Name: Crispy Air Fryer Wings
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 12
Ingredients: 1 pound of chicken wings, thawed and patted dry; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon pepper; ¼ teaspoon cayenne (optional)

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Crispy air fryer wings are so easy to make, you’ll never go out for wings again! Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. True wing perfection!

Air fryer chicken wings on plate horizontal

My husband turned me into a wing girl. It became a regular routine for us on date night. Crispy wings and a cold beer. Yum!

Horizontal-Air-fryer-chicken-wings-on-plate

But we didn’t want to always have to go out to get the best chicken wings. So I started experimenting at home. I’ve done everything from deep fried to baked to grilled.

And now air fried wings. Bingo!

There’s no question that deep fried wings are amazing. But once I started my clean eating diet, I needed a healthier way to get that same crispy, crunchy outside but keep that tender, juicy meat the wing is famous for.

My air fryer saved the day. These crispy air fryer wings are just as good as the deep fried ones. Yes, I’ll say that again… these are just as good as deep fried. But WAY better for you! (These Convection Oven Baked Wings are JUST AS GOOD and have a secret ingredient, so check them out too!)

This really is the best air fryer chicken wings recipe. Hands down! Keep reading for the keys to success.

DO AIR FRYERS MAKE THINGS CRISPY?

The beautiful thing about air fryers is that it makes chicken crispy without using oil! Air fryers circulate very hot air all around the chicken to crisp it up.

That said, you would need to add a little oil to the basket to keep the trays and baskets non-stick. This will make them easier to clean. While air fryers can give you magical and easy air fryer chicken wings results without compromising on the taste, you will need to preheat your air fryer if its cooking specifications require you to do so.

This will create an optimum cooking temperature for the perfect texture. (My air fryer doesn’t require pre heating, which is one of the reasons I love it. But do check the instructions for yours to get the best results. Here’s a good air fryer if you’re looking for one.)

Second, do not stuff your air fryer’s basket full of wings. Making a huge batch at once may save energy and time, but you could wreck your crispy air fryer wings. Give your food room to breathe for even cooking.

Third, pat your chicken wings dry before cooking them. Use a paper towel to dry them so that they will turn crisp immediately they face the heat. Wet skin will produce steam, delaying the flaky texture.

HOW LONG DO WINGS TAKE IN THE AIR FRYER?

You only need to cook your chicken for 15 minutes when the air fryer temperatures are at 400 degrees. Leave them in for an extra three to five minutes if you are going for an extra crispy bite.

You can crank up the air fryer’s temperatures to 420 or 450 degrees just to push them over that crispy edge.

CAN YOU PUT RAW CHICKEN IN AN AIR FRYER?

Yes, you can. These chicken wings go from raw to cooked and crispy in about 25 minutes. I like to let the wings sit out of the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before I make them. But it’s perfectly fine to throw them in straight from the fridge.

Ingredients for Crispy Air Fryer Wings

Chicken Wings – Thawed and patted very dry (see full recipe below)
Baking Powder – This is the secret to the ultimate crispiness
Salt and Pepper – Flavored to taste but don’t be shy with them
Pinch of Cayenne – I love the bit of heat this adds, but feel free to omit if desired

HOW DO I MAKE CRISPY WINGS FROM SCRATCH?

While cooking at the right temperature, and patting your chicken wings dry, will help them cook to a crisp, the secret to cracklin’ fried chicken wings in an air fryer is baking powder. This rather unusual ingredient is a combination of cream of tartar, sodium bicarbonate, and cornstarch.
Mix a tablespoon with your pepper, cayenne, and salt, and toss your wings in the mixture. Your air fryer chicken wings baking powder meal will have crunchy uniformly browned skin that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
The baking powder speeds up the browning process, producing crispier and browner chicken wings, faster. Baking soda might have an unpleasant and intense flavor, so use baking powder for your crispy air fryer wings.

Finished wings vertical on plate with dip edit

HOW TO MAKE CRISPY AIR FRYER WINGS

Mix your baking powder, pepper, salt, and cayenne in a small bowl.
Toss the mixture together with your wings, until they are well coated. A gallon zip-top bag does the tossing more efficiently.
Rub your air fryer basket with oil, then place your wings on it in a single layer. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the level of crispiness desired. Turn your wings halfway through the cooking time for even browning.

Watch Me Make Them on my YouTube Cooking Show here!

air fryer cripsy chicken wings youtube video thumbnail

Tools Used in This Recipe

Time To Eat Your Air Fried Chicken Wings!

Air fried chicken wings are all the rage and for good reason. They are quick, easy, and full of flavor and this easy air fryer chicken wings recipe is exceptional. You can also try out other easy quick recipes such as this delectable Air Fryer Tilapia recipe.