These Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings are the ultimate crowd pleaser! This easy recipe starts with an easy homemade rub that leaves the chicken wings crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle. Perfect for a quick dinner, game days, or party appetizer.
Like air fryer chicken recipes? Be sure to try my air fryer crispy chicken drumsticks, air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs, or air fryer thin chicken breast next!
Recipe Video:
Why You Will Love This Recipe:
- When it comes to chicken wings, the air fryer is truly one of the best ways to cook them! The skin comes out super crispy without needing all the grease used in traditional frying and no breading is required.
- Fast and easy - Cooking wings in the air fryer is a total time saver. You can have restaurant quality chicken wings at home that are ready in just 20 minutes or less. The oven can take up to an hour to bake crispy chicken wings.
- Make these for a quick dinner with a side of air fryer crispy crinkle cut fries or pair them with these air fryer cheeseburger egg rolls and air fryer chicken taquitos to make a game day or party appetizer spread!
Q&A:
Yes, please see my from frozen instructions below.
Yes, please see my oven instructions below.
Yes, these chicken wings can be seasoned using the recipe below, then stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 24 hours in advance.
Try These Other Easy Air Fryer Chicken Recipes Next!
Equipment Needed:
Ingredients (Full recipe located in recipe card below):
- Chicken wings - Also known as wingettes, flats & drumettes, or party wings. I usually use the party wings from Costco. If you have whole chicken wings, then you will need to cut them in half.
- Olive oil - Or you can use a different cooking oil if you prefer. Canola oil, vegetable oil, or avocado oil work great as well.
- Seasonings - Salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, brown sugar.
Air Fryer Instructions:
1. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.
2. Return the basket to the air fryer and preheat to 390 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. To a small bowl, add the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and brown sugar. Stir until well blended.
4. Add the chicken to a large bowl and pat completely dry with a paper towel. This is to remove excess moisture so the wings come out super crispy.
5. Top the chicken wings with the oil seasoning mixture and toss until well coated.
6. Add the chicken wings to the air fryer in a single layer and cook for 18 minutes until crispy and the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip the wings halfway through. Cook 2 to 3 minutes longer for extra crispy wings.
7. Once done, remove the wings from the air fryer, let cool, then enjoy.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings From Frozen Instructions:
1. Add frozen chicken wings to a large zipper plastic bag and top with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic power, smoked paprika and brown sugar. Toss until well coated.
2. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Add the chicken wings and cook for 22 minutes until the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip the wings halfway through the cooking process.
4. Once done, remove the wings from the air fryer, let cool, then enjoy!
Oven Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with cooking oil. Set aside.
3. To a small bowl, add the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and brown sugar. Stir until well blended.
4. Add the chicken to a large bowl and pat completely dry with a paper towel.
5. Top the chicken wings with the oil seasoning mixture and toss until well coated.
6. Add the chicken wings to the baking sheet in a single layer and spaced at least ¼ inch apart.
7. Bake for 30 minutes, flip, then cook for an additional 20 minutes until crispy and the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Additional time may be needed for larger wings.
How To Reheat Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer:
1. Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Add the chicken wings to the air fryer in a single layer and cook for 4 to 6 minutes until crispy and warm throughout.
3. Once done, immediately remove the chicken wings from the air fryer so they don’t dry out.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Chicken Wings:
At my house, we absolutely love dipping our wings into ranch or hot sauce. You can also make your own spicy garlic aioli or sriracha aioli sauce. Celery, carrots, blue cheese, and BBQ sauce are all excellent side dish and dipping sauce choices as well. Here are some other amazing side dishes to serve with chicken wings:
Try These Easy Air Fryer Chicken Recipes Next!
- Easy Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks + Video
- Easy Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs + Video
- Easy Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks + Video
- Easy Air Fryer Brown Sugar Chicken Thighs + Video
- Easy Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins + Video
- Easy Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Tenderloins + Video
- Easy Air Fryer Fried Chicken without Buttermilk + Video
- Easy Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders (no breading) + Video
Recipe Variations And Substitutions:
- Add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the spice rub mixture to add some heat.
Storage And Reheating Instructions:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Pro Tips:
- The USDA recommends that all chicken be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit as measured by an internal food thermometer.
- For the best results, cook chicken wings in a single layer and don’t overcrowd the air fryer.
- This recipe can be reduced in half if you want to cook one pound of chicken wings instead of 2 pounds.
- For extra crispy wings, cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
Easy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings (flats and drumettes)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
Instructions
Air Fryer Instructions:
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.
- Return the basket to the air fryer and preheat to 390 degrees Fahrenheit.
- To a small bowl, add the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and brown sugar. Stir until well blended.
- Add the chicken to a large bowl and pat completely dry with a paper towel. This is to remove excess moisture so the wings come out super crispy.
- Top the chicken wings with the oil seasoning mixture and toss until well coated.
- Add the chicken wings to the air fryer in a single layer and cook for 18 minutes until crispy and the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip the wings halfway through. Cook 2 to 3 minutes longer for extra crispy wings.
- Once done, remove the wings from the air fryer, let cool, then enjoy.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings From Frozen Instructions:
- Add frozen chicken wings to a large zipper top plastic bag and top with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic power, smoked paprika and brown sugar. Toss until well coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add the chicken wings and cook for 22 minutes until the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip the wings halfway through the cooking process.
- Once done, remove the wings from the air fryer, let cool, then enjoy!
Oven Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with cooking oil. Set aside.
- To a small bowl, add the olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and brown sugar. Stir until well blended.
- Add the chicken to a large bowl and pat completely dry with a paper towel.
- Top the chicken wings with the oil seasoning mixture and toss until well coated.
- Add the chicken wings to the baking sheet in a single layer and spaced at least ¼ inch apart.
- Bake for 30 minutes, flip, then cook for an additional 20 minutes until crispy and the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Additional time may be needed for larger wings.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- The USDA recommends that all chicken be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit as measured by an internal food thermometer.
- For the best results, cook chicken wings in a single layer and don’t overcrowd the air fryer.
- This recipe can be reduced in half if you want to cook one pound of chicken wings instead of 2 pounds.
- For extra crispy wings, cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate. For accurate nutritional information you should refer to the nutritional labels on the packages of the specific ingredients that you used.
Ivan says
Love that I had all the ingredients on hand! Mine were crispy and delicious. I will be making again for sure!