Air Fryer Wings: Crispy, Fresh, And Easy!

Chicken wings are a beloved snack and meal, but frying them can be a hassle. Air fryers offer a healthier, faster, and less messy alternative to deep-frying. With an air fryer, you can make juicy, tender, and irresistibly crispy wings with ease.

The key to achieving the perfect air-fried chicken wings is to ensure that the wings are dry before cooking. This allows the hot air to crisp the skin effectively. You can also coat the wings in a simple seasoning mix with common, pantry-friendly ingredients such as garlic salt, lemon pepper, paprika, and baking powder.

For the best results, it is recommended to use fresh chicken wings instead of frozen ones. Additionally, air fryers with a larger capacity can cook more wings at once, but it is important not to overcrowd the air fryer to ensure even cooking and crispiness.

Air-fried chicken wings are perfect for game days, family gatherings, or any time you're craving a delicious snack. They go well with various dipping sauces, such as ranch, blue cheese, buffalo sauce, or BBQ sauce.

Pat the wings dry

To make the perfect air-fried chicken wings, it is important to pat the wings dry. This is a crucial step in achieving the desired crispiness of the wings. By removing any excess moisture from the surface of the wings, you are creating the ideal conditions for the skin to puff up and blister during the air-frying process.

Using paper towels, thoroughly dry each wing individually. Make sure to absorb any moisture from all sides of the wings. This step ensures that the wings will not steam but instead crisp up beautifully in the air fryer. It is worth noting that this step should be done before adding any seasonings or coatings to the wings.

Once the wings are dried, you can proceed with the next steps in your air-frying process. Remember, this initial step of patting the wings dry is key to achieving that mouthwatering, crispy texture we all love in our chicken wings. So, take your time with this step and ensure that the wings are as dry as possible before moving on.

Now that your wings are perfectly dry, you can proceed with seasoning and cooking them. For optimal results, it is recommended to use fresh chicken wings instead of frozen ones. If you only have frozen wings, be sure to thaw them before proceeding.

Use a dry rub

The dry rub is a crucial step in achieving the perfect air-fried chicken wings. It adds flavour and helps to crisp up the skin. Here's a simple and effective dry rub method:

Ingredients:

• Chicken wings (fresh, flats and drumettes)
• Olive oil or neutral oil (such as avocado oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil)
• Garlic salt
• Lemon pepper

Method:

• Start by patting the chicken wings dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture is essential for achieving crispy skin.
• Place the wings in a mixing bowl and coat them with a tablespoon of oil.
• Sprinkle on the garlic salt and lemon pepper. The exact measurements may vary depending on your taste preferences, but a good starting point is 2 teaspoons of garlic salt and 1 teaspoon of lemon pepper.
• Toss the wings to ensure they are evenly coated with the oil and seasonings.
• If you have time, you can let the wings marinate in the refrigerator for a more intense flavour. However, this step is optional, and you can proceed to air-frying right away.
• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C).
• Place the wings in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer with space between them for air to circulate. Overcrowding the basket will affect the crispiness.
• Air fry the wings for 10 minutes, then flip them over and air fry for an additional 8-12 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy. The total cooking time may vary depending on the size of your wings, so adjust accordingly.
• Remove the wings from the air fryer and serve them with your favourite dipping sauces!

Feel free to experiment with different spices and seasonings to create your own unique dry rub. You can also try adding a small amount of baking powder to the dry rub, as it reacts with the chicken skin to create an even crispier coating. Enjoy your delicious, crispy air-fried chicken wings!

Air fry at 390°F for 20-24 minutes

Now that your wings are prepped, seasoned, and ready to go, it's time to air fry! Set your air fryer to 390°F and let it preheat for a few minutes.

Once the air fryer is preheated, place your wings inside, ensuring they're in a single layer with space between them for airflow. Close the air fryer and let them cook for 20-24 minutes, shaking the basket 2-3 times during cooking for even crisping.

When the timer goes off, your wings should be golden brown and crispy. Check that the internal temperature of the wings is at least 165°F; it's fine if they're closer to 180°-200°F, as this will just make the meat more tender.

And that's it! Your wings are now ready to be devoured. Enjoy the juicy, crispy goodness!

Toss in sauce

Now that your wings are cooked to perfection, it's time to toss them in your sauce of choice. You can use any sauce you like, but here are some popular options:

• Buffalo sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Hot sauce
• Ranch dressing
• Blue cheese dressing
• Thai sweet chilli sauce
• Honey

If you want to make your own sauce, you can try mixing hot sauce with butter and garlic powder, or making a buffalo sauce with hot sauce, butter and garlic powder. Alternatively, you could make a sweet and spicy sauce, or coat them in honey BBQ sauce.

Once you've chosen your sauce, simply toss the wings in the sauce until they're fully coated. You can serve them as they are, or put them back in the air fryer for a minute or two to get the sauce nice and crispy. Enjoy!

Serve with sides

Now that you've made your delicious, crispy, air-fried wings, it's time to think about what to serve them with! Here are some ideas for side dishes and dips to accompany your wings:

Dips

• Blue cheese dressing
• Ranch dressing
• Buffalo sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Thai sweet chilli sauce
• Hot honey
• Homemade buffalo sauce
• Chunky blue cheese
• Cilantro lime dip

Sides

• Simple wedge salad
• Creamy mac and cheese
• Air fryer French fries
• Instant Pot corn on the cob
• Avocado ranch and celery
• Potato salad
• Coleslaw
• Carrots and celery sticks
• Carrot sticks
• Baked honey-glazed chicken
• Crispy baked chicken legs
• Crispy baked chicken drumsticks
• Air fryer avocado fries
• Air fryer tater tots

Frequently asked questions