Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Wings: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Chicken wings are a popular snack, but they can be unhealthy when deep-fried. Air fryers offer a healthier alternative, producing crispy wings without the need for excessive oil. The circulating hot air in an air fryer creates a crisp skin that cannot be achieved in an oven.

There are many ways to season and cook chicken wings in an air fryer, with some recipes including a breading. The basic steps are to coat the wings in oil and seasoning, cook in the air fryer for around 20 minutes, and serve with your choice of sauce.

Chicken preparation

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to make breaded chicken wings in an air fryer:

• Chicken wings
• Oil (vegetable, avocado, canola, or extra virgin olive oil)
• Flour (all-purpose or rice flour)
• Spices (smoked) paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and/or cayenne pepper)
• Optional: eggs, soy sauce, sugar, lemon pepper seasoning, and/or Italian seasoning

Marinating the Chicken

Place the chicken wings in a large bowl or a sealable plastic bag. Add oil and spices to the chicken and toss or shake to coat the wings evenly. If you are using eggs, flour, and/or other wet ingredients for the breading, you may want to marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least an hour or overnight.

Breading the Chicken

If you are using flour for breading, place it in a shallow bowl and coat the wings one at a time. If you are using eggs, dip the coated wings in the beaten eggs before coating them with flour again. You can also use panko breadcrumbs or a combination of flour and breadcrumbs for a different texture.

Pre-cooking the Chicken (optional)

For extra crispy wings, some recipes suggest pre-cooking the breaded chicken in a frying pan with a small amount of vegetable oil over medium heat for about one minute on each side, until the flour coating turns light brown. Allow the wings to cool for a few minutes before placing them in the air fryer.

Breading

Next, you'll need to create your breading. For a simple breading, use a combination of flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper in a bowl. You can substitute flour with panko breadcrumbs for a different texture. For a crunchier texture, you can also add an egg wash by dipping the wings in beaten egg before coating them in the flour mixture.

Now you're ready to bread your wings. Coat each wing in the breading mixture and place them on a dry plate or paper towel. Repeat until all wings are coated. If you want an extra-crispy coating, you can pre-cook the wings in a frying pan for 1 minute on each side before placing them in the air fryer.

Finally, it's time to cook your wings. Preheat your air fryer to between 350-400°F and place the wings inside, leaving a little room around each one. Cook in batches if necessary. Cook for 14-20 minutes, flipping halfway through. For extra crispiness, you can spray the wings with oil halfway through cooking. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the wings have reached an internal temperature of 165°F.

And that's it! Your crispy, juicy, breaded chicken wings are now ready to serve with your favourite dipping sauce.

Air fryer settings

To make breaded chicken wings in an air fryer, you will need to preheat your air fryer to a high temperature—usually between 380–400°F.

The exact temperature and cooking time will depend on the model of your air fryer, the size of your chicken wings, and your personal preference for how crispy you like your wings.

For example, one recipe recommends cooking the wings at 360°F for 18 minutes, shaking the basket every 6 minutes, then increasing the heat to 390°F and cooking for another 5–6 minutes, shaking the basket every 2 minutes, until the wings are brown and crispy.

Another recipe suggests cooking the wings at 400°F for 14–16 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

If you are unsure about the temperature and cooking time, it is better to start with a lower temperature and shorter cooking time, as you can always cook the wings for longer if needed.

It is also important to ensure that there is enough space between the wings for the hot air to circulate properly. This will ensure that the breading gets fully crispy on all sides. If your air fryer basket is not big enough, you may need to cook the wings in batches.

Cooking time

The cooking time for breaded chicken wings in an air fryer will vary depending on the size of the wings and the number of wings being cooked. It is important to ensure that the wings are cooked through and that the breading is crispy. Here is a step-by-step guide to the cooking time:

• Preheat the air fryer: Most recipes recommend preheating the air fryer to between 360-400°F.
• Cook the wings: Place the wings in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overlapping. Cook for 10 minutes at the preheated temperature.
• Increase the temperature: After the initial 10 minutes, increase the temperature to 400°F. Cook for another 6-12 minutes, depending on the size of the wings.
• Check for doneness: Use a meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of the wings has reached 165°F. The wings are safe to eat when they have reached this temperature.
• Shake the basket: During cooking, it is important to shake the air fryer basket every few minutes to ensure even cooking. This will help to ensure that the wings are crispy on all sides.
• Cook in batches: If you are cooking a large number of wings, you may need to cook them in batches to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
• Reheating: If you have leftover wings, they can be reheated in the air fryer at 360°F for 4-6 minutes until heated through.

By following these steps and adjusting the cooking time as needed, you can ensure that your breaded chicken wings are cooked to perfection in the air fryer.

Sauces

BBQ Sauce

A classic choice for chicken wings, BBQ sauce offers a sweet and tangy flavour that pairs perfectly with the crispy breading. You can make your own 2-ingredient BBQ sauce or opt for a store-bought version.

Blue Cheese Dressing

The creaminess of blue cheese dressing is a great contrast to the crispy wings. It adds a tangy and savoury note to the dish.

Buffalo Sauce

If you're looking for a spicy kick, buffalo sauce is the way to go. It's a classic choice for chicken wings and can be made at home or bought ready-made.

Honey Buffalo Sauce

For those who want a touch of sweetness with their spice, honey buffalo sauce is an excellent option. It combines the heat of buffalo sauce with the sweetness of honey.

Honey Sriracha Sauce

This sauce offers a balance of sweet and spicy flavours. The honey adds a touch of sweetness, while Sriracha brings the heat.

Ranch Dressing

Ranch dressing is a versatile and popular choice for dipping sauces. It has a creamy texture and a tangy flavour that goes well with the crispy chicken wings.

Hot Sauce

For those who like their wings extra spicy, simply toss the cooked wings in your favourite hot sauce. You can also add some melted butter to create a buffalo sauce.

Barbecue Sauce

A classic and easy option, barbecue sauce adds a smoky and slightly sweet flavour to the wings. It's perfect for those who want a more traditional flavour.

Korean Chicken Wing Sauce

For something a little different, try making a Korean-inspired sauce for your wings. It will add a unique and flavourful twist to your breaded wings.

Spicy Cauliflower Sauce

If you're looking for a vegetarian-friendly option, the spicy cauliflower sauce used in the source's cauliflower recipe can be a great choice. It will add a kick of spice to your breaded wings.

Plain Hot Sauce with Ranch Dressing

For a simple yet effective combination, pair plain hot sauce with a side of ranch dressing. This allows you to control the heat level while still enjoying the creamy tang of ranch.

Blue Cheese Dip

Blue cheese dip is another classic choice for chicken wings. It offers a tangy and savoury flavour that pairs well with the crispy breading. You can make your own by smashing blue cheese chunks into some sour cream or ranch dressing.

Remember, the key to a great sauce is to find the right balance of flavours that complement the crispy and juicy breaded chicken wings. Don't be afraid to experiment and find the perfect sauce combination for your taste buds!

Frequently asked questions