Spiced with a delicious homemade seasoning and ready in just 20 minutes, these crispy air fryer chicken wings are the perfect sweet and smoky treat for game day!
If you're starting with whole wings, you can first follow my process on how to separate wings into wingettes, drumettes, and wing tips (the latter aren't needed for this recipe).
Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. This is important for achieving crispier results AND for the dry rub to adhere without oil.
Transfer the chicken to a large bowl/dish and season with the dry rub, using your hands to rub it into the chicken wings.Add the flour and toss well to evenly coat the wings with the flour.
Transfer the seasoned chicken wings to your air fryer basket, adding just enough for a single layer at the bottom of your basket, with airflow between each piece.It's a good idea to prepare the basket with a light oil spray to avoid sticking.
Air fry the chicken wings for about 15 minutes at 380ºF/195ºC. When ready, the air fryer wings should be tender and juicy in the middle, with a crisp outer skin.
For Buffalo wings
If you plan to make buffalo hot wings (aka delicious spicy chicken wings), you can prepare homemade buffalo sauce while the wings air fry.Once cooked, brush or dunk the wings with the buffalo sauce, and enjoy.For more of a glaze, brush the buffalo sauce over the wings and broil them for 1-2 minutes, then repeat with another layer of hot sauce.
Storage instructions
Store: Once cooked, allow the wings to cool (no longer than 2 hours after baking), then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.Reheat: To reheat the wings in an air fryer, you can just pop them back in at 380ºF/195ºC for 2-3 minutes.Freeze: Allow them to cool, then spread along a parchment-lined baking tray, not touching, to flash freeze until solid (2-3 hours). Once solid, transfer the wings to a Ziplock or freezer-safe container and store them for up to 6 months. To reheat frozen pre-cooked wings, I recommend air frying them at 400ºF/200ºC for between 16-20 minutes or until warmed through.
Video
Notes
Dry Chicken: It might seem strange, but before cooking, the chicken wings should be totally dry. Pat them well with a piece of kitchen towel to get rid of any moisture – this will make sure the wings are super crispy when cooked.
Don't Overcrowd: Airflow in the air fryer will perfectly cook your wings, so don't crowd them during cooking! If you're making them for a crowd, bake the chicken in batches.
Broiling: An optional step, but if you want super crispy air fryer chicken wings, spread them out on a baking tray and broil in the oven for 2-3 minutes before serving. It won't cook the chicken much and it'll give the wings a wonderful outside texture.
Work With Your Air Fryer: Every air fryer works a little differently, so you may need to adjust your temperature based on the model you have. The temperature and cooking time will also change based on the type of wings you have – so keep an eye on it during cooking!
Check the blog post for how to cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer as well as serving suggestions.