How to cook fully cooked wings in air fryer?

Air fryers have become an increasingly popular kitchen appliance for their ability to make foods crispy and delicious using little to no oil. One of the most common foods people like to make in air fryers are chicken wings! The air fryer can cook frozen or fresh wings to perfection.

Fully cooked wings just need to be heated through, making them a quick and easy appetizer or meal when you’re short on time. Read on to learn how to cook already cooked wings in an air fryer so they come out hot, crispy, and delicious!

Table of Contents

Benefits of Cooking Wings in an Air Fryer

Here are some of the benefits of using an air fryer to cook pre-cooked wings:

Super quick cooking time – Wings only need 5-10 minutes in an air fryer since they are already fully cooked.
Crispy skin – The hot air circulating around the wings will help render any fat and make the skin nice and crispy.
No oil needed – Air fryers use little to no oil to crisp up foods, for guilt-free chicken wings.

Even cooking – The hot air circulates around the entire surface of the wings to cook them evenly.
Food safety – The high heat kills any harmful bacteria on the wings.

As you can see, air frying already cooked wings gives you a quick, easy, and delicious way to enjoy this tasty appetizer!

Choosing Already Cooked Wings

You can purchase pre-cooked wings from your grocery store or local restaurant, or you can cook them yourself in advance to refrigerate or freeze for later air frying. Here are some tips for choosing fully cooked wings:

Check for crispiness – Make sure the skin looks crispy, not soggy or rubbery.
Avoid excess sauce – Wings sauced before cooking may burn in the air fryer. Opt for plain or lightly sauced.

Separate any stuck wings – Break apart any wings that are stuck together for even cooking.
Sniff for freshness – Make sure refrigerated wings still smell fresh, not off.
Use within 4 days – For food safety, cook refrigerated pre-cooked wings within 4 days.

Thaw frozen properly – Thaw frozen wings in the fridge overnight before air frying.

Choosing high quality, properly cooked and stored wings will set you up for success!

Ingredients

1-3 lbs fully cooked chicken wings

Oil or cooking spray (optional)
Seasonings of choice

The great thing about air frying pre-cooked wings is that you need just a few ingredients – the wings themselves plus any seasonings or sauces you want to add flavor.

Equipment

Air fryer (any size will work)
Cooking spray or oil (optional)
Baking sheet or air fryer basket

Tongs

Having the right equipment will make cooking wings in your air fryer easy. Be sure to use tongs to toss the wings and avoid burning yourself on the hot air fryer basket.

How to Cook Fully Cooked Wings in an Air Fryer

Follow these simple steps for perfect air fried wings every time:

Preheat air fryer to 380°F.
Pat wings dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
Spray or brush wings lightly with oil or cooking spray (optional).

Season wings as desired with salt, pepper, spices, etc.
Place wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
Air fry wings for 5-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until heated through and crispy.

Toss wings with any desired sauces.
Serve wings hot and enjoy!

Be sure not to overcrowd the wings in the air fryer – cook them in batches for even crisping. Check that they are heated through and have crispy skin before removing from the air fryer.

Tips for the Best Results

Pat the wings very dry before seasoning and air frying for extra crispy skin.
Use baking powder or cornstarch to help wings get extra crispy.
Flip the wings halfway during cooking for even browning.

Toss cooked wings in a sauce after air frying, not before.
Add extra seasoning once wings are cooked since any sauce was likely rinsed off.
Cook fresh, not frozen wings for ideal texture.

Adjust cook time as needed for amount and size of wings.

Following these tips will ensure your reheated wings get super crispy and taste amazing. The air fryer really locks in flavor and texture.

Common FAQs

Get answers to some common questions about cooking pre-cooked wings in an air fryer:

How long does it take to reheat wings in an air fryer?

5-10 minutes is usually enough time to reheat fully cooked wings in an air fryer. Cook for 5 minutes, flip, then cook for 5 more minutes. Check that they are heated through.

Do you need oil to air fry pre-cooked wings?

Oil is optional – a light coating helps wings get crispy but is not required. The air fryer will crisp them up without any oil.

Should you flip wings during air frying?

Yes, flipping the wings halfway during cooking helps them brown evenly and heat through. Use tongs to easily flip.

What temperature should I cook wings?

380°F is the perfect temperature to reheat and crisp pre-cooked wings. Adjust cook time as needed.

Can I air fry frozen wings?

You can, but it’s best to thaw frozen wings overnight in the fridge before air frying for food safety.

Serving Suggestions

Here are some delicious ways to serve up your freshly air fried wings:

Toss in your favorite wing sauce like buffalo, BBQ, teriyaki, etc.

Serve with crispy celery and carrot sticks and blue cheese or ranch dip.
Make tacos with wings, salsa, cheese, lettuce, etc.
Pile on top of a salad for extra protein.

Serve as an appetizer for game day or parties.
Enjoy as a weeknight dinner with fresh veggie sticks.

The possibilities are endless for how to enjoy these quick and delicious air fried wings!

Recipe Variations

There are lots of ways to customize reheated wings in your air fryer:

Flavors: Cajun, lemon pepper, Jamaican jerk, garlic Parmesan, etc.
Coatings: Flour, panko breadcrumbs, cornflakes, etc.

Sauces: Buffalo, teriyaki, honey mustard, Thai chili, etc.
extras: Toss with crumbled blue cheese, crispy fried onions, sesame seeds, etc.

Use your favorite flavors to make the wings just how you like them. Get creative with sauces and spices!

Storing Leftover Wings

Have leftover wings? Here are some storage tips:

Let wings cool slightly before storing.
Store in a sealed container in the fridge.

Eat refrigerated leftovers within 3-4 days.
Reheat leftovers in the oven or air fryer until hot.
Frozen wings keep 2-3 months in a freezer bag.

Thaw frozen wings in the fridge before reheating.

Proper storage will keep wings safe to eat as delicious leftovers. Reheat until steaming hot throughout.

Conclusion

Air frying fully cooked wings makes for a quick and easy appetizer or meal any night of the week. Allowing you to skip the lengthy process of baking or frying raw wings. Follow the simple steps to get hot, crispy wings in just 5-10 minutes.

Play around with different seasonings and sauces to customize the wings to your liking. Serve them up as game day finger food or with veggies and dip for an easy dinner. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge or freezer for more air fried wings later on.

So next time you have a batch of pre-cooked wings, toss them in your air fryer for an easy reheating method that makes them taste just like new! Crispier, more flavorful wings are just minutes away.