Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Nothing is more satisfying than cooking up a batch of wings without deep frying. The air fryer’s fan and heating mechanism create a frenzy of forceful hot air that swirls down and around the wings, crisping up the skin to golden perfection (and without the added calories of frying oil). Self-contained air fryers are not the only option for cooking at home: look for multi-cookers and ovens that have an air fryer setting. You can buy chicken wings that are already split or do the work yourself with whole wings – don’t forget to save the tips for making chicken stock.

Print Recipe

Cook Time 20

Total Time 40

Course lunch/dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 2 people

Calories 1420.7 kcal

Equipment

1 Air Fryer Capacity suitable for batch size.
1 Tongs Heat-resistant for flipping wings.
1 Large Mixing Bowl For tossing wings with sauce.
1 Microwave-Safe Bowl For melting butter.
1 Whisk For combining butter and hot sauce.

Ingredients

Main

2 pounds chicken wings split at the joint and tips removed
Kosher salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup hot sauce such as Frank's RedHot
Ranch or blue cheese dressing for serving

Instructions

Pat the chicken wings dry and sprinkle generously with salt. Place the wings in the basket of a 3.5-quart air fryer so they are not touching (if necessary to fit, line up the drumettes standing upright along the sides). Set the air fryer to 360 degrees F and cook for 12 minutes, then flip the wings with tongs and cook for 12 minutes more. Flip the wings again, increase the heat to 390 degrees F and cook until the outsides are extra-crispy, about 6 minutes more.
Meanwhile, warm the butter in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave until melted, about 1 minute. Whisk in the hot sauce.
Toss the wings with the butter mixture to coat in a large bowl and serve with dressing on the side.

Notes

Ensuring the chicken wings are thoroughly dry before salting and placing in the air fryer is crucial for achieving maximum crispiness. Pat them with paper towels multiple times. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary, leaving space between the wings for hot air circulation. The staged temperature cooking (lower then higher) ensures the wings cook through before the skin gets extra crispy. For added flavor, consider adding garlic powder, onion powder, or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the salt seasoning.