Air Fryer Doritos Wings: The Ultimate Crunch

Are you ready to make some delicious Dorito-crusted chicken wings in your air fryer? This fun recipe is sure to be a hit with both kids and adults. The crunchy texture and tasty flavours will have everyone asking for more. So, gather your ingredients and get ready to cook!

Preparing the wings

Pat the Wings Dry:

Use paper towels to blot the chicken wings and remove any excess moisture. This step is crucial as it ensures that the wings will become crispy when cooked.

Season the Wings:

Place the wings in a large bowl and add your chosen seasonings. For a classic flavour profile, you can use a combination of olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. However, feel free to experiment with other spices and herbs like smoked paprika, onion powder, or even a dry ranch seasoning mix.

Preheat the Air Fryer:

Set your air fryer to the desired temperature, usually between 380-400°F (193-204°C). Preheating ensures that the air fryer is at the optimal temperature for cooking, promoting even cooking and crispiness.

Arrange the Wings in the Air Fryer Basket:

Place the seasoned wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overlapping or crowded. This arrangement allows hot air to circulate around each wing, ensuring even cooking and crispiness.

Air Fry the Wings:

Depending on the size of your wings and your air fryer, the cooking time may vary. As a general guideline, cook the wings for about 10 minutes, then flip them and cook for an additional 8-12 minutes. For extra crispiness, increase the temperature to 400°F (204°C) and cook for a further 2-6 minutes.

Sauce and Serve:

Once the wings are cooked to your desired level of crispiness, remove them from the air fryer. You can enjoy them as is or toss them in your favourite sauce, such as buffalo, barbecue, or a spicy honey garlic sauce. Serve them with a side of ranch or blue cheese dressing and some fresh celery and carrot sticks.

Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Wings:

• Always ensure your wings are thoroughly defrosted before cooking.
• For the crispiest results, use baking powder in your seasoning mix. It reacts with the chicken skin, raising the pH level and creating tiny air bubbles for a super-crisp coating.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. If needed, cook the wings in multiple batches to allow for proper air circulation.
• Toss or flip the wings during cooking to ensure even cooking and browning.
• Increase the temperature towards the end of the cooking process for that extra crispy skin.
• Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the wings reaches at least 165°F (74°C) to ensure they are cooked through.
• For a healthier option, use an oil spray instead of drizzling oil directly onto the wings.
• Experiment with different sauces and seasonings to find your favourite flavour combinations.

Now you're ready to prepare and cook your Doritos-style wings in the air fryer! Enjoy the process and savour the delicious results.

Air fryer settings

The air fryer is a healthier and less messy alternative to deep frying. It is also a quicker option than baking. The air fryer is a great appliance to have in your kitchen, and it is very easy to use.

The first step is to preheat your air fryer. For most of the recipes, you will need to preheat your air fryer to 350°F. However, for the Air Fryer Chicken Wings, you will need to preheat your air fryer to 400°F. The preheating time varies from 2 to 5 minutes.

Once your air fryer is preheated, you can place your food in the basket. It is important to ensure that the food is in a single layer and does not overlap. This will ensure even cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook your food in batches.

The cooking time will vary depending on the recipe and the type of air fryer you have. For the Air Fryer Chicken Wings, you will need to cook the wings for 10 minutes at 400°F, then flip them over and cook for an additional 8 minutes. For the Air Fryer Doritos, you will need to cook the tortillas for 3 minutes at 350°F, then flip them over and cook for an additional 2 minutes. For the Air Fryer Doritos Chicken Strips, you will need to air fry at 380°F for 15 minutes, then flip the chicken pieces and air fry for an additional 3 to 5 minutes.

It is important to note that the cooking times may vary depending on the size and style of your air fryer. Therefore, it is recommended to check the food often to ensure it is cooked to your desired texture.

Additionally, if you are using an oven with a built-in air fryer, the cooking time may be longer. It is recommended to start with the suggested time and temperature and then increase as needed.

Some recipes also suggest spraying the air fryer basket or racks with oil spray before placing the food in the air fryer. This will help to ensure that the food does not stick to the basket or racks.

Once your food is cooked to your desired texture and doneness, you can remove it from the air fryer and serve it with your favorite dips or sauces!

Cooking time

For extra crispy wings, some recipes suggest increasing the temperature to 400°F for the last few minutes of cooking.

Crispy skin

The secret to achieving that perfect crispy skin on your Doritos wings is to ensure that the chicken skin is as dry as possible before cooking. Use paper towels to pat the wings until they are completely dry. You can also leave the wings uncovered in the refrigerator overnight to remove excess moisture.

Another key ingredient to achieving that crispy skin is baking powder. The baking powder reacts with the chicken skin by raising its pH level and creating tiny air bubbles, resulting in a beautiful golden brown and crispy skin.

When placing the wings in the air fryer, ensure that they are laid out in a single layer with enough space between them to allow for air to circulate freely. This will ensure that the hot air in the air fryer can reach all sides of the wings and create an even crisp.

If you desire extra crispy skin, you can increase the temperature of the air fryer during the last few minutes of cooking.

For an extra crispy coating, you can also try using a non-stick spray, olive oil spray, or avocado oil spray on the air fryer basket before placing the wings inside.

Tips for Crispy Skin:

• Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels before seasoning.
• Use baking powder in your seasoning mix to create a crisp coating.
• Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer with enough space for air to circulate.
• Increase the temperature during the last few minutes of cooking for extra crispiness.
• Use a cooking spray on the air fryer basket to create an extra crispy coating.

Sauces and dips

There are many sauces and dips that go well with Doritos chicken wings. Here are some options:

• Cilantro lemon sauce: A bright and herby sauce made with cilantro, yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic.
• Garlic Parmesan sauce: A creamy sauce with the flavors of parmesan and garlic. It includes mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, grated parmesan, parsley, and vinegar.
• Smoked paprika aioli: This can be made from scratch or with a shortcut using mayonnaise, yogurt, garlic, lime, and smoked paprika.
• Ranch dressing: A traditional dip for buffalo wings that provides a cooling effect to balance the heat.
• Blue cheese dressing: Another classic dip for buffalo wings that complements the heat of the sauce.
• BBQ sauce: A sweet or spicy sauce that can be brushed onto the wings before serving.
• Teriyaki sauce: A versatile sauce that can be used for chicken wings, shrimp, or as a glaze for meats.
• Bang bang sauce: A creamy sauce with a kick of spice, often used for shrimp but also delicious on chicken wings.
• Honey mustard: A combination of honey and mustard that adds a touch of sweetness to the wings.
• Sriracha mayo: A spicy and creamy sauce made by mixing Sriracha with mayonnaise.
• Lemon pepper: A zesty and tangy sauce made with lemon juice, pepper, and other seasonings.

Frequently asked questions