Air Fryer Chicken Wings

If you have an air fryer and you love chicken wings, this recipe is for you. These air fryer chicken wings come out super crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside – no deep frying needed.

The secret to getting that perfect crunch is baking powder. It sounds a little weird, but trust me, it works really well and makes the skin extra crispy.

Once the wings are done, you toss them in a simple buffalo sauce and melted butter mix. It’s the classic combo that just never gets old.

The whole thing takes about 25-30 minutes and the ingredient list is short. You probably already have most of what you need in your kitchen right now.

Serve them up with some ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side and you’re good to go. These are perfect for game day, a quick dinner, or honestly just a random Tuesday night.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Crispy Without Deep Frying – These chicken wings get seriously crispy on the outside thanks to the air fryer and a little baking powder trick, so you get that deep-fried crunch without all the oil and mess.

Super Simple Seasoning – You only need a handful of basic spices like garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Chances are you already have all of these sitting in your kitchen right now.

The Baking Powder Secret – Adding baking powder to the wings is what gives them that extra crispy skin in the air fryer. It draws out moisture so the outside gets golden and crunchy every single time.

Way Faster Than the Oven – Air fryer wings cook so much quicker than oven-baked wings. You can go from raw wings to a plate of crispy buffalo goodness in a fraction of the time.

Ingredients

• 2 lb Chicken Wings, separated into drums and flats
• 1 tbsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Paprika
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
• 1/2 cup Buffalo Sauce
• 3 tbsp Melted Butter
• Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing for serving

How to Make

Step 1

Pat chicken wings completely dry with paper towels. In a large bowl, toss wings with baking powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.

Step 2

Arrange wings in a single layer in air fryer basket, making sure they don’t overlap. Cook in batches if needed.

Step 3

Air fry at 380°F for 24-28 minutes, flipping wings every 8-10 minutes, until skin is golden brown and crispy.

Step 4

While wings cook, mix buffalo sauce with melted butter in a large bowl.

Step 5

Toss cooked wings in buffalo butter sauce until fully coated. Serve hot with ranch or blue cheese dressing.

Tips

Dry the Wings Really Well

This is the single most important step for crispy wings in the air fryer. Grab a few paper towels and press down firmly on every side of each wing to soak up as much moisture as you can.

If the wings are still wet when they go in, the skin will steam instead of crisping up. You’ll end up with rubbery, soft skin instead of that crunchy bite you’re going for.

If you have extra time, you can even let the wings sit uncovered on a wire rack in the fridge for an hour or two before cooking. That dries out the surface even more and makes a noticeable difference.

Use Baking Powder, Not Baking Soda

The recipe calls for baking powder and that’s very specific. Baking powder raises the pH of the skin, which helps it brown and crisp up faster in the air fryer. It’s basically the secret to getting oven-style crunch without deep frying.

Baking soda is not the same thing and will leave a weird, bitter, almost soapy taste on your wings. Double-check the container before you sprinkle it on.

Also, make sure you’re using aluminum-free baking powder if you can. Regular baking powder can sometimes leave a slight metallic aftertaste, especially when you use a full tablespoon like this recipe does.

Don’t Overcrowd the Basket

The air fryer works by blowing hot air all around the food. If your wings are piled on top of each other or touching too much, that hot air can’t reach every surface and you’ll get uneven cooking.

Lay them out in a single layer with a little space between each piece. For 2 pounds of wings, you’ll probably need to cook in two batches depending on the size of your air fryer.

It might take a little longer to cook them in batches, but every wing will come out evenly crispy. Rushing it by stuffing them all in at once will give you some that are golden and crispy and others that are pale and soggy.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
• Air Fryer Crispy Avocado Fries
• Air Fryer Loaded Hasselback Potatoes
• Air Fryer Pizza Dough Knots with Garlic Butter
• Air Fryer Steak Bites with Garlic Butter

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do you cook chicken wings in the air fryer?

These wings cook for about 24-28 minutes total at 400°F. You’ll want to flip them halfway through so both sides get evenly crispy.

Cooking times can vary slightly depending on the size of your wings and the model of your air fryer, so keep an eye on them the first time you make this recipe. They’re done when the skin is golden brown and the internal temperature hits 165°F.