consistency of the batter. For a thicker coating, you can add more eggs to create a batter that will stick generously to the chicken.

Finally, you can add some breadcrumbs to the flour mixture for an extra crispy texture. Panko breadcrumbs are often recommended for this purpose. Simply add them to your flour and spice mixture, and combine until you have a well-incorporated breading mixture.

Now you have a delicious flour mixture ready for coating your chicken pieces! Remember to use one hand for dry ingredients and the other for wet ingredients to prevent clumping and make the breading process smoother. Enjoy the rest of your boneless buffalo wing-making journey!

Cooking the chicken

Start by preparing your chicken. Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces or cubes. You can also cut them into nugget-sized pieces or larger chunks, depending on your preference. The size of your chicken pieces will determine the cooking time, with smaller pieces cooking faster than larger ones.

Next, season the chicken with salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika to enhance the flavour.

Now, it's time to bread the chicken. Set up an assembly line with three shallow bowls or containers. In the first bowl, whisk some eggs to create an egg wash. You can use two or four eggs, depending on the amount of chicken you're cooking. The egg wash will help the breading adhere to the chicken.

In the second bowl, prepare your flour mixture. You can use all-purpose flour, almond flour, or a combination of flour and cornstarch. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free flour, almond flour, or rice flour. Add seasonings to the flour mixture to give your chicken an extra flavour boost. Cayenne pepper, chili pepper, paprika, and garlic powder are all great options. Mix the flour and seasonings together until well combined.

The third bowl will be for the final coating. You can use breadcrumbs, specifically panko breadcrumbs, for an extra crispy texture. Alternatively, you can use a combination of grated parmesan, garlic powder, and almond flour for a keto-friendly parmesan garlic coating.

Now, it's time to coat the chicken. Take a piece of chicken and dip it into the egg wash, making sure it's fully coated. Allow any excess egg to drip off before transferring the chicken to the bowl with the flour mixture. Coat the chicken completely with the flour mixture, then dip it back into the egg wash. Finally, coat the chicken with the breadcrumbs or parmesan garlic mixture, pressing down slightly to ensure an even coating. Repeat this process for all the chicken pieces.

Once all your chicken pieces are coated, it's time to cook them in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to between 350-380°F (177-193°C). Spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil, olive oil, or cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Place the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each piece to ensure proper air circulation and even cooking. You may need to cook the chicken in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. Lightly spray or brush the chicken with oil to promote crispness.

Cook the chicken for 5 minutes, then flip them over and cook for an additional 7-10 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The total cook time will depend on the size of your chicken pieces and your air fryer, so be sure to keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.

While the chicken is cooking, you can prepare your buffalo sauce by combining hot sauce, butter, lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Cook until the butter has melted and the ingredients are well combined. You can also use store-bought buffalo sauce if you prefer.

Once the chicken is cooked through, transfer it to a large bowl and toss it with the buffalo sauce. Make sure to coat the chicken evenly without breaking up the breading. Serve immediately with your favourite dipping sauces, such as ranch or blue cheese dressing, and enjoy!

Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Chicken:

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave some space between each piece of chicken to allow for proper air circulation and even cooking.
• Spray the chicken with oil before cooking to promote crispness. You can also spray them again halfway through the cooking process.
• Check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached 165°F (74°C).
• For frozen chicken, increase the cooking time and check the internal temperature to ensure it's fully cooked.

Making the sauce

For a traditional buffalo sauce, you can use a combination of butter and hot sauce. For a sweeter sauce, you could try adding some honey to your buffalo sauce, or you could even try a honey buffalo sauce. If you're not a fan of buffalo sauce, you could try tossing your wings in BBQ sauce, garlic parmesan sauce, white BBQ sauce, or general Tso's sauce.

Once your sauce is ready, toss your cooked wings in the sauce and serve immediately. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions