These Air Fryer Chicken Wings have crisp, salty skin and a tender, juicy center. They’re tossed with a simple savory spice rub and a surprising ingredient that helps create irresistible crispiness. They take less than 20 minutes to cook, and there’s no marinating time required. You can use this recipe with a variety of sauces to coat or dip the wings.
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Air Fryer Chicken Wings Video
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Cooking Chicken wings in the air fryer is brilliant, and you will make wings way more often if you try this air fryer method. Cooking chicken wings in the air fryer is one of the fastest ways to get crisp skin and juicy meat. Baking powder helps dry the skin without adding flavor, while the circulating hot air makes the wings blistered and crisp. Did I mention this method is super FAST?
The air fryer cook time is three times faster than my Baked Chicken Wings, Baked Buffalo Wings, or Lemon Pepper Wings when cooked in a traditional oven. There’s no need to preheat the 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).
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Chicken Wings – cut into flats and drummettes. I love the big packs of organic chicken wings from Costco.
- Oil – helps the spices stick to the wings and helps with browning.
- Spice Rub – the best and most versatile chicken seasoning, all you need is salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Baking powder – my secret ingredient to make the wings extra crispy because it dries out the chicken skin.
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. You’ll only use the drumettes and flats. Wing tips don’t have any meat and tend to burn, so save those 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.
- Drizzle with oil and toss to coat.
- Season – In a small bowl, stir together the seasonings and baking powder (if using), then toss the wings to evenly coat.
- Air Fry – Arrange the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry right away. You can let them marinate if you’re making them ahead, 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 8-12 minutes. They should be crispy and golden brown when ready.
How Long to Cook Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
Air fry chicken wings at 400˚F for 16 to 20 minutes, flipping or shaking the basket halfway through. Smaller wings may be done closer to 16 minutes, while larger wings may need the full 20 minutes. The wings are ready when the skin is crisp and golden, and the thickest part of the chicken reaches at least 165˚F on an instant-read thermometer. If you let them reach 175˚F to 185˚F, they will have even more flavor and texture.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Wings
- Pat dry to remove excess moisture, so the skins get crisp instead of steaming.
- Let Air Circulate – leave some space between the wings and air fry in a single layer for optimal crispiness on all sides.
- Use a little baking powder – for extra crispy wings, about 1 tsp per pound of wings helps dry out and blister the skin for an extra golden and crispy skin. I also did this with my crispy Baked Chicken Wings.
- Sauce after cooking: wait until the wings are cooked to add any sauce. If you add sauce too early, the wings lose crispiness.
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 tossed in Buffalo Chicken Wing Sauce paired 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
- 1/2 tsp fine sea salt, or add to taste*
- 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp baking powder, optional (do not use baking soda)
Instructions
- Thoroughly pat dry chicken wings with paper towels and place in a mixing bowl.
- Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat.
- Season – In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, paprika, garlic and onion powder, and baking powder (if using), then sprinkle over the chicken and toss to evenly coat wings with seasoning.
- Air Fry – Place in air frying basket, spacing evenly, and air fry at 400˚F for 16-20 minutes, flipping halfway. Air-fry until chicken wings are crisp and golden brown on the outside. They should reach 165˚F on an instant-read thermometer, and they will taste even better if you let them reach 175˚F to 185˚F.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
More Easy 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
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
How long would I air-fry boneless wings?
I would check around 11-13 mins.
This wing recipe sounds too simple to be this good but, wow! Amazing! I’ve never been disappointed in any of Natasha’s recipes.
Aw, that’s so great to hear, Amy! Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback.
I always deep fry chicken wings with potato starch to get them nice and crisp. This method uses lots of oil that I throw away afterwards. Such a waste. I have a brand new air fryer that needs to be broken in. I will give your recipe a go.
I made your shrimp alfredo this past weekend but doubled the shrimps. Like we say in Hawaii, ‘onolicious’ I love the efficiency you write into your recipes. Mahalo and aloha
Thank you! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the recipes. I hope you love this one too!
I forgot to mention that I have the Emeril 26 qt. toaster oven that has heating elements on both the top and bottom. However, the key after making any food in your air fryer is that after it cools, take a wet paper towel or soft cloth and wipe the entire down to prevent the grease or food splatters from getting baked on.
I tried your chicken wings and they were Outstanding !
My husband said that they were better than he had in restaurants 🥰
Thanks for sharing
Thank you for sharing that with us! I’m glad that you both enjoyed the chicken wings!
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!