Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

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This crispy air fryer chicken wings recipe is my favorite way to cook them, because it’s the BEST way to get the crispiest skin ever! With just a couple simple ingredients and a few minutes of prep time, this air fryer recipe is as simple as it gets — but also easy to customize with your favorite sauce. It’s perfect for game day, or (let’s be real) any day! It has seriously renewed my love for wings.

Why You’ll Love My Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

• Super crispy skin – If I’m being honest, I only like chicken wings when they are crisp. If they’re not just right, no thanks! That’s why I’m kind of obsessed with achieving that irresistible crispy skin whenever I make them, whether it’s baked chicken wings or slow cooker chicken wings. But cooking wings in the air fryer? It beats all the other methods in crispness by a landslide.
• Juicy, flavorful, and tender inside – The crispy skin might be the best part, but let’s not forget about the inside. These wings come out super juicy.
• Just 2 simple ingredients – Plus salt and pepper. You can certainly jazz them up with other seasonings (see my variations below), but when I’m in a rush, I love a simple recipe that has as few ingredients as possible.
• Quick prep – Other than the hands-off cooking time, these only need a few minutes from you. I like to prepare my side dish (or other appetizers if I’m going that direction) while they cook.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for making air fryer chicken wings crispy, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.

• Chicken Wings – Buy them trimmed, or separate whole chicken wings at the joint (to make wingettes and drumettes) before cooking. I usually get them trimmed to avoid the extra fuss. This recipe is for fresh or thawed chicken, so if your wings are frozen, follow my recipe for air fryer frozen chicken wings instead.
• Olive Oil – I always add olive oil to help the seasoning adhere to the wings better and get them more crispy. You can use avocado oil as a substitute if you like. I tested the recipe without oil as well, though, and it still works, so you can skip it if you want to.
• Baking Powder – This is my surprising “secret” ingredient that makes the crispiest wings! This is because it soaks up extra moisture, helping to dry the skin. Be careful not to use baking soda, which won’t work and will leave an aftertaste. (I grabbed it by mistake once and that was, um, not a good experience!) Also, I’ve found aluminum-free baking powder works best to avoid any metallic taste.
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper – For simple seasoning. See more flavor ideas below if you want a more complex taste!

How To Cook Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.

1. Dry the chicken. Pat the chicken wings very dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
2. Season. In a large bowl, toss the wings with baking powder, olive oil (if using), sea salt, and black pepper.
3. Arrange. Place the chicken wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, without overlapping. (Work in batches if needed.)
4. Cook at lower heat. Air fry the chicken wings for half the time at lower heat (see times and temperatures below).
5. Get them crispy. Flip the wings over. Increase the air fryer temperature, and continue air frying until crispy.

My Top Recipe Tips

• Bring the chicken to room temperature if you have time. This is not required, but I noticed that letting them sit out for 20-30 minutes before cooking helps them cook more evenly.
• Dry the skin. Moisture is the enemy of crispy skin, so patting dry with paper towels helps you achieve maximum crispiness. I actually do this with all my chicken recipes, even ones without skin, because it also (somewhat counterintuitively) helps lock moisture inside.
• Use the right salt ratio. A good rule of thumb for meat and poultry is a teaspoon of salt per pound of meat, but since chicken wings have mostly bones, only about 1/3 of their weight is actually meat. This air fryer chicken wing recipe is for 2 pounds of wings, which is about 11 ounces of meat, and that’s why I used 3/4 teaspoon of sea salt. Adjust accordingly if you make a bigger or smaller batch.
• The baking powder is crucial. This is the main trick for extra crispy skin! Don’t skip it.
• Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. This ensures that the air can flow through and crisp up the skin. It’s okay if the wings touch a little, but try not to have their entire sides touching. If you have patience to have them not touching each other at all, even better.
• Check internal temperature. Crispy chicken wings are usually a sign that they are done, but the best way to know for sure is to use a meat thermometer. Confirm that the internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees F, and make sure not to touch the bone when measuring.

How Long To Cook Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer?

Air fry chicken wings for 15 minutes at 250 degrees F first, then flip and air fry for 15-20 more minutes at 430 degrees F. The total time is 30-35 minutes.

Starting at lower heat makes the meat super juicy, and increasing the heat later gets them extra crispy. It’s the best of both worlds! (This method came out better than starting out at high heat.)

Seasoning Variations

Air fryer wings are already flavorful plain, but you can also mix these up with a variety of seasonings or sauces. Here are some of my favorites that I’ve tried:

• Simple Spices – Don’t want to make any special seasoning or sauce? Use basic spices like garlic powder or paprika.
• Lemon Pepper – Season with my lemon pepper seasoning, or try my baked lemon pepper wings.
• Buffalo – Cook the crispy wings in the air fryer as written below, and finish by tossing in a mixture of butter and buffalo sauce (or your hot sauce of choice). See my buffalo wings recipe for the perfect ratio! You can also use the same sauce for my air fryer buffalo cauliflower.
• Cajun – Use Cajun seasoning for a spicy, flavorful kick. I make this less often because my kids can’t take the heat, but my husband loves it! You’ll need to skip the salt if your seasoning is salted like mine.
• Garlic Parmesan – Cook the wings as usual and toward the end, toss in the sauce from this garlic parmesan wings recipe. (I like to also add some Italian seasoning with this one.)

No matter what seasoning or sauce you use, I recommend keeping the baking powder on the skin — it’s the key to super crispy skin!

Storage Instructions

• Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
• Reheat: The best way is to reheat wings in the air fryer again! Somehow even after doing it a gazillion times, I’m still always amazed at how they turn out almost like they were cooked fresh. Just air fry for a few minutes at 350 degrees F, until hot and crispy.
• Freeze: To freeze for later, arrange the drumettes and wingettes in a single layer on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Once solid, transfer to a zip lock bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

What To Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are a delicious and easy way to cook up a tasty meal in no time. Here are some of my favorite pairings that will perfectly complement them:

• Dipping Sauces – If nothing else, I have to have a sauce! I serve my air fryer chicken wings with blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing (pictured above) most often, but sometimes I opt for teriyaki sauce or BBQ sauce when I want some sweetness.
• Raw Veggies – Carrots and celery sticks are classic sides. You can also use cucumber, radishes, or bell pepper strips. I’ll be honest, on busy nights I’ve made a little veggie spread with these wings and called it dinner. 😉
• Air Fryer Veggies – Chicken and vegetables are the two foods I cook in my air fryer more often than anything else! Make your entire meal using one appliance by pairing this air fryer wings recipe with air fryer eggplant, crispy air fryer brussel sprouts, or air fryer zucchini chips.
• Fries – Make some air fryer french fries, or try lighter rutabaga fries. Sometimes I even make a mix of both!
• Other Apps – Making these for a party? I like to make a spread with a dip, such as Rotel dip or spinach dip, and a bite-sized appetizer, like zucchini pizza bites or Caprese skewers.

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

If you like these quick, easy, and crispy chicken wings, you might also like some of these other cuts I’ve made in the air fryer:

Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Air Fryer Chicken Legs

Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

My Favorite Air Fryer

I have this air fryer and love it! The pictures above are from an older one I used to have, but I like this new one so much better because I can fit more wings in it. If you want to make an even bigger batch at once, this version has a space for two racks. I keep it in storage and pull it out when we have company to make larger batches!

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Recipe Card

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Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Super Crispy!)

Make the extra crispy air fryer chicken wings with this easy method! These turn out crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside every time.

Prep: 5 minutes

Cook: 35 minutes

Total: 40 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from Wholesome Yum

Servings: 4 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 2 lb Chicken wings (flats and drumettes, either fresh or thawed from frozen) ▢
• 1 tbsp Olive oil (optional, but recommended) ▢
• 2 tsp Baking powder ▢
• 3/4 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Pat the chicken wings very dry with paper towels. (This will help them get crispy.)

2. In a large bowl, toss the wings with baking powder, olive oil (if using), sea salt and black pepper.

3. Place the chicken wings in the air fryer in a single layer, without touching too much. (Cook in batches if they don't fit.)

4. Air fry the chicken wings for 15 minutes at 250 degrees F. (If your wings are frozen, add an extra 10 minutes at this step.)

5. Flip the wings over. Increase the air fryer temperature to 430 degrees F (or the highest your air fryer goes). Air fry for 15 to 20 minutes, until chicken wings are done and crispy.

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Try More Of My Recipes

• 
  Air Fryer Cauliflower
• 
  Frozen Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer
• 
  Air Fryer Vegetables
• 
  Air Fryer Bacon

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 4-6 chicken wings, or 1/4 of entire recipe

Nutrition info does not include the optional olive oil.

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Nutrition Facts

Amounts per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 275

Fat 19g

Protein 22g

Total Carbs 1g

Net Carbs 1g

Fiber 0g

Sugar 0g

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keywords: air fryer chicken wings

Calories: 275 kcal

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