Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Restaurant-style chicken wings are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, but they are also deep fried. The air fryer cooks food by blasting it with a flow of hot air. This cooking method is healthier than deep frying and the results are superb!

You know what time it is! It’s Football season – which means I had to come up with another chicken wing recipe. I can’t help myself and ever since I got an Air Fryer I’ve been obsessed.

A Quick Story

Has anyone heard of Wing Snobs? I know, I laugh every time I say it. It’s a wing place in Michigan and I was about 40 minutes from my house one day when I stumbled upon them. I decided to stop because I can’t help myself. They are crazy good, but they are deep fried. Unfortunately for me they are opening one 2 miles down the road. This is not good.

That’s why I have to keep coming up with NEW wing recipes to keep me amused during Football season or I will fall prey to the wonderful smells wafting through my town on Sunday afternoons.

How to Get Crispy Chicken Wings

Do you trust me? You must or you wouldn’t still be here after all these years. I am telling you (LOUDLY) you do NOT need to fry your wings – not since the invention of an air fryer. They truly come out A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

Here are a few tips:

• Rinse the wings and place them on a paper towel to dry. If you have time, place them on a baking rack UNCOVERED in the refrigerator for an hour. This helps crisp up the skin. If not, it’s ok, just be sure to pat them completely dry before applying the dry rub or it will gunk up.
• Do NOT spray the air fryer with cooking spray, please.
• Do not overlap the wings. Layer them in a single layer and allow a little ‘breathing room’ in between. This ensures the crispiest wings.

Cornstarch, Flour or Baking Powder?

I have been experimenting with wings in my air fryer (maybe a little too much, but that’s another story). I have made wings just with spices and they came out good. But I discovered the secret to getting a really crispy wing in the air fryer requires something to absorb the moisture.

• Cornstarch – cornstarch as the name implies, is made up primarily of starch. The starch swells and absorbs water. As the wing gets heated, it pushes the moisture OUT of the wing leaving a crispy outside. Amazon sells an organic version in case you’re interested.
• Flour – I found the wings made with flour got gummy and did not get crispy, at all. This may work for baking wings in the oven, but not in the air fryer.
• Baking Powder – it’s hard to find a wing recipe that doesn’t use baking powder. I’m not a fan. I found them to be gritty and they have a weird metallic taste if you use too much.

The winner? Cornstarch, hands down created a beautiful crispy texture that wasn’t gummy or gritty. It will be the only way I make wings from now on.

How to Make The Best Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Now that we’ve got all that settled, let’s make some wings, shall we? Super super simple.

1. We have a basic dry rub that comes together in minutes. It consists of both sweet and smoked paprikas, garlic and onion powders, cumin and salt. Very simple.
2. This gets sprinkled on the wings along with cornstarch for absorption.
3. Turn that air fryer on 375°F and place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for between 15-20 minutes, depending on size, flip at least one time.
4. Plate the cooked wings and serve with your favorite bbq sauce, hot sauce, Ranch or Blue Cheese dressing and carrots and celery sticks.

Seriously, take a look at those wings. They are AIR FRIED.