Air frying chicken wings allows you to achieve deliciously crispy wings with significantly less oil than traditional frying. But getting the right cook time can be tricky. Here are some quick answers to common questions about air frying chicken wings:
How long does it take to cook chicken wings in an air fryer?
Total cook time will vary depending on the size of the wings and your desired level of crispiness. For most bone-in chicken wings, the air fryer will take 15-30 minutes at 400°F. Smaller wings or wing sections may only need 8-12 minutes. Larger, meatier wings may require closer to 35-40 minutes. The key is to check for doneness and adjust cook time as needed.
Should chicken wings be cooked frozen or thawed in an air fryer?
For food safety and more even cooking, it’s best to thaw frozen chicken wings before air frying. Thawing in the refrigerator overnight is ideal. Trying to cook wings straight from frozen can result in raw chicken on the inside by the time the outside gets crispy.
What temperature should I cook chicken wings in an air fryer?
400°F is the ideal air fryer temperature for chicken wings. This high heat helps render fat and achieve a crispy skin. Some recipes may use 375°F, but cooking at a higher temp gives the best texture.
Should I flip chicken wings during air frying?
Flipping the wings halfway during cooking helps ensure even browning and crispiness. Gently toss or flip each wing using tongs around the halfway point of cook time. Flipping isn’t strictly necessary but does improve results.
How can I get crispy chicken wings from my air fryer?
To maximize crispiness when air frying wings:
- Pat wings dry before cooking
- Coat with a light layer of oil or cooking spray
- Use baking powder in the seasoning
- Allow wings to air dry after coating with oil/seasoning
- Cook at 400°F, flipping halfway
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket
Should I toss the wings in sauce after air frying?
Tossing cooked wings in sauce after air frying is recommended. This prevents the sauce from burning and allows the wings to get ultra crispy. Toss hot wings right after cooking while they are still warm. The sauce will cling and coat better at this stage.
Guidelines for Air Frying Chicken Wings
Now that we’ve covered some quick tips, here is a more in-depth guide to achieving perfectly cooked air fried chicken wings.
1. Choose Your Wings
You can buy chicken wings in a few different forms:
- Whole wings – the whole wing including the meaty drumette, the flat/flap, and the wing tip
- Drumettes – just the meatier upper wing section
- Flats/flaps – just the middle wing section; often considered more desirable
- Wing sections – wings cut into drumette and flat pieces
Any wing style will work well in the air fryer. Whole wings take slightly longer but provide a nice mix of drumette and flat. For easy snacking, pre-sectioned wings are convenient.
2. Season the Wings
Chicken wings get their signature flavor from the seasoning and sauce. A simple, tried and true seasoning is a mix of salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, and cayenne. Be sure to season thoroughly and evenly.
You can also use a baking powder dry rub to help achieve ultra crispy skin. Simply combine 2 teaspoons baking powder with 2 tablespoons seasoning blend per pound of wings. The baking powder helps dehydrate the skin, resulting in crispier wings.
3. Coat Wings in Oil
Lightly coating the seasoned wings in oil ensures they get crispy and brown evenly. You just need about 1 teaspoon of neutral oil per pound of wings. Toss the wings to evenly distribute the oil. Let them sit for 5-10 minutes before air frying so the oil coating can set.
4. Arrange Wings in Air Fryer Basket
Place wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, without overcrowding. Some overlap is fine but too many wings piled together prevents proper air circulation. Overcrowding leads to uneven cooking and steaming instead of crisping.
5. Air Fry Wings at 400°F
Air fry wings at 400°F, which is the optimal temp for rendering fat and achieving crispy skin. Cook for 15-30 minutes, gently flipping wings halfway through. Wings are done when skin is crispy and browned, and meat is cooked through (165°F minimum internal temperature).
6. Toss in Sauce
Once wings are cooked, transfer them to a bowl and immediately toss with your desired sauce while still hot. Buffalo, barbecue, Thai chili, lemon pepper – pick your favorite flavor! The wings will soak up the sauce beautifully.
7. Serve Immediately
Air fried wings are best enjoyed fresh out of the fryer. Serve hot with sides like ranch or blue cheese dressing, celery sticks, and extra sauce for dipping.
Tips for the Best Air Fried Chicken Wings
With the basic method covered, here are some extra tips and tricks for truly foolproof, extra crispy air fried chicken wings every time:
- Pat wings very dry before seasoning – excess moisture prevents crisping.
- Let wings air dry for 5-10 minutes after oiling to help skin further dehydrate.
- Use a thick baking powder seasoning blend for extra crispy skin.
- Cut whole wings into drumettes and flats for faster, more even cooking.
- Spray air fryer basket with oil before adding wings to prevent sticking.
- Arrange wings in a single layer without crowding basket.
- Flip wings over halfway through cook time.
- Brush cooked wings with sauce; don’t toss until serving time.
- Check internal temp with a meat thermometer to confirm doneness.
- Let cooked wings rest 3-5 minutes before saucing and serving.
Common Air Fryer Mistakes
It’s easy to end up with less than ideal results when cooking wings in the air fryer. Be sure to avoid these common mistakes:
- Not patting wings dry before seasoning
- Failing to air dry wings after oiling
- Overcrowding the air fryer basket
- Not flipping wings during cooking
- Cooking at too low of a temperature
- Saucing wings before air frying
- Not checking internal temperature
Following the proper technique of drying, oiling, seasoning, flipping, and saucing at the end will ensure you achieve perfectly cooked wings every use.
How to Make Different Air Fried Wing Flavors
The beauty of air fried wings is how easy they are to adapt to different flavors. Try out some of these tasty sauce ideas:
Buffalo
The classic! Make spicy buffalo sauce from hot sauce, butter, vinegar, Worcestershire, and seasonings.
BBQ
Toss cooked wings in sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. Great for summer grilling.
Garlic Parmesan
Toss crispy wings in a combination of melted butter, garlic, and parmesan. So addictive.
Sweet Chili
Coat wings in a sticky sweet chili sauce. Balance spicy and sweet flavors.
Korean Gochujang
For a savory Korean-inspired flavor, use a sauce of gochujang, soy sauce, honey, and sesame.
Jerk Dry Rub
Rub wings with a blend of jerk spices including allspice, thyme, garlic, onion and pepper before air frying.
Cajun
Season wings with cajun seasoning blends containing paprika, garlic, onion, oregano, thyme and cayenne for heat.
Teriyaki
Brushing wings with a homemade or store-bought teriyaki glaze makes for a delicious Japanese take on wings.
Air Fryer Chicken Wing Cooking Chart
Use this handy air fryer cooking time chart for reference when making wings of different sizes:
| Chicken Wing Type | Cook Time at 400°F |
|---|---|
| Small whole wings/drumettes | 8-15 minutes |
| Medium whole wings | 15-22 minutes |
| Large whole wings | 20-30 minutes |
| Whole party wings | 35-40 minutes |
| Pre-sectioned wings | 12-18 minutes |
Remember to flip wings halfway during cooking time. Always check internal temperature to ensure they are fully cooked through. Enjoy your crispy air fried wings!
Conclusion
Air frying is a quick and easy way to enjoy deliciously crispy chicken wings at home with less mess and oil than deep frying. Allowing the wings to air dry after seasoning, using baking powder, and cooking at a high temp are key to achieving crunchy air fried wings. Toss the cooked wings in your favorite sauce right before serving. Follow the guidelines here for perfect wings every time. The air fryer lets you quickly prepare wings anytime with your desired flavor and crunch.