Air Fryer Dry Rub Chicken Wings: The Perfect Recipe

Chicken wings are a classic appetizer, but frying them can be messy and time-consuming. Air fryers offer a faster, healthier, and less greasy alternative. You can make juicy, tender, and flavourful chicken wings with a dry rub in an air fryer in less than 30 minutes.

Choosing and preparing your chicken wings

Choosing the Right Chicken Wings:

• Fresh or Frozen: You can use fresh or frozen chicken wings for this recipe. If you're using frozen wings, ensure they are fully thawed and patted dry before proceeding.
• Separated or Whole: Look for chicken wings that have already been separated into drumettes and wingettes (flats). If you can only find whole wings, you'll need to cut them into the desired pieces yourself.
• Organic and Dry-Chilled: Opt for organic, dry-chilled chicken wings if possible. These tend to be less fatty and have better flavour.

Preparing the Chicken Wings:

• Pat Dry: Before adding any seasonings, use paper towels to blot the chicken wings dry. Removing excess moisture is crucial for achieving crispy skin.
• Cut and Trim: If your wings are not already separated, use a sharp knife to cut them into drumettes and wingettes. Also, trim away any excess fat or skin from the wings.
• Season Liberally: In a mixing bowl, toss the chicken wings with the dry rub, ensuring they are evenly coated. Use your hands to massage the spices into the chicken for better coverage.
• Oil Option: For even crispier wings, you can drizzle a small amount of oil over the wings before applying the dry rub. This helps the seasonings stick and adds to the crispness of the chicken.

Now that you've chosen and prepared your chicken wings, it's time to move on to the next steps of making dry rub chicken wings in your air fryer!

Making the dry rub

Firstly, combine all the dry ingredients in a bowl. The ingredients typically include garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. You can also add brown sugar for a touch of sweetness, but this is optional. Mix the dry ingredients until they are well combined.

The amount of dry rub you make can vary depending on how much you plan to use for this recipe and how much you want to save for future batches. A typical recipe yields around 9 tablespoons of dry rub, but you will only need 1-2 tablespoons for one batch of chicken wings.

Once you have your dry rub ready, it's time to prep the chicken wings. Cut the wings into drumettes and wingettes, if needed, and blot them dry with paper towels. This step is important to ensure the dry rub adheres well to the wings.

Now, add the chicken wings, olive oil, and the dry rub to a medium-sized bowl. Toss and mix everything together until the wings are evenly coated with the rub. Make sure to get in there with your hands and really massage the spices into the chicken.

And that's it! Your dry rub is now ready to be used for your air fryer chicken wings.

Applying the rub to the wings

Firstly, you'll want to ensure your wings are dry. Use paper towels to blot the wings and remove any moisture. This is an important step as it helps the rub to stick to the wings and ensures they will cook up nice and crispy.

Next, you'll want to add the wings to a medium-sized bowl and drizzle with oil. You can use extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil. Toss the wings to ensure they are well coated with the oil.

Now it's time to add the rub. You can either sprinkle the rub over the wings and toss to combine, or you can use your hands to massage the rub into the chicken, ensuring every surface is coated. You can wearsectioning gloves for this step if you prefer.

Once the wings are coated in the rub, they are ready to be placed in the air fryer. It's important to ensure the wings are in a single layer, with a little space around each wing. This allows for even cooking and ensures the wings will be crispy. If your air fryer is small, you may need to cook the wings in batches.

Cooking the wings in the air fryer

Now that you've made your dry rub and coated your chicken wings, it's time to cook them in the air fryer!

First, preheat your air fryer. Different recipes suggest different temperatures, ranging from 350°F to 400°F (175°C to 200°C). Some sources suggest preheating for around 5 minutes, while others don't mention the need to preheat at all.

Next, arrange your wings in the air fryer basket. Stand them up on their ends, leaning against each other and the wall of the basket. Make sure you leave some space between each wing for even cooking. If your wings are overlapping, you'll need to cook them in batches.

Now, it's time to air fry! Most recipes suggest cooking the wings for around 16 to 20 minutes in total, flipping them halfway through. However, cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer model, so keep an eye on your wings to avoid overcooking. Aim for a golden brown and crisp exterior, with a tender interior.

Once your wings are cooked to perfection, transfer them to a plate and serve hot. Enjoy!

Serving the wings

Once your wings are cooked, it's time to serve them up! The great thing about chicken wings is that they're perfect as a main dish for dinner or as an appetizer for game days.

If you're serving them as an appetizer, consider serving them with other bite-sized snacks like jalapeno poppers, gnocchi, or cream cheese taco dip. For a main dish, they go well with sweet potato fries or steak fries.

Don't forget to serve them with your favorite dipping sauces! Options like ranch dressing, blue cheese, BBQ sauce, buffalo sauce, creamy gorgonzola sauce, or avocado ranch are sure to be a hit. For a healthier option, serve them with fresh celery or carrot and celery sticks on the side.

These wings are best served hot and fresh out of the air fryer, but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. To reheat, pop them back into the air fryer at 360°F to 400°F for 3-8 minutes, or until warmed through. Avoid reheating in the microwave, as this can make the skin soggy.

Frequently asked questions