Can chicken wings really be crispy on the outside and tender on the inside with NO OIL? YES! These Air Fryer Chicken Wings are cooked perfectly crisp then smothered in our favorite wing sauce!
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Chicken Wings are the perfect appetizer – especially on game days! They are easy to snack on, easy to make, and everyone loves them. My favorite way to serve them is with ranch dipping sauce and carrot and celery sticks on the side.
I recently purchased an Air Fryer at the recommendation of a good friend. How did I ever live without it? I have mostly used it as a way to give new life to leftovers. For foods that are meant to be crisp, it works like a charm! Much better than using the microwave. I decided to try it out with this chicken wings recipe. I still can’t believe how crispy the wings are without frying them in oil. My Air Fryer could be my new favorite appliance in the kitchen!
Tips for using an Air Fryer
Don’t be intimidated by an Air Fryer! Once you get the basics down, it is so simple to use. Here are a few suggestions for this chicken wings recipe and using an Air Fryer in general:
- When you purchase an Air Fryer, make sure you read through the instruction manual before using. Many Air Fryers are multi-functional and come with recipes and cooking ideas that are helpful in the kitchen. You will also get cooking tips that are specific to your Air Fryer. This is the Air Fryer I purchased on Amazon and I’ve loved it. It is a GoWISE 7-Quart Electric Air Fryer, and comes with 3 stackable baskets and a recipe book. (As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases).
- Always preheat your Air Fryer before use. It only takes a minute. Set it to 400 degrees for 1 minute, cook with it empty, and it will be hot and ready to use.
- Use a little non-stick cooking spray or air fryer parchment sheets (with holes) to prevent food from sticking to trays.
- Keep food from touching, this will help the air circulate all around each piece of food for even cooking and crispiness.
- Shake or turn food half way through the cooking process for more even cooking.
- Use toothpicks to secure lighter foods. I’ve had bread fly off the top of a sandwich from the air circulating.
- Don’t be afraid to check your food for doneness, opening the drawer won’t ruin the cooking process.
- Get an oil sprayer for making dry breaded foods like our Homemade Mozzarella Sticks. A little spritz of oil can make breading more crispy (not needed for this wing recipe).
Can you Air Fry Frozen Chicken Wings?
Yes! Using frozen chicken wings in the Air Fryer is a breeze. Generally frozen wings take an additional 5-10 minutes to cook depending on the Air Fryer. In addition, follow these steps to ensure the frozen wings cook thoroughly.
- While frozen wings are still in the bag, use your hands to break apart any wings that may be stuck together.
- Make sure the frozen wings are in a single layer and do not touch each other when placed in the basket.
- Half way through the cooking time, remove the Air Fryer rack or basket containing the wings. Carefully drain the excess liquid from the bottom tray or basket and place it back in the Air Fryer. Replace the rack or basket with the wings, and turn the wings over for the remaining cooking time. Frozen wings will release liquid into the Air Fryer and the wings will cook but not get crispy. Not all Air Fryers require this step, but better to be safe than sorry.
- Increase cooking time by 5 -10 minutes. Check doneness and crispiness after 5 minutes. If not quite there, cook for 5 more minutes.
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
For the Sauce:
- 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup Frank's Original Red Hot Sauce
- 1 tablespoon water
For the Ranch Dip
- 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup Best Foods mayonnaise
Instructions
- Mix together ranch ingredients in a small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Cut tips off wings then cut in half at the joint.
- Place wings in a plastic bag and sprinkle in the baking powder. Seal bag and shake to coat the wings.
- Lightly coat air fryer rack with some non stick cooking spray. Preheat air fryer to 375 for 1 minute. Add the chicken wings to the air fryer. Spread them out evenly so they do not touch. Cook in the air fryer at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Turn wings over half way through the cooking process.
- While the wings are cooking, combine the sauce ingredients in a sauce pan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and set aside.
- When the wings are done cooking, add 1/4 cup of the sauce to a small bowl and use a basting brush to coat each wing in sauce. Cook in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 2 more minutes.
- Place the wings in a bowl and pour in the remaining sauce. Gently stir to coat. Serve with ranch dressing and veggies.
Equipment
- Air Fryer
