Air-Fryer Chicken Wings: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious!

Chicken wings are a beloved snack, but frying them can be a messy and time-consuming affair. Air fryers offer a healthier, quicker, and easier alternative to frying chicken wings.

Here's a simple recipe for making raw chicken wings in an air fryer:

Ingredients

- 2 pounds of chicken wings (drums and flats)

- 1 teaspoon garlic powder

- Olive oil

- Onion powder

- Paprika

- Salt

- Pepper

Instructions

1. Prep the chicken wings by separating them into drums and flats.

2. Ensure the wings are defrosted and pat them dry.

3. Place the wings in a bowl and add olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat the wings evenly.

4. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer, ensuring they don't touch each other.

6. Cook the wings for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. Flip the wings and cook for another 8 minutes at the same temperature.

8. Remove the wings from the air fryer and serve with your favorite dips or sides.

Tips

- For extra crispiness, pat the chicken wings dry before adding the seasoning.

- Don't overcrowd the air fryer. Cook the wings in batches if necessary.

- You can experiment with different seasonings and sauces to suit your taste.

Seasoning the chicken wings

Pat the Chicken Wings Dry:

Use paper towels to pat the chicken wings until they are completely dry. Removing excess moisture is essential for achieving crispy skin.

Choose Your Seasonings:

You can go with a simple combination of salt and pepper or experiment with various seasonings to create different flavour profiles. Some popular options include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, lemon pepper, white pepper, baking powder, and garlic salt. Feel free to use your favourite store-bought seasoning blend or create your own unique mix.

Coat the Chicken Wings:

Place the chicken wings in a large bowl and drizzle them with oil. Sprinkle your chosen seasonings over the wings, ensuring they are evenly coated. You can also add hot sauce to the marinade if you want to give them an extra kick.

Let the Wings Rest:

Once the wings are coated with the seasoning and oil, let them rest for at least 30 minutes. This allows the flavours to penetrate the chicken, enhancing the taste.

Arrange the Wings in the Air Fryer:

Place the seasoned chicken wings in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching. If necessary, you can stand them upright along the sides to fit more wings in a single layer. This arrangement ensures that air circulates around each wing, promoting even cooking and crispiness.

Cooking Tips:

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the wings in multiple batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
• Be flexible with the cooking time. Adjust the cooking duration based on the size of your wings. Larger wings may require a longer cooking time, while smaller wings might need less time.
• Increase the temperature during the final minutes of cooking. This helps to achieve a crispier texture.

Now you're ready to air fry your perfectly seasoned chicken wings! Enjoy the delicious results!

Marinating the chicken wings

Firstly, pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This step is important as it helps the wings become crispy when cooked.

Next, place the chicken wings into a bowl and add the marinade. A simple marinade can be made with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You can also add hot sauce to the marinade if you like your wings spicy. Alternatively, you can use a dry rub of salt and lemon pepper.

Once the wings are coated in the marinade, let them rest for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavours to penetrate the meat. You can also leave them to marinate for longer, even overnight, in the refrigerator, if you want more intense flavours.

After the wings have marinated, they are ready to be placed in the air fryer and cooked according to your preferred recipe.

Placing the chicken wings in the air fryer

Now that your chicken wings are prepped and ready to go, it's time to place them in the air fryer!

First, ensure your air fryer is preheated to 400°F. You can spritz the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent the wings from sticking. Then, place your chicken wings inside the basket. It's important to ensure the wings are in a single layer and not overlapping. This will allow the hot air to circulate around each wing, ensuring they get nice and crispy. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the wings in multiple batches.

For a 2-pound batch of wings, cook them for 10 minutes, then flip them over and cook for another 8 minutes. Finally, increase the temperature to 400°F and cook for an additional 6-8 minutes, or until the wings are golden brown and crispy.

And that's it! Your wings are now ready to be tossed in your sauce of choice or served as is with your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Air frying the chicken wings

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Wings

Firstly, you will need to separate the wings into drums and flats if they come as full wings. Make sure the chicken wings are defrosted and pat them dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This step is important to ensure the wings get crispy.

Step 2: Season the Chicken Wings

Place the chicken wings into a bowl and add your choice of seasoning. You can use a basic blend of oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, or try something different like lemon pepper seasoning, smoked paprika, or white pepper. Toss the wings to ensure they are evenly coated.

Step 3: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for a few minutes. You can also use a lower temperature of 360°F (182°C) if you prefer.

Step 4: Cook the Chicken Wings

Place the seasoned chicken wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching. For crispy wings, it is important that the wings have space between them to allow air to circulate. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the wings in batches.

Cook the wings for 10 minutes at 400°F (204°C). After the timer goes off, open the air fryer and carefully flip over the chicken wings. Close the air fryer and cook at the same temperature for another 8-12 minutes, or until the wings are golden brown and crispy.

Step 5: Serve the Chicken Wings

Remove the chicken wings from the air fryer and serve with your favorite dips or side dishes. Enjoy!

Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Chicken Wings:

• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. If needed, cook the wings in multiple batches to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
• Be flexible with the cooking time. The size of chicken wings can vary, so adjust the cooking time accordingly. Smaller wings may need less time, while larger wings may need a few extra minutes.
• For extra crispy skin, consider adding baking powder to the seasoning mix. The baking powder reacts with the chicken skin to create a crispy coating.
• If you like your wings saucy, add the sauce after cooking. Tossing the wings in sauce before serving will help maintain their crispiness.

Serving the chicken wings

Once your chicken wings are cooked to perfection, it's time to serve them! Here are some tips and tricks to elevate your chicken wing-eating experience:

Sauces

Chicken wings are often served with a variety of sauces for dipping or coating. Here are some classic and creative sauce options:

• Buffalo sauce
• Ranch or blue cheese dressing
• BBQ sauce
• Thai sweet chili sauce
• Hot honey
• Lemon pepper sauce
• Hoisin sauce
• Gochujang sauce

Sides

Chicken wings are commonly served with an array of sides to balance out the meal. Here are some side dish ideas:

• Celery and carrots
• Corn on the cob
• French fries
• Tater tots
• Mac and cheese
• Salad

Reheating and Storage

If you have any leftover chicken wings, here are some tips for reheating and storing them:

• Reheat in an air fryer at 360°F for 4 minutes or in the microwave until heated through.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freeze cooked wings for up to a month and thaw them in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Frequently asked questions