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!
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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 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 forced circulating hot air makes the skin super crisp, which is difficult to achieve in a conventional oven, and the center is perfectly cooked, tender, and juicy.
The cook time for air-fried chicken wings is just 16 minutes. It’s three times faster than our 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).
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Wings
The 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 Cut 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 stock or discard them.
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Wings
- Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel and set into a large bowl.
- 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.
Can I Bake These in a Traditional Oven?
It takes significantly longer to achieve crispy chicken wings in the oven. To bake these chicken wings in a conventional oven, preheat oven to 400˚F and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until crispy, flipping the wings after 30 minutes.
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
- Corn on the Cob
These Air Fryer Chicken Wings have a crisp, salty skin with a tender, flavorful center. Let the snacking begin!
Storing and Reheating Chicken Wings
Once the chicken wings are cooled to room temperature, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. You can re-crisp them in the air fryer at 400˚F for 4 to 5 minutes.
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 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 2 tsp garlic salt and 1 tsp 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
These came out so good! I didn’t have garlic salt but still good with just regular salt and lemon pepper seasoning.
My air fryer is pretty small so it did smoke a little, but that is an air fryer problem not a recipe problem.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I used garlic pwdr vice salt and also added onion pwdr and paprika in the same amounts. Didn’t have lemon pepper. They turned out great.
That’s great, Brian!
Followed the recipe and used a Hamilton Beach Air Fryer and McCormick spices but this was inedible. Way too salty. Color didn’t look anything like the picture. Chicken skin was yellow (from the lemon pepper?). Even let it cook about 5 minutes longer than recommended because it didn’t cooked. While it was well cooked the wings weren’t crisp.
Hi Spencer, I haven’t tried that brand of air fryer but check the instructions and see if yours requires a pre-heat? That’s the only thing I can think of which would make this uncooked in the time specified. Although most air fryers don’t really need a preheat. Are you certain your air fryer didn’t turn off before the timer? Also, check your lemon pepper – it should not have salt as an ingredient which could make this extra salty.
Tried your exact wing recipe last night and it turned out great! I always preheat my air fryer for 4 minutes to ensure even cooking heat for recipes, and brush the heated basket with 1 tsp. of oil to prevent sticking. Also, I dry the wings with a paper towel before coating. Otherwise, they turn out soggy. My wings were crispy at 18 minutes, and then tossed in homemade wing sauce, while still hot.
We usually don’t have leftover wings. But if so, I find they can be heated quickly in a microwave, without being dry. My method: Place them on a plate, cover with a dampened paper towel and heat at a 50% mode, in 30 second intervals. When they start to “pop”, they’re done. Not as crispy, but still tasty and with no chewy texture. I use the same method with leftover chicken tenders, pork chops and beef with good results.
Thank you for sharing that with us, Robert!
My air fryer is smoking so bad had to open the door. Maybe to much oil?
Oh no! I have never experienced that before, I recommend checking your Air Fryer’s manual or send them a mewsage to let them know what happened.
Usually caused by excess oil or grease on the cooking element. I find it to be a common occurrence, if bacon was ever cooked in the air fryer. My quick remedy: Unplug the airfryer. Using a wet dish rag coated with a small amount of dish soap, wipe down the (cold) top cooking element with the rag. Wipe dry with a towel and re-insert basket. Heat the air fryer @ 400 F for a few minutes and you should have resolved the problem.
Just made air fryer wings. I didn’t have lemon pepper so I just used olive oil and Kinders, The Blend, which is salt, pepper and garlic. I have a Ninja air fryer and cooked each batch 20 minutes. Served with ranch dressing. Perfect!
Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing that with us, Patty.
Big fan of these wings! I wasn’t sure about the lemon pepper, but it was fabulous with the garlic salt. So easy and so tasty! We have the fryer that Costco sells, Gourmia I think, and hit the wings button which bakes them for 25 min (turning halfway) and it’s perfectly crispy! Thanks so much.
You’re welcome, Alisha. Glad you enjoyed it!
The Chinese make much larger air fryers. Though mine comes with a basket it also has two flat wire trays and a spit roaster. Check out Miui ones. I never replaced my microwave and don’t need a traditional oven.
Hi Natasha. I want to try this recipe this weekend but like to make the wings in my air fryer the night before or morning before my party. Would you suggest reheating them under the broiler or bake mode in oven
Thanks!
Hi Susan, we always ate them fresh & I honestly haven’t tested that yet to advise. If you do an experiment, please share with us how it goes.
Now do yell at me, but can I use this recipe with frozen wings or should I use fully thawed?
Hi Duane, they should be fully thawed.
I use your recipe and also toss the wings with your spices mixed into some Red Mill Potato Starch for skin crispiness.
In one of your wing recipes you use baking soda, but I find potato starch is even better.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Bill!
There are at least 3 kinds of air fryers. I have 2 different kinds and neither has a basket. The one I like best is from tefal with a circular pan, and a sweep that moves in a circular motion to continually toss the food. You don’t need to turn food over and it’s perfect for chicken wings (I coat in flour, powdered garlic, paprika, salt, pepper and toss with siracha)
Wings were not crispy at all. Followed the recipe taste instructed. Needed extra flavor in my opinion.
Hi Victoria, did you use an air fryer to cook these and the correct type of seasoning? I haven’t had that feedback on this recipe and it’s been a popular one on our site. Also, make sure not to start with frozen wings- they should be fully thawed.
I tried this recipe. Mine didn’t come out looking as delicious as your pictures. They taste ok. Maybe I started with lower quality wings than you did.
Thank you so much for sharing that with me, Dezzy! It’s possible that was the culprit. I try to stay away from substitutions when making a recipe a first time around, but the meat quality may impact the outcome. I hope you try it again soon!
New to air frying. But I don’t understand why you would need to flip since they are in a basket with hot air circulating on both sides?
Hi Craig! It’s so that they can brown on both sides. The basket helps them cook evenly but to get the nice and crisp browning on top, we flip them.
Is there a different spice I can use in place of lemon pepper
Hi Ronda! You can use any other spice of your preference. Spices that are versatile are things like garlic, onion, parsley, dill, pepper, chives, etc. Let us know how they turn out if you experiment.
I have this air fryer it is amazing, I do chicken wings the same way, and I also try many different seasonings and sauces. Thank you for posting 🙂
Love love love your recipes Natasha, thank you. Quick question for you here as I’m new to air frying. Can I use frozen wings?
Thanks again for helping me enjoy cooking and baking xx
Janet.
Hi Janet! Thank you. I’m so glad you are enjoying the recipes. I have not tested it with frozen wings. I’m sure it would work but without testing it myself, I cannot provide instructions or cooking time. You’ll have to experiment with it.
Great recipe! My son and his friend loved them which was a win because they can be picky eaters! Lol!
Hey Jennifer, thanks for sharing this wonderful review. Happy to know that they enjoyed them!
Hi Natasha,
I would like to know if I can use chicken thighs with this recipe and if so, about how long and what temp? I use so many of your recipes and incorporate them no less than twice a week.
Hi Cindy! I think you could with some modifications but I haven’t tested it to advise on temperature and time. Let us know if you experiment with it! 🙂
Yes, you can. 200C for 20-25 minutes, then rest for a few minutes. You need 165F/74C temperature for safety.