Air-Fryer Butter Garlic Wings: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious!

Garlic butter chicken wings are a tasty, crispy treat that can be made in an air fryer with minimal fuss and maximum flavour. This recipe is perfect for a party or game day, and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The key to this recipe is the garlic butter sauce, which is made with salty butter and fresh garlic. The wings are also deliciously crispy, thanks to a thin layer of cornstarch and a spray of oil.

Chicken preparation

Ingredients

• Chicken wings
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic powder
• Parmesan cheese
• Parsley
• Butter

Method

Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel. This will help to ensure the skin is extra crispy. Season both sides of the wings with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. You can also add other seasonings such as dried parsley, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.

Next, add olive oil and massage the chicken wings. Then, sprinkle the spice mix over the chicken until evenly coated. You can also toss the chicken wings in a mixture of parmesan cheese, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Make sure the chicken is fully coated.

Place the chicken wings in the air fryer basket. Spritz the chicken with cooking oil or spray the basket with cooking spray. For extra crispy skin, you can also coat the chicken in a thin layer of cornstarch before spraying with oil.

Arrange the wings in a single layer, leaving space between them. Do not crowd the basket or stack the wings, as this will prevent them from cooking evenly. If you need to cook a large batch, cook the wings in multiple batches.

Air fryer settings

The first step to making butter garlic wings in an air fryer is to preheat the appliance. Set your air fryer to 390°F to 400°F and preheat for 3 to 5 minutes.

Once preheated, you can place the chicken wings in the fryer basket. Make sure to leave space between the wings and not to overcrowd the basket. If you have a lot of wings, you may need to cook them in batches.

For the best results, cook the wings for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through. You can also try a three-step cooking process: first, cook the wings at 360°F for 25 minutes, flipping them at the 13-minute mark. Then, cook at 400°F for 3 minutes, and finally, cook at 400°F for another 2 minutes.

If you are cooking in batches, you can keep the first batch warm by placing it in the oven at a low temperature, such as 200°F, until the second batch is ready.

When the wings are done, they should be golden and crispy. Remove them from the air fryer and coat them with your chosen sauce.

You can also return the sauced wings to the air fryer for a few minutes to allow the sauce to soak into the skin.

Finally, serve the wings with your favourite dipping sauce and enjoy!

Making the sauce

To make the sauce, you will need to melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Once melted, add your freshly grated or minced garlic. You can also add other seasonings to the butter and garlic mixture, such as parsley, smoked paprika, or red pepper flakes. Cook this mixture on low heat for a few minutes, being careful not to let the garlic brown. This infuses the butter with a garlic flavour.

You can also add other ingredients to the sauce, such as soy sauce, honey, or hot sauce, depending on your taste preferences. For a parmesan garlic sauce, you can add freshly grated parmesan cheese to the mixture. If you are using bottled grated parmesan, be aware that it may clump when melted.

Once your wings are cooked, toss them in the garlic butter sauce and serve immediately. The sauce will add a delicious, buttery flavour to your wings and make them extra juicy.

Cooking the wings

Start by patting the chicken wings dry. This will help to ensure that the skin becomes extra crispy. If you're using an air fryer, you can also spritz the wings with cooking oil.

Next, season the wings. You can use a variety of seasonings, such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, dried parsley, smoked paprika, onion powder, sage, and black pepper. You can also add flour, parmesan cheese, and chicken seasoning to create a dry rub. Toss the wings in the seasoning until they are evenly coated.

Now you're ready to cook the wings. If you're using an air fryer, preheat it to between 390 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the wings in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them so that they cook evenly. You may need to cook the wings in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket. Cook the wings for 18-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

If you're baking the wings in the oven, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and add the wings. Spritz the wings with cooking oil and bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the wings from the oven, flip them, spritz with more cooking oil, and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Once the wings are cooked, you can coat them in a garlic butter sauce. Simply combine melted butter, grated garlic, and parsley in a small bowl, and then drizzle the sauce over the wings. You can also sprinkle on some extra parmesan cheese.

Serving suggestions

These garlic butter chicken wings are perfect as a snack or appetiser for game day or your next gathering. They are also great as a full meal when served with a few sides.

For a full meal, you could serve the wings with crispy air fryer French fries, spicy baked zucchini fries, creamy spinach mac and cheese, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, or air fryer sweet potato fries.

If you're serving the wings as a snack or appetiser, you could serve them with celery and a dip such as ranch, blue cheese dressing, buffalo sauce, or a parmesan and black pepper dip.

For a healthier option, serve the wings with a side salad.

Frequently asked questions