Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Wings: From Frozen To Delicious

Chicken wings are a delicious snack, appetizer, or meal, and an air fryer is a great way to make them crispy without the mess of deep-frying. You can make frozen chicken wings in an air fryer in under 30 minutes without even defrosting them first!

To make frozen chicken wings in an air fryer, first, place the frozen wings in the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 9-10 minutes to defrost. Then, toss the wings with oil and seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Place the wings back in the air fryer and cook at 400°F for another 10-12 minutes, or until they're crispy and cooked through. You can serve the wings as-is or toss them with your favorite sauce, like buffalo sauce, barbecue sauce, or honey garlic sauce.

Some tips for making frozen chicken wings in an air fryer:

- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the wings in a single layer to allow for even cooking and crispiness.

- Drain any liquid from the air fryer basket after defrosting the wings. This will help the wings get crispy.

- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the wings are cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.

- If you're using pre-cooked frozen wings, reduce the cooking time to 15-20 minutes at 400°F.

How to make frozen chicken wings crispy in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Frozen chicken wings
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Paprika
• Your choice of sauce (optional)

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer: Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and let it heat up for about 3-5 minutes. Preheating your air fryer ensures your wings cook evenly and get that delicious crispy exterior.
• Season the wings: While the air fryer is heating up, take your frozen wings and toss them with your chosen seasonings. A little oil can help the seasonings stick if you prefer, but it's not necessary.
• Arrange the wings: Place the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they're not overcrowded. This allows the hot air to circulate freely, ensuring even cooking and crispiness.
• Cook the wings: Cook the wings for about 20-30 minutes. If they are precooked and frozen, air fry them for 15-20 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, open the air fryer and flip the wings to ensure they get crispy on all sides.
• Check for doneness: Your wings should be golden brown and crispy when done. To be extra sure they're cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
• Sauce them up (optional): Once cooked, toss the wings in your favorite sauce. Do this in a bowl to ensure they're evenly coated.
• Serve and enjoy: Serve your crispy wings straight from the air fryer with some celery sticks, carrot sticks, and your favorite dipping sauce on the side.

Tips:

• Don't overcrowd the basket: Cook the wings in a single layer to allow for proper airflow and even cooking.
• Use a meat thermometer: Always ensure your wings have reached an internal temperature of 165°F before consuming.
• Add more spice: If you like your wings extra spicy, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper to your seasoning mix.
• Play with sauces and spices: Experiment with different sauces and spices to find your favorite combinations.

The best temperature to cook frozen chicken wings in an air fryer

There's nothing quite like crispy chicken wings, and an air fryer is a great way to achieve that perfect texture. The good news is that you can cook frozen wings directly in the air fryer without defrosting them first, making this an easy and quick way to prepare a delicious snack or meal.

Temperature and Timing

• For raw frozen wings, cook at 400°F for 20 minutes.
• For pre-cooked frozen wings, cook at 400°F for 12-16 minutes.
• For breaded frozen wings, cook at 400°F for 14 minutes.
• For sauced frozen wings, cook at 400°F for 18 minutes.
• If using an air fryer that doesn't reach 400°F, cook at the highest temperature for the last 6 minutes to crisp up the wings.
• If your wings are frozen in a solid block, microwave them for 30 seconds first to separate them.

Tips for Crispy Wings

To ensure your wings turn out crispy and delicious, follow these tips:

• Preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature before adding the wings.
• Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded. This allows for even cooking and crispiness.
• Flip the wings halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.
• Use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the wings has reached 165°F.
• If desired, toss the cooked wings in your favorite sauce. Buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce, and honey garlic sauce are great options.
• Serve with celery and carrot sticks, and your choice of dipping sauce on the side.

Storing Leftovers

If you have any leftover wings, here's how to store them:

• Let the wings cool to room temperature before storing.
• Place the cooled wings in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.
• To reheat, place the wings back in the air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes, then increase the temperature to 400°F for an additional 3-5 minutes until crispy.

How long to cook frozen chicken wings in an air fryer

Air fryers are a great way to make frozen chicken wings that are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The best part is that you can cook them straight from frozen, with no need to defrost them first!

How to Cook Frozen Chicken Wings in an Air Fryer:

First, place the desired number of frozen chicken wings into the air fryer basket. Make sure they are in a single layer and not overcrowded, as this will ensure they cook evenly and get crispy. You may need to work in batches. Set the air fryer to 400°F and cook the wings for 9-10 minutes until they are defrosted.

Next, remove the wings from the air fryer and place them in a bowl. Drain any liquid from the air fryer basket. Add your chosen oil and seasonings to the wings and toss until they are well coated. You can use a simple combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika, or experiment with other seasonings like lemon pepper, chili powder, or cayenne pepper.

Place the seasoned wings back into the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, or until they are crispy and cooked through. Flip the wings halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking and crispiness. The total cooking time will depend on the size of the wings and the model of your air fryer.

Finally, check that the internal temperature of the wings has reached 165°F with a meat thermometer to ensure they are fully cooked. You can serve the wings as-is, or toss them with your favorite sauce. A simple honey buffalo sauce can be made by whisking together buffalo sauce, honey, and butter.

Tips for Cooking Frozen Chicken Wings in an Air Fryer:

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the wings in a single layer to allow for proper airflow and even cooking.
• Always use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the wings has reached 165°F before serving.
• If you want to add a sauce to the wings, it's best to do so during the last few minutes of cooking or after they are cooked, as adding sauce too early can prevent the wings from getting crispy.
• If you are using an oven with an air fryer setting, the cooking time may be longer, so start checking the wings a few minutes early and adjust the time as needed.

Storing and Reheating Frozen Chicken Wings:

Leftover chicken wings can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To reheat, simply place them back into the air fryer at 375°F for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through.

How to make frozen chicken wings in an air fryer without sauce

Ingredients:

• Frozen chicken wings (as many as can fit in a single layer in your air fryer basket)
• Olive oil (optional)
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Paprika
• Dry rub seasoning
• Lemon pepper

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Heating it up for about 3-5 minutes will ensure the wings cook evenly and get a crispy exterior.
• While the air fryer is heating up, take your frozen wings and toss them with your chosen seasonings. You don't need to add oil, but a little can help the seasonings stick if you prefer.
• Place the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring there is enough space between them to allow air to circulate freely.
• Cook the wings for about 20-30 minutes. If they are precooked and frozen, air fry them for 15-20 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, open the air fryer and flip the wings to ensure they get crispy on all sides.
• Your wings should be golden brown and crispy when done. To be extra sure they're cooked through, check that the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Tips:

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Giving each wing its own space allows hot air to circulate fully, ensuring even cooking and a perfect crisp on every side.
• You can cook frozen wings in an air fryer. If using frozen wings, air fry them for 5 minutes longer at 380°F (29 minutes in total) and then increase the temperature for the last 6 minutes to crisp them up.
• It is not necessary to defrost frozen wings before cooking them in the air fryer.

How to reheat frozen chicken wings in an air fryer

Reheating frozen chicken wings in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get them tasting crispy and delicious. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving the best results:

Step 1: Prepare the Air Fryer and Wings

Preheat your air fryer to 380-400°F (around 190-200°C). While it's heating up, take your frozen wings and toss them with your chosen seasonings. You can use a light spray of oil to help the seasonings stick if you like, but it's not necessary.

Step 2: Arrange the Wings

Place the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they're not overcrowded. This allows hot air to circulate freely, cooking the wings evenly and making them nice and crispy.

Step 3: Reheat the Wings

For pre-cooked frozen wings, reheat at 400°F for 15-20 minutes. For raw frozen wings, cook at 400°F for 9-10 minutes to defrost, then an additional 10-12 minutes to cook through. Flip the wings halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking and crispiness.

Step 4: Check for Doneness

Your wings are done when they are golden brown and crispy. To be sure they're cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature has reached 165°F (74°C).

Step 5: Sauce and Serve (Optional)

Once cooked, you can toss the wings in your favorite sauce if desired. Serve with celery and carrot sticks, and your choice of dipping sauce on the side.

Frequently asked questions