Air Fryer Frozen Buffalo Wings: Quick, Easy, Crispy!

Making frozen buffalo wings in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get delicious, crispy wings. You can use both bone-in and boneless wings, and there's no need to defrost them first. The air fryer will give you the same crispy texture as deep-fried wings, but with less oil.

Here's a simple recipe to make frozen buffalo wings in an air fryer:

Ingredients:

- Frozen chicken wings

- Olive oil

- Spices (garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper)

- Buffalo sauce

- Honey

- Worcestershire sauce

Instructions:

1. Place the frozen wings in the air fryer basket and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes to defrost.

2. Remove the wings, place them in a bowl, and drain any liquid from the basket.

3. Add olive oil, garlic, paprika, and salt and pepper to the wings, and toss until coated.

4. Put the wings back in the air fryer and cook for an additional 10-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. To make the honey buffalo sauce, whisk together buffalo sauce, honey, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl.

6. Brush the glaze on top of the wings and serve.

Tips:

- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the wings in a single layer to ensure even cooking.

- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the wings have reached the safe internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

- Serve with celery or carrot sticks and your favourite dipping sauce, such as ranch or blue cheese dressing.

How to Make Frozen Buffalo Wings in an Air Fryer

Defrosting the wings

Firstly, place the frozen wings into the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer to a temperature of around 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The exact temperature may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model and personal preference for how crispy you like your wings.

Cook the frozen wings for around 9 to 10 minutes. This initial cooking stage is intended to defrost the wings, so you don't need to worry about overcrowding the air fryer basket at this point. If your wings are stuck together, cooking them for this short period will help to loosen them so you can separate them easily.

Once the wings are defrosted, take them out of the air fryer and place them in a bowl. It's important to drain any liquid that has accumulated in the air fryer basket at this stage, as this will help the wings become crisp in the next cooking stage.

Now, you can add your chosen seasonings and oil to the wings. Toss the wings in the bowl until they are evenly coated with the spices and oil. You can use a simple mixture of olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper, or experiment with other seasonings like lemon pepper, chili powder, or cayenne pepper.

After the wings have been seasoned, it's time to put them back into the air fryer basket. Cook the wings at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for another 10 to 12 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of crispiness. For extra crispy wings, you may want to cook them for a few minutes longer. Remember to flip the wings halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.

Finally, check that the wings are cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit by using a meat thermometer. This is an important step to ensure that the wings are safe to eat.

Now your wings are defrosted and ready for the next stage of cooking or serving!

Adding seasoning

Some popular spice and herb options include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. You can also add olive oil to the wings to help the spices stick and to make the wings extra crispy. If you want to add a bit of heat to your wings, you can include cayenne pepper or smoked paprika in your spice mix.

Simply toss your frozen wings in the desired spices and herbs before placing them in the air fryer. Make sure the wings are evenly coated for the best flavour and crispiness. You can also add the seasoning after the wings have been defrosted in the air fryer for a few minutes, which will help the spices stick better.

Cooking the wings

Now that you've gathered all your ingredients, it's time to cook the wings! Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Defrosting: Place the frozen wings in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 9-10 minutes to defrost. You can also do this in the microwave for about 30 seconds if they're stuck together.
• Toss with Seasonings: Remove the wings from the air fryer and place them in a bowl. Add your choice of seasonings and toss until the wings are evenly coated. You can use a simple mixture of olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, or get creative with your favourite spices.
• Cooking: Place the seasoned wings back into the air fryer basket. Cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Flip the wings halfway through for even cooking. The cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer and the size of the wings, so keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking.
• Glazing (Optional): While the wings are cooking, you can prepare a glaze by mixing buffalo sauce, honey, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl. Brush the glaze on top of the wings before serving for some extra flavour.
• Serving: Your wings are now ready to be served! You can serve them as-is, or toss them with your favourite sauce. They go great with blue cheese or ranch dressing on the side for dipping. Don't forget to include some celery or carrot sticks on the side!

Remember, it's important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the wings in batches if needed, ensuring they are in a single layer with some space between them for even cooking and crisping.

Making the sauce

For a basic buffalo sauce, you will need:

• Hot sauce: Frank's RedHot® Original Cayenne Pepper Hot Sauce is a popular choice, but you can use your favourite brand.
• Butter: This will balance out the acidity of the hot sauce. Use unsalted butter, as the buffalo sauce already contains a lot of sodium.
• Honey: This adds a touch of sweetness to the sauce. You can substitute it with agave or maple syrup if you prefer.
• Worcestershire sauce: This adds a savoury, tangy flavour to the sauce.

To make the sauce, simply whisk together the hot sauce, butter, honey, and Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl until they are well combined. You can adjust the proportions of each ingredient to suit your taste. If you like your sauce extra spicy, you can add some cayenne pepper.

Once your wings are cooked, toss them in the sauce until they are fully coated. Serve immediately with blue cheese and celery sticks on the side.

Reheating and storing

Leftover chicken wings can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. To reheat, place them back into the air fryer for two to three minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also use a microwave, but they may end up softer. You can also eat them cold.

To ensure your wings are cooked, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Frequently asked questions