These air fryer chicken wings are crispy and golden on the outside, juicy inside, and incredibly easy to make. No deep-frying needed!

🛒 Ingredients

• 2 lbs (900 g) chicken wings, split into flats and drumettes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp baking powder (not baking soda)
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp smoked paprika, optional

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Dry the wings: Pat the chicken wings very thoroughly with paper towels. Removing excess moisture helps the skin become crispy.
2. Season: Place wings in a large bowl. Add olive oil, baking powder, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Toss until evenly coated.
3. Preheat: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 minutes.
4. Arrange: Place wings in the basket in a single layer. Don’t pack them tightly.
5. Air fry: Cook for 20–25 minutes, turning or shaking the basket every 7–8 minutes.
6. Check: Continue cooking until the wings are deeply golden and crispy and the thickest pieces reach 165°F (74°C).
7. Extra crispy: If desired, cook for another 2–3 minutes at 400°F.
8. Rest: Let the wings rest for 2–3 minutes before tossing with sauce.

🔥 The Secret to Crispy Wings

Dry them really well. Wet chicken skin tends to steam instead of crisp.

Use baking powder. A small amount helps create a drier, crispier surface. Make sure you use baking powder, not baking soda.

Don’t overcrowd. Air needs to circulate around the wings.

Shake frequently. This helps the wings brown evenly.

Sauce after cooking. Tossing crispy wings in sauce after cooking keeps them from becoming soggy.

🌶️ Easy Wing Sauces

🦬 Buffalo Wings

Toss hot wings with:

• ¼ cup buffalo sauce
• 1 tbsp melted butter

🍯 Honey Garlic

Combine:

• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 minced garlic clove

Toss with cooked wings.

🍋 Lemon Pepper

After cooking, toss with:

• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tsp lemon-pepper seasoning
• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

🧄 Garlic Parmesan

Toss with:

• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• Fresh parsley

🔥 Spicy BBQ

Mix your favorite BBQ sauce with a pinch of cayenne and toss with the finished wings.

❄️ Frozen Chicken Wings

Frozen wings can go straight into the air fryer.

1. Air fry at 380°F (193°C) for 10 minutes.
2. Shake the basket and separate the wings if they’re stuck together.
3. Increase to 400°F (200°C).
4. Continue cooking for 18–25 minutes, shaking several times.
5. Check the thickest pieces with a thermometer.

Cooking time will depend on the size of the wings and your air fryer.

♨️ Reheating Wings

To bring back the crispiness:

Air fryer: 375°F (190°C) for 5–8 minutes.

Avoid reheating sauced wings at very high heat because the sauce can burn.

🍽️ Best Dips

Serve with:

• Ranch dressing
• Blue cheese dressing
• Honey mustard
• BBQ sauce
• Buffalo sauce
• Garlic aioli

Add celery and carrot sticks on the side for a classic wing platter.

⏱️ Recipe at a Glance

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20–25 minutes
Total: About 35 minutes
Temperature: 400°F (200°C)
Servings: 4
Difficulty: Easy

⭐ Best tip: For the crispiest wings possible, pat them completely dry, use a light coating of baking powder, avoid overcrowding, and sauce them only after they’re crispy.