Air Fryer Chicken Wings
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Making crispy chicken wings in the air fryer is simple, and faster and less messy than deep frying! Great for dinner, parties, or any time you’re craving crispy wings.
Why buy chicken wings from a restaurant when you can make incredibly flavorful and super crispy wings in the air fryer?!
My sweet and spicy grilled chicken wings are a hit at parties, and smoked chicken wings are a favorite, too. But not everyone has access to a grill or smoker, and those flavors aren’t as kid-friendly.
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Why This Recipe is a Family Favorite
Because no deep frying is involved, this recipe is lower in fat, and the chicken has perfectly crispy skin and tastes just as delicious as traditional wings!
With a flavorful but mild flavored dry rub, these air fryer chicken wings are great for kids, and adults find them absolutely drool-worthy, too.
If you like spicy food or saucy wings, the recipe is easy to adjust. You can increase the amount of cayenne in the seasoning, or simply coat everything in buffalo sauce before serving!
So, if you’re looking for a quick and easy 30 minute dinner or a crowd-pleasing party food, you’re going to love this easy chicken wings recipe!
Happy Kitchen Secrets
Here are my helpful, mom-tested cooking tips for making this recipe! Before I publish recipes, I test and make them countless times to save you from a failed attempt.
- Be sure the pieces are dried off well. Use plenty of paper towels, because any bits of moisture will prevent the dry rub from sticking to the chicken skin.
- Use pieces that are similar in size. You can use flats and/or drumettes, but so that everything cooks evenly, use similar sized wings.
- The cook time may vary a bit depending on the size of the wings, and the capacity of your air fryer.
- To be sure that they are safe to eat, use a meat thermometer to take the internal temperature of one of the drums.
- For extra crispy chicken wings in the air fryer, it’s important to flip the pieces over halfway through the cook time.
Ingredient Notes
A couple of important tips for when you buy the chicken wings:
- Feel free to use drumettes and/or flats, but use pieces that are close in size. This will ensure that they cook evenly.
- If you want to use frozen chicken wings, be sure to completely thaw them in the fridge and pat them dry with paper toweling before you air fry them.
For this recipe, we’re using an air fryer dry rub for seasoning. The recipe is very easy to customize, though, so feel free to substitute the spices or adjust the amounts as you like.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Wings
This is just a summary of the steps. See the recipe card for full instructions! ⬇️
- Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and while it’s preheating, use paper towels to pat dry each of the drums and flats. Be sure they are as dry as possible so the seasonings stick to the skin.
- Make the dry rub. Just measure and combine the spices in a small bowl.
- Season the drums and flats. I find it’s easiest to spread the seasoning on a baking sheet, but you can sprinkle the rub directly on each piece if you prefer.
- Let the chicken sit for about 5 minutes and then arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Note: Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to air fry chicken wings in more than one batch.
Cook Time for Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
- If you have regular sized drums and flats (10 per pound), air fry for 18 minutes.
- For small wings (12 or more per pound), it will take about 15 minutes total.
- Large wings (8 or less per pound) takes about 21 minutes.
Regardless of the size, halfway through the cook time, use tongs to flip the pieces over.
Remove the wings from the air fryer when the skin is crispy and the internal temperature of the largest piece reaches 165°F.
Note: Be sure to use an instant-read meat thermometer to check for doneness.
Storing Leftovers
Allow any leftover chicken wings to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate them in an airtight container with a lid. If you need to stack the wings, place parchment paper in between the layers.
Refrigerated, the wings will keep for up to 5 days. To freeze them, let them cool down, then store them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
To crisp the skin back up, reheat the wings in either a 375°F. air fryer or conventional oven. It should take 8-10 minutes to heat them through.
Serving Ideas
The chicken wings are great with a side of celery and carrot sticks. We like to dip them into a sauce, too. Our favorites are buffalo sauce, ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing. Or make a delicious Greek yogurt ranch dip.
At a game day party, serve them with air fryer tortilla chips or homemade French fries and chili cheese dip!
Chicken Wings Recipe FAQs
Yes! For chicken wings to become crispy on both sides, you need to flip them halfway through the air frying time.
Technically you can, but it is not recommended. For the best results, place the seasoned wings in a single layer in the air fryer. This way, the hot air can circulate evenly around all of the pieces.
If you make this recipe, please give it a star rating and leave a comment below to let me know how it went!
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings flats and/or drumettes
Dry Rub
- 1 ½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper or more/less, to adjust spiciness
Instructions
- Turn on your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) to preheat.
- Meanwhile, measure each of the ingredients for the spice rub and add to a small bowl. Use a spoon to mix together well, until fully combined.
- Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels. *They should be as dry as possible so that the dry rub adheres.
- Season wings generously with dry rub, making sure to coat both sides of the pieces. Let the wings rest at room temperature for 5 minutes to allow the seasoning to adhere to the skin.
- Arrange the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer. *Depending on the capacity of your air fryer, you may have to air fry chicken wings in batches.
- Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 18-20 minutes, shaking the basket or using tongs to turn the wings over after 10 minutes cook time.
- Remove from the air fryer when wings are golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) on a meat thermometer.
Notes
- Pat the chicken dry. Moisture prevents the spices from sticking.
- Use similar size pieces. You can use flats and/or drumettes, but it’s best to use similar sizes so everything cooks evenly.
- The cook time may vary. Depending on the size of the wings and the capacity of your air fryer, you may need to adjust the cook time by a couple of minutes.
- Use a meat thermometer to take the internal temperature to ensure that they’re safe to eat.
- For extra crispy chicken wings in the air fryer, use tongs to flip the pieces over halfway through the air frying time.
In his old age, my husband doesn’t tolerate spicy foods as well. The seasoning in this recipe was perfect for him! It has a ton of flavor, but it isn’t spicy at all, even with a small amount of cayenne pepper. Thanks for the great recipe!