Air fryer chicken wings are the tastiest crispiest wings you can make at home. These chicken wings can be tossed in your choice of our sauce recipes. For starters, we kick off the Air fryer chicken wings recipe with a classic buffalo sauce which is a great appetizer for football game day or any other day!
What I Love About These Chicken Wings
These air fryer chicken wings come out a mouth watering golden brown with crispy edges. When they get tossed in the choice of sauces they become the appetizer that everyone chooses first. They are easy so quick and easy to make, I often make these up and weeknight dinner treat.
The buffalo sauce is a classic wing sauce using Frank’s RedHot Sauce. But like any tasty chicken wing menu, I have given you some easy sauce variations for your air fryer chicken wings.
Steps For Making Crazy Good Air Fryer Wings
- If you can, find wings that are already cut into sections – it will be so much easier and faster. If you do purchase whole wings, use good poultry shears to cut the wings apart. Save the wing tips to use in making Instant Pot Chicken Stock.
- Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 10 minutes and then turn the wings, Cook another 10 minutes. Increase the air fryer temperature to 400 degrees and cook an additional 7 minutes or until the wings are crispy and golden brown.
- While the wings are air frying, make your sauce and set aside.
- Remove the wings from the air fryer and toss in the sauce.
- Serve the air fryer chicken wings with bleu cheese dressing or ranch dressing. Celery sticks can be added to complement the wings, if you prefer.
How To Make Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
To air fry frozen chicken wings, in step 1 preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook the wings for 15 minutes, turn, and cook for another 15 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.
Using an instant-read thermometer, check for an internal temperature of 165°. When you insert the thermometer’s probe make sure to insert it in the thickest part of the air fryer wings and not to hit a bone. Test several of the wings for doneness. If they air fryer chicken wings need more cooking time, return them to the air fryer for another 5 minutes or until done.
Toss the air fryer frozen chicken wings in your choice of wing sauce.
Sauce Variations
- Sweet Chili Sauce: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup Thai sweet chili sauce, 1-1/2 tablespoons chili paste such as Sambal Oelek, and 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Toss the air fryer chicken wings in this sauce in place of the buffalo sauce. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
- Honey Garlic Sauce: In a large sauce pan, combine 1⁄2 cup honey, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 4 teaspoons minced garlic, 1 tablespoon minced ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes and heat until simmering. In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon cornstarch. Stir cornstarch mixture into honey mixture. Cook, stirring, 10 minutes or until the sauce is thickened and coats the back of a spoon. Toss the air fryer chicken wings in this sauce in place of the buffalo sauce.
- Teriyaki Wing Sauce: In a large sauce pan, bring 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce to a boil. Stir in 1/4 cup hoisin sauce, 1/4 cup chili sauce, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons minced garlic and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Simmer over low heat, stirring, until thickened. Toss the air fryer chicken wings in this sauce in place of the buffalo sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
- Store Bought Wing Sauce: If you don’t want to fuss with making your own sauce from scratch for your easy air fryer chicken wings, there is always B-Dubs to the rescue with this Buffalo Wild Wings Fan Favorites assortment.
What To Serve With Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Tater Tots
- Celery sticks and carrot sticks.
- A Charcuterie Board with an assortment of cheese, sausage, dips and chips is always a hit at any event.
- Slow Cooker Ribs
Leftover air fryer chicken wings can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. These are so good, I doubt you will have to worry about leftovers! You can reheat the chicken wings in your air fryer.
Do not leave the air fryer chicken wings out for more than two hours. After two hours, cooked foods can develop bacteria which makes them unsafe to eat.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 18 chicken wings sections split apart, wing tips removed
Buffalo Sauce
- 1/3 cup Frank's RedHot Sauce
- 1/4 cup butter
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Celery sticks optional
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 380°F.
- Using a paper towel, pat chicken wings dry. Arrange the wing pieces in the air fryer.
- Cook the wings, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time, for 20 minutes. Increase the Air Fryer temperature to 400°F. Continue cooking, tossing once, for 7 minutes or until wings are crispy and golden brown.
Buffalo Sauce
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine Frank's hot sauce and the melted butter. Add wings to sauce, tossing to coat.
- Serve wings with Blue Cheese dressing and celery sticks (if using).
Cooks Tips
Sauce Variations
- Sweet Chili Sauce: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup Thai sweet chili sauce, 1-1/2 tablespoons chili paste such as Sambal Oelek, and 1 tablespoon soy sauce. Toss the air fryer chicken wings in this sauce in place of the buffalo sauce. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds, if desired.
- Honey Garlic Sauce: In a large sauce pan, combine 1⁄2 cup honey, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 4 teaspoons minced garlic, 1 tablespoon minced ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes and heat until simmering. In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon cornstarch. Stir cornstarch mixture into honey mixture. Cook, stirring, 10 minutes or until the sauce is thickened and coats the back of a spoon. Toss the air fryer chicken wings in this sauce in place of the buffalo sauce.
- Teriyaki Wing Sauce: In a large sauce pan, bring 1 cup low-sodium soy sauce to a boil. Stir in 1/4 cup hoisin sauce, 1/4 cup chili sauce, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons minced garlic and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Simmer over low heat, stirring, until thickened. Toss the air fryer chicken wings in this sauce in place of the buffalo sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
- Store Bought Wing Sauce: If you don't want to fuss with making your own sauce from scratch for your easy air fryer chicken wings, there is always B-Dubs to the rescue with this Buffalo Wild Wings Fan Favorites assortment.