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What’s the great thing about air fryer chicken wings? Wings are one of those fried recipes that’s difficult to replicate in the oven. So if you’re looking for a healthier way to eat chicken wings, the air fryer method is your best bet. That’s because the speed and temperature of the air circulating in the air fryer create very crisp skin that you can’t get in an oven.
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I never cooked chicken wings until I saw my son devour them at a restaurant once. Then I figured I should find a way to make them homemade and, albeit, healthier. I love the air fryer method of making chicken wings. They come out perfectly crisp on the outside while juicy and tender on the inside. And there’s no breading necessary, so the recipe is low carb and gluten-free.
I made the chicken wings today! I made them exactly as your recipe stated, except I used smoked paprika instead of regular. The timing of cooking the chicken wings were perfect! Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. Fell off from the bone. I warmed up some sugar free bbq sauce and added Sriracha, and coated the wings with the warmed sauce once the wings were done. They were the best chicken wings my husband and I have ever had!! We both agree the wings were a ton better than BW3, and this is coming from BW3 wing connoisseurs. My husband said he didn’t want dinner to end. Thank you so so much for the recipe!! – Tkegs
Why make wings in the air fryer?
If you haven’t tried wings in the air fryer yet, give these a try. They are seriously the best!
I like to cook chicken wings in an air fryer mainly because of the reduced cook time. They take less than 20 minutes to cook and come out perfectly crispy and juicy. They require much less oil, but they taste just like deep fried. The prep time is minimal and the cooking is hands off.
Ingredients you will need
- Non-stick cooking spray: To spray the air fryer basket
- Chicken wings: Split into flats and drummettes. Use free run or organic if you can.
- Marinade: Olive oil, paprika, garlic powder salt and pepper.
- To serve: Chopped parsley and ranch dressing.
How to air fry chicken wings
Marinate the chicken wings with the seasoning and olive oil; substituting according to your taste. You can even add some hot sauce to the marinade. Let it rest for at least 30 minutes.
Place the wings in the air fryer so that they are not touching. You’ll want to cook them for 10 minutes and then increase the temperature and cook until they are golden brown. I used a pound of chicken wings and they fit just fine in my air fryer.
When they come out of the air fryer, you can enjoy them as is. You can also toss them in hot sauce, or hot sauce and melted butter or a store-bought buffalo sauce. I prefer keeping the chicken wings not spicy since my son enjoys them so much!
First time making chicken wings, always thought they were difficult to make. Was I WRONG! Not with this recipe!! My husband (of 53 years) who has never shown interest in cooking not even boiling an egg, said the next time he’ll make them. Thank you for an easy, fast, tasteful wonderful recipe. –Oliva
Tips for making this recipe
- Pat dry the chicken wings dry before marinating them. This will remove any excess moisture and help them get nice and crispy.
- Line up the chicken wings standing upright along the sides of the air fryer. If necessary, this is a good trick to fit them in the air fryer basket. It won’t affect how they’re cooked and allows you to fit more in at once.
- Be sure to increase the temperature of the chicken wings during the last few minutes of cooking. You can use the same temperature throughout to make it easier, but I found this tip makes them crisper.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. This fried chicken wings recipe is easily doubled, but you may need to cook the wings in two batches so they’re not touching in the basket.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can, but it will take longer and the results may vary. To make the chicken wings in the oven, bake them at 425˚F for 35-45 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
These wings are best enjoyed as soon as they are cooked. If you have any leftovers, keep them in an airtight container in the fridge. You can reheat cooked chicken wings in an air fryer at 360°F for 4 minutes or in the microwave until heated through. Only reheat the chicken wings once and enjoy them in one sitting.
You can freeze the fried chicken wings recipe. Let them cool to room temperature and freeze them on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer safe container. Thaw the wings in the fridge overnight before reheating in the air fryer or oven.
From start to finish, these chicken wings are ready to serve in less than 25 minutes. They are super quick to prep and require 16 to 18 minutes of cooking time when cooked at 380F.
I’m so happy we enjoy chicken wings without the need for deep frying them! These crispy air fryer wings are tender and juicy without taking up too much time to make in an oven.
For more air fryer recipes:
- Pickle Brined Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Potatoes
- Air Fryer Avocado Fries
- Shrimp in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Salmon
More chicken recipes:
- Chicken Broccoli Casserole
- Pan Seared Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Meatballs with Marinara
- Pickle Brined Chicken Tenders
If you’ve tried this healthy Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Video
Ingredients
- Cooking spray for air fryer basket
- 1 pound chicken wings split into flats and drummettes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Chopped parsley for serving
- Ranch dressing for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. When heated, spray the basket with cooking spray.
- Pat the chicken wings dry. Then transfer them to a large bowl. Toss the wings with olive oil, paprika and garlic powder; then season with salt and pepper.
- Place the chicken wings in the air fryer so they are not touching. Cook for 10 minutes, then increase the temperature to 400°F, and cook until crisp and golden, about 6-8 more minutes.
- Garnish the chicken wings with parsley, and serve with ranch dressing on the side, if desired
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
I tried this recipe today with a kilo of wings. I have a fairly large Ninja multi-purpose air fryer, but even so I cooked the wings in two batches. I followed the marinade mix suggested and it worked well. I thought of adding hot sauce of some description to the marinade, but decided instead to serve them with separate bowls of sriracha hot sauce and aioli which gave everyone the choice of hot & spicy or garlicky (or both!). Ranch sauce, as suggested, is something you don’t see much here in the UK except in American-styled diners, although I am familiar with it due to many visits to the US; but, without much of a kick in the marinade, I thought would be a little too bland, hence the sriracha and the punchy aioli.
Anyway, I pre-heated the fryer for five minutes up to 180°C (sorry, I don’t do Farenheit), cooked them in a single layer for 10 minutes, then a further ten minutes at 200°C to ensure the crispy finish. Slightly longer than the time suggested in the recipe, but it worked for me and delivered a really crispy finish on the skin of the wings. Turned out to be the best wings I’ve ever made myself, and, even though I say so myself, they were up there with the wings I’ve had in the US in good restaurants, many of which are served slathered in sauce so spicy that the fantastic flavour of crispy chicken skin is obliterated. Serving the hot sauce on the side means you can add as little or as much as your palette prefers. That’s my top tip for this recipe.
Yay!! That’s awesome, so glad you loved the recipe! I love how you’ve made it your own as well, thank you so much for sharing this detailed note about your process!!
This is definitely my go-to recipe for wings!!!
Thank you! So glad you like it!!
Do I have to use the same seasonings you use or can I use my Rotisserie seasoning???? Plan to make tonight, please let me know. Thank you
You can use whatever seasoning you’d like!
Pictures are great. Instructions great. All is missing is the recipe!
Hi Noel, the recipe card is at the bottom of the post (right above the comments section). You can also click the ‘jump to recipe’ button at the top of the page. Enjoy!!
Excellent tasting wings. Thank you, Yumna
So glad you liked them, Nick!
First time making wings in an air fryer – perfect! Thanks
Yay! Soo happy it worked out for you, Anita!
Yay! So happy it worked out for you, Anita!
These were fantastic and so easy to make. I’ve never made wings before. My boyfriend loved them! served with ranch and cucumber spears.
Yay, so happy you and your boyfriend loved them!! Ranch and cucumber spears sound perfect!
Soooo yummy 😋!!! We loved them❤️
Yay, I’m so glad!!
Simple, quick and deeelicious! Thank you.
So happy you liked them, Scott!!
Wonderful recipe! The only change I made was adding some onion powder to the marinade.
Yum, great addition!