[rank_math_breadcrumb]

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Name: Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 2 pounds chicken wings; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 1 tablespoon onion powder; 1 tablespoon smoked paprika; 1 tablespoon chili powder; 1 teaspoon cumin; 1 tablespoon salt; 1 tablespoon pepper; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 2 tablespoons brown sugar

4.6 from 24 votes

Rate Recipe

Jump to Recipe

This Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe is a game changer! With a handful of spices and an air fryer, you can cook up wings that are crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and seasoned to perfection. Whether you're planning a game-day feast, a casual dinner, or a crowd-pleasing appetizer, this recipe has you covered.

By Danelle

Published on March 21, 2022, Updated January 10, 2025

Prep time

Cook time

Total time

Servings

4.6 from 24 votes

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe is a game changer! With a handful of spices and an air fryer, you can cook up wings that are crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and seasoned to perfection. Whether you’re planning a game-day feast, a casual dinner, or a crowd-pleasing appetizer, this recipe has you covered.

Air Fryer vs. Oven

You might be wondering if your wings will really turn out that much better when you cook them in the air fryer instead of the oven? The answer is yes! I find that the air fryer does a much better job at getting things crispy. If you want really crispy, restaurant quality wings (without actually deep frying), the air fryer is the clear winner!

However, if you don’t have an air fryer, you can definitely still make this recipe in the oven. Just preheat your oven to 425°F, place the wings on a wire rack set over a baking sheet, and bake for 35-45 minutes, flipping halfway through. They won’t be quite as crispy as air-fried wings, but they’ll still be delicious!

These wings turned out great. My husband loved them. Will definitely be making these again.

Maureen

Fresh or Frozen Wings?

I prefer to use fresh chicken wings in this recipe, but frozen will work too. Air fry the frozen wings at 400°F for about 5 minutes first to thaw them, then drain any excess liquid, pat them dry, and season them with the dry rub. After that, cook as directed in the recipe for another 17-20 minutes.

Make it Ahead

You can prepare and season these wings ahead of time, then store them in the fridge for up to a day before cooking them. I always prep my wings ahead if I’m serving a crowd, so they’re ready to throw into the air fryer in batches, as needed. Just cook them as instructed in the recipe when you’re ready to serve them. To reheat cooked wings, pop them back in the air fryer for a few minutes to crisp them up again.

Season More Than Just Wings

You’ll use 2-3 tablespoons of the dry rub for every two pounds of chicken wings, so you’ll definitely have plenty leftover to use another time. Which means you can store it in an airtight container and use it on burgers, chicken breasts, steak, pork chops, and of course, more wings!

Really, you’re getting two recipes in one here, since you won’t use all of the dry rub for one batch of wings. If you keep it tightly covered, the dry rub will store for up to two years!

Sauce on the Side?

While these wings are perfectly delicious with no sauce, we do love saucy wings around here! You can dip the wings in your favorite sauce, or put them in a big bowl and toss with the sauce to coat. If you’re serving a crowd, I recommend offering a variety of sauces on the side so people can choose their favorite.

Buffalo sauce is always a hit around here, and barbecue sauce is a favorite of my youngest son. But the possibilities are endless, so don’t be afraid to experiment. A side of Ranch or blue cheese dressing is obviously a must!

A Game Day Feast

It probably goes without saying these wings are perfect for your next Super Bowl party or game day get-together. Is football even football without wings? For an impressive game day spread, be sure add chips and dip, salsa, chili and snack mix to the menu.

If you’ve been searching for the perfect air fryer wing recipe, look no further–these Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings are exactly what you’ve been looking for!

My family loved this!

Joseph

Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Chicken Wings – You can use whole wings or drumettes and flats. Just make sure they’re nice and dry before seasoning for optimal crispiness!
Olive Oil – A little olive oil helps the seasoning stick and help crisp up the skin. You don’t need much, just enough to coat the wings.
Garlic Powder and Onion Powder – These are the foundation of the dry rub. Think of Don’t skip them—no one likes bland wings!
Ground Cumin – Cumin adds a warm, earthy flavor that ties everything together. It’s that secret ingredient no one can quite place but everyone loves.
Brown Sugar – The brown sugar helps balance the heat and gives the wings a caramelized crust (my favorite part)!
Salt and Pepper – Obvious and simple, but essential. Season to taste.

How to Make Crispy Wings in the Air Fryer

Step 1

Prep the Wings: Rinse your chicken wings under cold water, then pat them dry with paper towels until they’re as dry as possible. This step is crucial if you want crispy wings!

Step 2

Preheat: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes. This will help your wings cook evenly and get that perfect, crispy skin.

Step 3

Season the Wings: Place the wings in a large bowl and drizzle with the olive oil. Toss to coat evenly. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, cayenne, and brown sugar. Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of the seasoning mix over the wings and toss until they’re well coated. I like to use my hands—it’s the best way to ensure every wing is fully seasoned!

Step 4

Cook the Wings: Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Work in batches if necessary. Cook at 400°F for 17-20 minutes, flipping the wings halfway through the cooking time to ensure both sides get crispy and golden. The wings should reach an internal temp of 165°F.

Step 5

Serve and Enjoy: Remove the wings from the air fryer and let them rest for a couple of minutes. If you like your wings saucy, toss them in your favorite wing sauce, but be careful not to soak them.

What Should I Serve with Chicken Wings?

Ranch and blue cheese dressing, along with carrot sticks and celery, are a must with wings, of course. But since these wings feature a dry rub instead of a sauce, you can dip them in anything you want.

These are some of our favorite dips and sauces to serve with these crispy chicken wings.

Homemade Chick-fil-A Sauce — **Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce**

Recipe Tips

The key to crispy wings is to pat the wings as dry as possible with paper towels before adding any oil or seasoning. Wet wings equals sad, soggy skin, and nobody wants that.
Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don’t crowd the basket! Crowding will make the wings steam instead of crisp. If you’re making a lot of wings, cook them in batches for best results.
Make sure to preheat your air fryer. Just like an oven, preheating helps ensure even cooking right from the start. It might seem like an extra step, but it’ll help you get that perfectly crispy texture in less time.

Be sure to save this recipe to your favorite Pinterest board for later.

More Air Fryer Recipes to Try

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Chimichangas
Air Fryer Herb Garlic Chicken Wings
Crispy Air Fryer Potato Chips
Easy Air Fryer Cheese Taquitos
Air Fryer Pasta Chips