When you want those restaurant-style wings without paying the price, these 20-minute Air Fryer Chicken Wings are the best choice. They can easily be customized with a variety of different seasonings and sauces that are perfect for a quick, crispy dinner.
I would say that one of the most popular air fryer chicken recipes to make is air fryer wings. Usually, this is the first recipe that many try when buying a new air fryer. They are the best way to satisfy that fried food craving without frying, plus you don’t have to wait for the oven or fryer to preheat. These wings are a staple in our house and deliver perfectly juicy meat every single time.
What are 20-Minute Air Fryer Chicken Wings?
Air Fryer Chicken Wings are whole or split chicken wings that are seasoned simply and cooked using high-heat rapid air circulation to mimic deep frying. People love this recipe because it uses a light coating of olive oil spray and can be coated with your favorite seasonings or sauces. It’s the best way to get a juicy chicken wing in 20 minutes or less.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Ready in 20 minutes or less!
- Easy to coat with your favorite seasonings or sauces.
- Made with pantry staples that you have on hand.
- Budget-friendly and kid-friendly too.
- Naturally gluten-free.
- Better for you than take-out.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Wings – Use party-style wings that are already split into drummettes and flats. These work perfectly for air fryer chicken wings.
- Olive Oil Spray – Just a tiny amount of spray helps the seasonings stick and makes the chicken wings crispy.
- Salt or Pepper – Add some salt and pepper or your favorite seasonings to season the wings.
- Barbecue Sauce – The wings can be coated in your favorite sauces, like barbecue sauce, before serving or used for dipping.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Spray the air fryer basket or foil-lined air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place the wings evenly into the basket. In a 4-quart air fryer basket, 6 wings fit well. Adjust this as needed for the size of your air fryer.
- Add an even coat of olive oil spray, a dash of salt and pepper to the wings.
- Cook at 390 degrees F for 10 minutes.
- Turn and cook for an additional 10 minutes at 390 degrees F.
- Be sure the internal temperature of the wings is at least 165 degrees F.
- Coat with barbecue sauce if you prefer or other dipping sauces.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Do not overcrowd the basket – If you pile them too high, they will steam instead of fry. Try to leave some room around the wings and keep them in a single layer.
- Dry the wings first – Use a paper towel to pat the wings down before placing them in the air fryer.
- Sauce at the very end – Add your sauces after they cook, before serving. If it’s added during cooking it can burn during the cooking time due to the sugar content.
- Easy clean up – If preferred, use foil or parchment that is made for the air fryer for easy clean up. If using foil, roll it up on the sides so air still fully circulates.
Variations and Substitutions
- Classic Buffalo Wings – Use this air fryer buffalo wings recipe to make the best buffalo wings.
- Easy Dill Wings – My personal favorite are these dill chicken wings.
- Honey Garlic Wings – Use honey and garlic to make savory chicken wings.
- Frozen Chicken Wings – Use frozen chicken wings and make them in the air fryer in two parts. If you forget to defrost the chicken, you’ll still be able to get dinner on the table!
- Lemon Pepper – Use lemon pepper seasoning on the wings for a lemon pepper variety.
- Mixed Seasonings – Use your favorite blend of your local restaurant to make your own variety of wings.
Frequently Asked Questions
This will vary depending on how large your air fryer is. For a 4-quart air fryer, 6 is about as many as you can fit at a time. A larger air fryer will be close to 8. It’s best to cook in batches if needed instead of overcrowding the basket.
I prefer to use foil in the air fryer; this is totally my preference. If you do use foil, be sure to roll it up on the sides or cut it to fit in a way that still allows the air to circulate.
In some ways, yes, they can be because you are not deep-frying or using large amounts of oil. Remember, though, they can easily be made unhealthy by adding lots of sauces and things to them. Air frying does reduce the amount of oil and fats, but it doesn’t eliminate them all.
In saying that, for more on the health factors of using an air fryer, be sure to check out this article on Healthline.
It is best to use a meat thermometer to be sure you get the accurate temperature without overcooking the chicken. I use this one that is affordable and available on Amazon.
For frozen chicken wings, follow this recipe that will show you how to precook the wings to defrost before moving on with the recipe.
What to serve with Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Celery Sticks and Carrots with Homemade Ranch Dressing
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Easy Crispy Salad
Storage Tips
Store the leftover wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. When ready to reheat, heat in the air fryer at 380 degrees F for 3-4 minutes to restore crispness.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken
Air Fryer Glazed Chicken Thighs
Make the best restaurant-style wings in your air fryer in less than 20 minutes with the pantry staples that you have on hand. These wings are perfect to make for a game day or just an easy weeknight meal. It’s time to enjoy these Air Fryer Chicken Wings.
20 Minute Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 6-12 Chicken Wings – Flats & Drumettes
- Olive Oil Spray
- Salt to Taste
- Pepper to Taste
- Barbecue Sauce
Instructions
- Spray the air fryer basket or foil-lined air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray.
- Place the wings evenly into the basket. In a 4-quart air fryer basket, 6 wings fit well. Adjust this as needed for the size of your air fryer.
- Add an even coat of olive oil spray, a dash of salt and pepper to the wings.
- Cook at 390°F for 10 minutes.
- Turn and cook for an additional 10 minutes at 390°F.
- Be sure the internal temperature of the wings is at least 165°F.
- Coat with barbecue sauce if you prefer or other dipping sauces.
Marilynn says
Can you use frozen chicken wings?
Kristy says
Yes you would just need to add a few extra minutes until they are fully cooked.
Jon says
6 wings in a batch? So wings for a family of 4 will take and hour and a half? That seems like a huge waste of time.