Air Fryer Wings: Crispy, Golden, And Delicious

Chicken wings are a popular dish, but deep frying them can be messy and time-consuming. Air fryers offer a healthier, quicker, and easier alternative. The air fryer's hot air cooks the wings to a crisp without the need for oil, resulting in a tasty treat with less fat.

To make good wings in an air fryer, start by patting the wings dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Then, place the wings in a bowl and season with a mix of oil, salt, pepper, and other spices like garlic powder, paprika, or onion powder. Toss the wings to coat them evenly. Preheat the air fryer to around 400°F, then arrange the wings in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they don't overlap. Cook for about 10 minutes, then flip the wings and cook for another 8-12 minutes until crispy. For extra crispiness, increase the temperature to 400°F for the final few minutes. Serve with your favourite sauce or enjoy as is!

Pat the wings dry

If you are using a bowl to season the wings, pat the wings dry before adding them to the bowl.

If you are using a Ziplock bag to season the wings, there is no need to pat the wings dry before adding them to the bag.

Season the wings

Seasoning the wings is an important step in making good wings in an air fryer. Here are some tips and tricks for seasoning your wings:

• Use a variety of seasonings: While salt and pepper are classic choices, don't be afraid to experiment with other seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, or even a ranch seasoning blend. You can also try adding a little baking powder to the mixture, as this helps make the wings extra crispy.
• Pat the wings dry before seasoning: Removing excess moisture from the wings will help them crisp up. You can use paper towels to pat them dry, or let them air dry on a rack before seasoning.
• Use oil: Coating the wings with a small amount of oil before adding your seasonings can help the skin crisp up and enhance the flavour. Olive oil, avocado oil, or canola oil are good choices.
• Mix well: Once you've added your chosen seasonings and oil, be sure to mix the wings well so that they are evenly coated. You can do this in a large bowl or a gallon-size Ziplock bag.
• Single layer: When placing the seasoned wings in the air fryer, be sure to arrange them in a single layer with a little room between them. This ensures that they cook evenly and the skin can get crispy.
• Toss: For even cooking and crispiness, toss the wings every 3-5 minutes during the cooking process.

Air fry the wings

Air-frying is a healthier way to prepare chicken wings without deep-frying or a long oven cook time. They're crisp on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside.

To make chicken wings in an air fryer, you will need the following ingredients:

• Chicken wings
• Olive oil
• Salt
• White pepper
• Baking powder
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Paprika

First, pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Then, place the wings into a bowl and add the olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat the wings evenly.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Add the wings to the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not overlapping. Cook the wings for 10 minutes, then flip them over. Increase the heat to 400°F and cook for another 8-12 minutes, or until the wings are golden brown and crispy.

You can serve the wings as is, or toss them in your favorite sauce, such as buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce, or ranch dressing.

Tips for Making Crispy Wings

• Use paper towels to pat the chicken wings dry before cooking. This will help remove any excess moisture and ensure the skin gets crispy.
• Add a little baking powder to the seasoning mixture. Baking powder helps to create an extra crispy skin on the wings.
• Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with a little space between them, so they cook evenly.
• Toss or flip the wings every few minutes during cooking for even cooking and crispiness.
• Increase the temperature to 400°F for the last few minutes of cooking to get extra crispy skin.

Flip the wings

After the first round of air frying, the wings will look a little bland and grey, but don't worry! This is where the magic happens. Take the basket out of the air fryer and flip each wing over. Make sure they are not overlapping and are in a single layer.

Place the basket back into the air fryer and air fry a second time at 400°F for another 8-12 minutes until they are crispy. The time may vary based on the size of your wings, so adjust the time accordingly.

Increase the temperature to crisp the skin

To make the skin of your chicken wings extra crispy, increase the temperature of your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for an additional two minutes. This will give your wings an extra crispy skin without drying out the juicy meat inside.

If you are using a Cosori 5.8 qt basket-style air fryer, this temperature increase is only necessary if you want your wings to be crispier than usual. However, if you are using a different air fryer, you may need to adjust the cooking time and temperature to achieve the same results.

Frequently asked questions