These Air Fryer Chicken Wings have crisp, salty skin with plenty of garlic and lemon pepper flavor in every bite. These are seasoned to perfection and cook so fast with no marinating required!
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Helpful Reader Review
“Delicious! The best part about your recipes is that besides being delicious, they’re so easy! This one was too easy, much appreciated!” – Terri ★★★★★
Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe
Cooking Chicken wings in the air fryer is brilliant, and you will make chicken way more often if you try them in the air fryer. The circulating hot air of the air fryer makes the chicken skin super crisp, and the center is perfectly cooked, tender, and juicy. It’s also super FAST!
The cook time for air-fried chicken wings is just 16 minutes. It’s three times faster than my Baked Chicken Wings, Baked Buffalo Wings, or Lemon Pepper Wings when cooked in a traditional oven! P.S. Yes, you can totally make those variations in the air fryer and toss them with lemon pepper sauce or buffalo sauce!
Also, there’s no need to preheat an air fryer, which saves you prep time and makes this the fastest crispy chicken wings recipe. All you need is your favorite wing sauce for dipping (more on that below).
Air Fryer Chicken Wings Ingredients
- Chicken Wings – cut into flats and drummettes. I love the big packs of organic chicken wings from Costco.
- The spice rub for these chicken wings is simple with our go-to spices for baked, sautéed or air-fried chicken. All you need is 3 ingredients: oil, garlic salt and lemon pepper.
How to Split Chicken Wings
If your chicken wings are sold whole (and they are less expensive this way), you will need to cut them for even crisping. To cut a chicken wing, locate the joint between the wing tip, the middle section (drumette), and the end section (the flat). Use a sharp knife to cut into the joint between these sections to create three pieces. Trim off any excess skin.
You’ll use the drumettes and flats. You can save the wing tips for chicken stock or discard them.
How to Air Fry Chicken Wings
- Prep Wings – Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel and set into a large bowl. This is the key to extra crispy chicken wings.
- Season – Drizzle with oil, sprinkle on the seasonings, and then toss to combine.
- Air Fry – Arrange the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, and you can bake right away – you can let them marinate if you prefer, but there’s no need to pre-marinate chicken wings. Air Fry at 400˚F for 8 minutes, then shake the basket to flip and air fry for another 8 minutes. They should be crispy and golden brown when ready.
Can I Double the Recipe?
For all-around crispy chicken wings, it’s best to keep the wings in a single layer, so if you are using a smaller basket-style air fryer, you may need to air fry in 2 batches.
If you have a larger air toaster oven-style air fryer, you can double everything. When doubling, air fry for 18-22 minutes or until the skin is crisp, flipping the wings halfway. Bake time will vary based on the surface area of your air fryer basket.
What to Serve with Air-Fried Chicken Wings
I love serving this restaurant style. My husband used to work at a Chilis restaurant and they served their wings with fresh celery and blue cheese dressing – classic! They also pair really well with these dips and sides:
- Ranch Dressing or Avocado Ranch
- Veggie Dip
- Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Coleslaw or Caesar Salad
- Corn on the Cob
- Baked Potatoes
We love crispy chicken like my Chicken Schnitzel, Popcorn Chicken or General Tso’s Chicken, but the air fryer is our new best friend for chicken wings because it’s so much faster, requires less oil, and is memorably crispy!
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken wings, split into flats and drummettes
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic salt, or add to taste*
- 1 tsp lemon pepper
Instructions
- Thoroughly pat dry chicken wings with paper towels and place in a mixing bowl.
- Coat in 1 Tbsp oil then sprinkle on garlic salt and lemon pepper. Toss to evenly coat with seasoning.
- Place on air frying basket, spacing evenly and air fry at 400˚F for 8 minutes, then flip and air fry another 8 minutes for a total of 16 minutes, or until chicken wings are crisp and golden brown on the outside.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you’re looking for quick and simple meal ideas, you’ll love these air fryer recipes:
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Crispy Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Easy Air Fryer Baked Potatoes
- Air Fried Pork Chops
- Crispy Air Fryer Bacon (my fave method!)
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
I have a Kitchen Aid air fryer that has 3 levels for trays.What level should I use for wings?New to my air fryer.
Hi Gordon! I would use the middle. I hope you love the wings!
I had my doubts for sure…(no marinade? Minimal seasonings?)…bought the wings at Sam’s (BIG wings) so these guys took at least double (probably a lil more) the time…just kept flipping and putting them back in the ninja “oven” air fryer. We sauced some and left some plain. The plain won lol…Great recipe!
Made these tonight and they are delicious but they weren’t crispy at all. Should I have cooked them longer?
Hi there! Yes, you can cook longer if needed and add 2–5 more minutes at 400°F, and check often.
Can I cook these with frozen wings? If yes, what are the specifics for preparing/cooking? Thank you, Michelle
Hi Michelle, it’s best to thaw the wings first.
I am air frying ahead of time but want to reheat in the oven all of them at once. What temp can they be reheated in the oven and for how long?
Hi Linda! If they’re cold, I would let them sit out for just a little bit to take the “chill” out before reheating. Heat oven to 375°F, put the wings on a rack (or foil-lined pan), uncovered and heat for 15-20 mins, flipping them half way through. You can broil 1–2 min to crisp if needed too.
Your recipes are always GREAT,as well as your videos
So delicious! The key is to really get the wings dry before seasoning! Super easy and really crispy in the air fryer!