Air Fryer Chicken Wings

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/29/21
Air Fryer Wings

 The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 32 mins
Total: 37 mins
Servings: 8 servings

Air fryer wings are incredibly crispy, tender, and succulent without any extra oil. That means no frying, no mess, and less guilt. These wings are cooked twice in the air fryer for optimum crispiness; the first round is to cook the inside of the wings and to render off most of the fat from the skin. It makes the meat super juicy and allows the wings to hold all of their moisture. The second round is at a higher temperature and is what adds crispiness to the skin. Even with two rounds in the air fryer, these wings still only take about 35 minutes to cook.

The recipe calls for tossing in a traditional Buffalo sauce, but these wings are very tasty on their own; the cayenne gives them a nice kick while the other spices provide great flavor. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce like blue cheese or ranch dressing.

Ingredients

For Wings:

  • 2 pounds chicken wings, drumette and wingette separated

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

For Buffalo Sauce:

  • 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 3/4 cup hot sauce

Garnish:

  • Chopped fresh chives, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for chicken wings
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  2. Pat wings dry with paper towels. 

    Dry the chicken wings
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  3. Spread out in a single layer and sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper.

    Season the chicken wings
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

  4. Place wings in air fryer and set to 380 F. Cook for 25 minutes, pausing air fryer every 5 minutes to toss wings. 

    Air fry the chicken wings
     The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

  5. Turn up heat on the air fryer to 400 F and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes, until wings are crispy and browned. Another option would be to cook in batches to ensure crispness.

    Air fried chicken wings
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

  6. To make sauce, melt butter in the microwave for about 1 minute or until melted. Whisk in garlic powder and hot sauce until completely combined. Place back in the microwave for about 1 minute to heat thoroughly. Make sure sauce is at least warm before you tossing with wings. 

    Make the wing sauce
    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 

  7. Place wings in a large bowl. Drizzle sauce over top and toss to coat. Serve wings immediately, topped with chopped chives, if using, and alongside dipping sauces. 

Tips

  • Make sure to fry the wings at the two different temperatures. This makes them nice and crispy.
  • Don't toss the wings with the sauce until right before you are ready to serve. 
  • These wings are keto and gluten free. 

Can these wings be made ahead?

  • The sauce can be made up to a week ahead of time; store in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave.
  • You can do part of the prep and cooking of the wings ahead of time. Complete the first air fry at 380 F and then place the wings in a single layer on a baking sheet. (The wings shouldn't sit out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.) Finish with the second air fry shortly before serving and toss with the sauce if desired.
  • Although these wings are best eaten immediately, you can make them ahead and keep the wings warm in the oven (especially if sauced); they’re also delicious reheated in the air fryer as long as they are unsauced.

Recipe Variation

Instead of Buffalo sauce, you can toss these wings with a honey barbecue or a Thai sweet chili.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
431 Calories
33g Fat
13g Carbs
20g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 431
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 33g 43%
Saturated Fat 13g 67%
Cholesterol 108mg 36%
Sodium 655mg 28%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 20g
Vitamin C 10mg 50%
Calcium 28mg 2%
Iron 2mg 8%
Potassium 341mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)