These crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings deliver restaurant-quality results in just 25 minutes. Perfect for game day gatherings or weeknight dinners, they turn out amazingly crisp on the outside while staying juicy inside.
With only 5 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking, you’ll have irresistible wings that pack 23g of protein per serving. The air fryer method cuts down on oil while maintaining that satisfying crunch everyone loves.
Ingredients
- Chicken Wings: 4 pounds, cut at joints with tips removed for perfect portions
- Baking Powder: 2 tablespoons (aluminum-free), key for achieving crispy skin
- Seasonings: 3/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp each of paprika and garlic powder
Buffalo Sauce
- Hot Sauce: 1/3 cup Frank’s Wings Hot Sauce, authentic buffalo flavor
- Brown Sugar: 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar for sweet-heat balance
- Water: 1 tablespoon to help blend ingredients
Instructions
- Preparation: Pat wings thoroughly dry with paper towels – this ensures maximum crispiness!
- Seasoning: Mix dry ingredients in a bowl and coat wings evenly
- Air Fryer Setup: Preheat to 400°F and spray basket with cooking spray
- Cooking Method: Arrange wings skin-side up, spray tops, and air fry for 15-20 minutes, turning every 5 minutes
- Sauce Making: Combine sauce ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves
- Final Touch: Let wings rest 5 minutes before tossing in warm buffalo sauce
Cooking Techniques
The magic of these wings comes from two simple tricks! First, drying the wings really well with paper towels helps create that amazing crispy skin we all love. Second, the baking powder in the seasoning mix does something special – it helps the skin get extra crispy while air frying. Just make sure to pick aluminum-free baking powder to avoid any metallic taste.
Variations & Sauces
While the recipe includes a sweet and spicy buffalo sauce, you can switch things up! Try these tasty options:
- Classic Buffalo: Mix equal parts melted butter and hot sauce
- Garlic Parmesan: Toss with melted butter, minced garlic, and grated parmesan
- Lemon Pepper: Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with lemon pepper seasoning
- BBQ Style: Use your favorite BBQ sauce instead of buffalo sauce
Serving Suggestions
These wings make the perfect party food or game day snack! Serve them with:
- Fresh celery and carrot sticks
- Blue cheese or ranch dipping sauce
- Extra napkins – these can get messy!
For a full meal, add a fresh side salad or some crispy french fries.
Storage Tips
These wings taste best fresh from the air fryer when they’re super crispy! If you have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 375°F for 3-4 minutes – they’ll crisp right up again. Don’t microwave them unless you want soggy wings!
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Wings
- 4 pounds chicken wings halved at joints, wing tips discarded
- 2 Tablespoons baking powder aluminum free
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Buffalo Sauce
- 1/3 cup Frank’s Wings Hot Sauce
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon water
Instructions
- Dry wings well with paper towels. This is essential to getting a crispy coating.
- Combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and baking powder in a small bowl, and then sprinkle seasoning over the wings, tossing to evenly coat.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees. Spray the fry basket with cooking spray. Arrange wings in an even layer, skin side up. Spray the top of the wings with cooking spray and air fry, turning the wings every 5 minutes for about 15 minutes or until crispy. Total cook time will depend on the size of the wings and air fryer but may take up to 20 minutes.
- Remove from air fryer allow to rest for 5 minutes before tossing in desired sauce. Buffalo wing sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat stir together all sauce ingredients. Mix well until sugar has dissolved.
