Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Extra Crispy)
- By Amy Dong
- Updated Jan. 8, 2025
These Air Fryer Chicken Wings turn out extra crispy and are so good, you won’t believe they’re made without a deep fryer! Learn our secret method for the crispiest wings that use less oil and less time.
In This Article
- Video: watch us make this Recipe
- Pros of the air fryer
- Why This Recipe Stands Out
- Key Recipe Ingredients
- Substitutions And Variations
- Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- How To Prep Ahead
- What To Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Commonly Asked Questions
- Did you make this?
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Extra Crispy) Recipe
- More to Cook And Eat
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Video: watch us make this Recipe
Pros of the air fryer
If you’re reading this, you either already love your air fryer, or you’re learning how to use this handy kitchen appliance.
New styles and models of air fryers are always emerging, but the general idea is the same. Air fryers are adept at cooking up healthier, crispy dishes while avoiding deep fryers and greasy messes. Hello, Air Fryer French Fries.
Air fryers also eliminate the need to crank up the big oven when you don’t need that extra heat in the house. Case in point: Air Fryer Broccoli that tastes oven-roasted, but is way faster and healthier.
Why This Recipe Stands Out
For all our chicken wing lovers out there, you’ll be thrilled to know you can have super-crispy chicken wings at home with no deep frying involved. Here’s what we love about this recipe:
- Super Crispy: Like our Buffalo Chicken Wings, they turn out so crispy that they can even be thoroughly enjoyed without the buffalo chicken wing sauce!
- No Added Oil: You’ll be surprised that there’s actually no oil needed for cooking up these extra-crispy wings. This means it’s way healthier than deep frying, just like our Air Fryer Salmon.
- Incredibly Easy: Air frying is much easier than oven-roasting, especially for smaller batches or when you don’t want to heat up the oven.
- Family Favorite: These chicken wings are guaranteed to be devoured by the entire family and any friends who are lucky enough to be in your kitchen the day you make this.
Key Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken Wings – We use 2 pounds of fresh chicken wings, drumettes, and wingettes only. Be sure to pat them dry before seasoning.
- Corn Starch and Baking Powder – These are our secret ingredients for extra crispy wings. They help draw out any remaining moisture from the wings, resulting in a super crispy skin.
- Salted Butter – We use salted butter to make our honey buffalo sauce. The saltiness adds a nice contrast to the sweetness of the honey and the heat of the hot sauce.
- Frank’s Red Hot Original Sauce – This is our hot sauce of choice for the buffalo sauce. It has the perfect amount of heat and a delicious tangy flavor.
Substitutions And Variations
Here are some substitutions and variations for this recipe:
- Spices: You can add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or even a sprinkle of cayenne for some heat.
- Different Sauce: Try our Homemade Ranch Seasoning to make your own healthier ranch dressing for these wings.
- Gluten-Free: For gluten-free wings, check that your baking powder and corn starch are certified gluten-free.
Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Pat dry chicken wings with paper towels to remove excess moisture. In a bowl, toss wings with salt, pepper, baking powder, and corn starch.
- Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, taking care not to overcrowd.
- Cook at 375F for 24 minutes, flipping halfway. When done, turn the wings over again and increase the air fryer temperature to 400F for another 5 minutes.
- While the wings are cooking, combine the honey buffalo sauce ingredients in a pan and heat on low. Once done, toss them in the sauce and serve immediately.
For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.
How To Prep Ahead
Take a look at our favorite prep-ahead tips for this recipe:
- Season Ahead: You can toss the chicken wings with salt, pepper, baking powder, and cornstarch a day in advance. Store the seasoned wings in the fridge overnight, and they’ll be all ready for the air fryer the next day.
- Make the Sauce: The honey buffalo sauce can be prepared in advance. Simply melt the butter, honey, and hot sauce together, and store it in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, warm it up and toss it with the cooked wings.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Potatoes
- Since you’ll have unused oven space, it’s perfect for making these Garlic Herb Roasted Potatoes that are healthy, crispy, and delicious!
- You can’t go wrong with a side of our Extra Crispy Air Fryer French Fries. They’re just as easy to make!
Vegetables
- Somehow, the flavors of this Chopped Asian Chicken Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing go extremely well with the chicken wings!
- We also love the extra crunch from this Kale Brussel Sprouts Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing.
Other Sides
- Who doesn’t love some Homemade Mozzarella Sticks? They’re extra crispy, just like these wings!
- Use up your free oven space to make this easy Rustic Rosemary Garlic Bread that goes beautifully with the wings.
Commonly Asked Questions
What type of chicken wings should I use for this recipe?
You can use any type of chicken wings for this recipe. We recommend using fresh, uncooked wings that haven’t been previously seasoned. You can use whole wings and cut them into drumettes and flats yourself, or you can buy pre-cut drumettes and wingettes.
Can I reheat air fryer chicken wings?
Yes, you can reheat air fryer chicken wings. Simply place them back in the air fryer and heat them at 350°F for about 5 minutes, or until they are heated through. Be sure to keep an eye on them to prevent overcooking.
How long do air fryer chicken wings keep?
Air fryer chicken wings are so easy to make that they’re best served fresh, but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Did you make this?
Please give us a rating and comment below. We love hearing from you!
Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Extra Crispy)
Learn the secrets to making Air Fryer Chicken Wings that are extremely crispy. You'll use less oil, less time, and gain the most deliciously crisp buffalo chicken wings ever.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken wings, drumettes and wingettes only
- ⅔ teaspoon kosher salt, not fine table salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 TB baking powder
- 1 TB corn starch
For the Honey Buffalo Sauce
- 4 TB salted butter, sliced
- ¼ cup pure honey
- ¼ cup hot sauce, I recommend Frank's Red Hot Original sauce
Optional:
- ranch dressing, for serving
Instructions
- Pat dry excess moisture from chicken wings with paper towels.
- In a bowl, toss chicken wings with salt, pepper, baking powder, and corn starch to coat all pieces well.
- Place chicken wings in a single layer in air fryer basket/tray, taking care not to overcrowd. It's essential for hot air to freely circulate on all sides of wing pieces (if possible, arrange some drumettes vertically along the cooking tray, for more space.)
- Set air fryer to 375F and cook wings for 24 minutes, turning them over with tongs halfway through. When done, turn wings over again and increase air fryer temperature to 400F for another 5 minutes, or just until the wings are crispy and golden. Repeat another batch as necessary, based on size of your air fryer.
- While wings are cooking, combine honey buffalo sauce ingredients in a pan. Stir on low heat just until butter is melted. Cover to keep warm.
- When wings are done, toss with honey buffalo sauce and serve immediately. Serve with ranch dressing on the side, if desired.
Equipment
Notes
- This Instant Vortex Air Fryer is super popular with home cooks.
- For gluten-free dish, check that your baking powder and corn starch are certified gluten-free.
- Always use paper towels to dry off any excess moisture on the uncooked wings – this is key to ensuring crispness.
- Toss wings with not only salt and pepper, but also a bit of baking powder and corn starch. We’ve tested chicken wings with and without this trick, and the results are definitely crispier with them.
- If you want to cook a slightly larger batch without crowding the tray, arrange your wings vertically, against the sides, if possible. This also allows great airflow, which means extra-crispy wings.
- Wings are also delicious without the honey buffalo sauce, for a lower fat/sodium dish. Be sure to use coarse kosher salt, not fine table salt.
- This recipe is part of our Party Appetizer Recipes Collection.
- These chicken wings go great with a side of our Extra Crispy Air Fryer French Fries.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 272kcal | Carbohydrates: 23.1g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 11.7g | Saturated Fat: 6.2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 71.3mg | Sodium: 700mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 18.2g
More to Cook And Eat
- Grilled Lemon Chicken – This Grilled Lemon Chicken is made with minimal ingredients and a zesty marinade for a refreshing flavor.
- Asian Chicken Skewers – Asian chicken skewers are teeming with the mouthwatering flavors of a sweet and sour Asian marinade that’s perfect for a cookout and guaranteed to leave no leftovers!
- Tandoori Chicken In Oven – No need for clay ovens with this Tandoori Chicken in Oven recipe inspired by the original Asian Indian dish.
- Honey Soy Chicken – With only a handful of ingredients and minimal effort, this Honey Soy Chicken will quickly become a family favorite. It’s super tender, flavorful, and healthy.