Air Fryer Buffalo Wings Crispy

Name: Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: Cooking spray; 1 ½ pounds chicken wings (split into flats and drumettes); 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ¾ teaspoon salt (divided); ¼ cup hot sauce; 3 tablespoons melted butter; Celery sticks (for serving); Ranch dressing (for serving)

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Air fryer buffalo wings on a platter with a side of ranch and celery sticks.

My Air Fryer Buffalo Wings are So Good!

I make some of the best chicken wings in the air fryer because of the technique I use to get that crispiness on the outside without drying out the chicken. But that’s not just my opinion! Eater tested three popular air fryer chicken wings recipes and mine was the winner! They said that “Overall, these air-fried wings had a great combination of crispiness and juiciness and felt about as light as a chicken wing can feel.”

When it comes to crispy chicken wings, and you’re debating on whether to use the oven or the air fryer, I’ll chime in and say the air fryer wins every time. The way the hot air circulates around the wings in such a small space gives them the crispiest texture on the outside in half the time of the oven. Some people even prefer air-fried wings to deep-fried ones, and I’m definitely one of them—especially since you only need a little oil.

For this version, I took my internet-famous Air Fryer Chicken Wings and tossed them in a classic buffalo sauce made with just Frank’s Red Hot and melted butter. It’s extra saucy, spicy, and seriously good—basically, everything you want in a buffalo wing.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients for recipe: butter, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and chicken wings.

Cooking Spray: Helps prevent the wings from sticking to the air fryer basket. You can also brush the basket with a little oil if preferred.
Chicken Wings: Use pre-split wings (flats and drumettes) for even cooking. If using whole wings, you’ll need to separate them before cooking.
Seasonings: I use smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt to season the wings while cooking. If you want to just use just salt and a little pepper you can too.
Hot Sauce: Frank’s Red Hot is my go-to for classic buffalo wings, but any vinegar-based cayenne pepper sauce will work.
Melted Butter: I know it sounds weird, but it actually helps the sauce stick to the wings better and mellows out the flavor. You can use ghee for a slightly nuttier taste or a plant-based butter for a dairy-free option.

Different Wing Flavors to Try

Buffalo wings are always a hit, but if you want to switch things up, here are some easy variations to try. Just follow the same air frying method and toss the wings in these seasonings or sauces after cooking.

1. Lemon Pepper Wings

Toss the cooked wings in the melted butter mixture while they’re still hot.

3 tablespoons melted butter
1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
½ teaspoon salt.

2. Garlic Parmesan Wings

Toss the hot wings in the butter, then sprinkle with Parmesan and garlic powder. Garnish with parsley if desired.

3 tablespoons melted butter
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon dried parsley (optional)

3. Honey BBQ Wings

Whisk everything together, then toss the cooked wings in the sauce.

¼ cup BBQ sauce
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

4. Teriyaki Wings

Mix everything together, and toss the wings in the sauce and garnish with sesame seeds if you want extra crunch.

¼ cup teriyaki sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon ginger powder

5. Spicy Cajun Wings

Toss the wings in the melted butter and seasoning blend.

3 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)

6. Sweet Chili Wings

Mix everything together, and toss the wings in the sauce.

¼ cup sweet chili sauce
1 teaspoon soy sauce
½ teaspoon lime juice

How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

Chicken wings in a bowl with spices before tossing. — **Step 1:** Pat the chicken wings dry. Then transfer them to a large bowl and sprinkle with seasoning.

Seasoned chicken wings in a bowl. — **Step 2:** User your hands and coat the wings with the seasoning until well mixed.

Seasoned chicken wings in an air fryer basket before cooking. — **Step 3:** Place the chicken wings in the air fryer, skin side down, so they are not touching and cook.

Air fried chicken wings in basket. — **Step 4:** Flip the wings, increase the temperature and continue cooking until the wings are crisp and golden.

Make Buffalo Sauce and Toss

Melted butter and hot sauce in a large bowl. — **Step 5:** Add the buffalo sauce to the melted butter.

Whisking butter and hot sauce together. — **Step 6:** Whisk the hot sauce with the melted butter and the remaining salt to combine.

Air fried chicken wings added to buffalo sauce. — **Step 7:** Add the hot, cooked chicken wings to the buffalo sauce.

After tossing crispy wings in sauce. — **Step 8:** Carefully toss the wings in the sauce until well coated and serve immediately.

My Best Air Fryer Buffalo Wings Tips

Pat the wings dry. Use paper towels and get the wings as dry as you can before you season and air fry, the less moisture the crispier the outside.
Don’t overcrowd the basket. Arrange the wings in a single layer with space between them so the air circulates properly. Cook in batches if needed.
Flip for even crispiness. Flipping the wings halfway through ensures they get evenly crispy on all sides.
Crank up the heat at the end. Increasing the temperature for the last few minutes (from 380°F to 400°F) gives them that deep golden, crispy finish.
Toss in sauce right before serving. To keep the wings crispy, toss them in buffalo sauce after they come out of the air fryer, not before.
Use melted butter in the sauce. It smooths out the heat from the hot sauce and helps it coat the wings evenly.
For extra crispy wings.: Let the seasoned wings rest in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour before air frying. This helps dry out the skin even more.

Crispy air fried buffalo wings on a platter with celery sticks and ranch.

What to Serve

Homemade dips: Easy Ranch Dip, Feta Dip
Potato sides: Air Fryer French Fries, Baked Potato Chips, Sweet Potato Fries
Veggie sides: celery and carrot sticks,

Recipe Help & FAQs

How do I store and reheat buffalo wings?

Store leftover wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, air fry at 350°F for 4–5 minutes until crispy again. Avoid microwaving, as it makes them soggy.

Can I use frozen wings?

Yes, but thaw them first and pat them dry to remove excess moisture. If cooking from frozen, air fry at 380°F for about 5 extra minutes, flipping halfway.

Why aren’t my wings crispy?

Make sure to pat them completely dry before seasoning, don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket, and increase the heat for the last few minutes of cooking (400°F) to crisp them up.

Crispy air fryer chicken wings tossed iin buffalo sauce being dipped into ranch.

More Air Fryer Appetizer Recipes:

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