This recipe is one of my go-to game-day dishes, a crowd-pleaser that’s ready in under an hour and keeps the mess (and oil) to a minimum thanks to the magic of the air fryer. With a simple spice mix, two-stage crisping, and tips to maximize crunch, you’ll be turning out restaurant-quality wings at home.
Whether you’re feeding your family on a busy weeknight or looking for the perfect party appetizer, these wings deliver on flavor, texture, and ease – all with the healthier touch that air frying brings.
⭐️ Air Fryer Chicken Wings: recipe at a glance
- Why you’ll love it: Healthier than deep-fried wings. Ultra crispy skin. Minimal clean-up (no oil mess)
- Quick and Easy: A shortcut, simple steps and an air fryer speeds up the process and cooks the wings in a fraction of the time than classic buffalo wings (baked or deep-fried)
- Flavor: Crispy, juicy chicken wings tossed in a finger-licking honey-BBQ sauce.
- Dietary: Contains poultry. Gluten-free adaptable, grain-free, nut-free, egg-free, dairy-free.
✔️ Ingredients, Substitutions and Swaps
Be sure to check the printable recipe card below for the complete ingredient list and their exact quantities.
- Chicken Wings: Split into drumettes and flats (sold as party wings). You can also buy whole wings and cut them yourself into 3 sections -drummettes, wingnettes and wing tips. Reserve the tips to make soup.
- Spice Mix: I use a dry rub made with simple pantry ingredients – brown sugar, seasoned salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper. Add cayenne pepper for a spicier taste.
- Honey BBQ Sauce: This sauce perfectly balances sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors. To save time and money, I use store-bought BBQ sauce and mix it with honey. You can add hot wing sauce or cayenne pepper for a spicy kick!
🔎 How to Make Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer?
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for exact instructions and cooking times.
- Prep: Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Pat wings dry thoroughly – removing moisture is key to crispiness.
- Season: Toss wings with the dry rub until evenly coated.
- First Air Fry: Place the seasoned wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 360°F (183º c) for 12 minutes, flip, and cook for another 12 minutes.
- Make Sauce: Warm BBQ sauce, honey, and hot sauce in a small saucepan over medium-low heat; set aside.
- Crisp Up: Raise air fryer to 390°F (198º C), flip wings again, and cook until extra crispy, about 5-6 minutes or more for larger wings).
- Sauce & Serve: Toss wings with most of the sauce, reserving some for dipping. Serve hot with celery, carrots, and your favorite dressing (ranch or blue cheese are my fav)
🔪 The secret to crispy Air Fryer wings
- Dry First: Patting the wings dry throughly removes moisture which is the key to crispy wings. If you have time, allow the wings to rest, uncovered on your kitchen counter for about 15-20 minutes. This simple air-dry step results in extra crispy skin.
- Two-Temperature Trick: Starting at a lower temp cooks the inside, then finishing the cooking at a higher temperature, crisps the skin beautifully.
- Don’t Crowd: Arrange the wings in a single layer, with a bit of space between each piece so hot air circulates properly (frying not steaming)
🤔 Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer?
Yes! Increase the initial cook time by about 5-6 minutes and shake the basket occasionally to separate wings. Just note that because of the extra moisture, the seasoning won’t stick as well if the wings are frozen and getting super crispy wings may be not achievable. They will still be great though.
Should I dry wings before air frying?
Absolutely – removing surface moisture is the single best way to help wings get super crispy.
How long do chicken wings take in the air fryer?
For crispy air fryer wings, I air fry the wings for 12 minutes per side at 360°F (183º C). For extra crispiness I raise the temperature of the air fryer to 390°F (198º C) and crisp them up for about 2-3 minutes per side. The results speak from themselves! Extra crispy skin without deep frying.
What dipping sauces go well with these wings?
Try extra BBQ sauce, ranch, blue cheese, or Caesar dressing for dipping – all are crowd favorites.
Can I make chicken wings in the air fryer?
Yes. If you’re looking for a healthier way to make chicken wings, the air fryer is your best option. The rapid circulation of hot air creates incredibly crispy skin with far less oil than traditional methods.
🔎 What to Serve with Air Fryer Wings?
I love serving these honey BBQ air fried wings (or these air fryer lemon pepper wings) as an appetizer with carrots and celery sticks. They are also wonderful served with potato salad and a fresh and crisp and creamy coleslaw.
✔️ Making Ahead, Storage and Reheating
- Making Ahead: The honey BBQ sauce can be made 2-3 days in advance. Cool the sauce and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Remove the sauce from the fridge at least 30 minutes before tossing it with the hot wings.
- Storing: The wings are best served fresh, right after they are done air frying. Store leftover wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 4 days.
- Reheating: Heat in the air fryer at 350ºF (177ºC) for about 6 minutes, flipping once, or in a preheated oven at 325°F (163ºC). If using the oven, lightly tent the wings with aluminum foil as the sweetness of the honey BBQ sauce can potentially cause the wings to brown too quickly while the meat inside is still cold.
💛 Intentional Cooking
Your priorities, your recipe. Learn about Intentional Cooking.
Animal Welfare: Think of the journey from farm to table. Whenever possible, choose chicken that has been raised humanely – birds with more space, natural light, and the ability to move freely. These small choices send a clear message to industrial systems, where animals often face crowded conditions, limited movement, poor air quality, and routine antibiotics.
Social Justice: Selecting ingredients from farms and brands that prioritize fair treatment for their workers helps us honor the people behind our food. Simple, thoughtful choices in the kitchen can contribute to fairer food systems – without turning every meal into a moral test.
Health and Healing: Healing doesn’t require perfection – it starts with small, intentional choices. Air-frying chicken wings uses significantly less oil than deep-frying, which means fewer oxidized fats and a lighter meal that’s easier on digestion. when prepared thoughtfully, even classic favorites like chicken wings can support well-being without sacrificing joy.
👀 Take a look at these other air fryer recipes:
🛒 Essentials you’ll adore for this recipe
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Ninja Air Fryer Pro
This 4 in 1 Ninja Air Fryer Pro air fries, roasts, dehydrates and reheats foods like a champ! It cuts cooking time significantly and is easy to clean. It took me a while to warm up to air fryers in general but my kids wanted one and this is the one we got!
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All-Clad Stainless Steel Saucepan
This 1.5 Qt. saucepan is ideal for making sauces, gravy, boil a few eggs, etc. Although a bit pricey, this investment piece is most likely to last you a lifetime. I have had mine for several years and it looks as brand new as when I bought it many years ago.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Honey BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- Nonstick cooking spray for the basket
- 2 pounds chicken wings, cut into flats and wingettes (aka party wings)
For the Dry Mix:
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, like Lawry’s
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
For the BBQ Sauce:
- 1/2 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce, such as Franks (optional)
- Spray the air fryer basket with non cooking spray.
Instructions
- Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat the air fryer to 360º Fahrenheit.
- Pat the chicken wings dry, thoroughly with paper towels, and place them in a large mixing bowl. Season the wings with the spice mix and toss to coat.
- Place the wings in the air fryer basket on a single layer, making sure the wings don’t touch. If needed, you can line up the drummettes upright standing along the sides.
- Set the air fryer to and cook for 12 minutes. Remove the basket and carefully, flip the wings with kitchen tongs. Return to the air fryer and cook for 12 additional minutes.
- Meanwhile, place the BBQ sauce ingredients into a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Heat stirring frequently until warm through. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Once again, remove the basket and raise the air fryer temperature to 390º F. Carefully flip the wings and return them to the air fryer.
- Cook until the wings are extra crispy, about 5-6 minutes (or more if the wings are large).
- Transfer the crispy wings to a large bowl. Pour about 3/4 of the BBQ sauce over the wings and toss to combine. Place the wings on a serving plate and serve with the remaining sauce on the side.
Notes
- What chicken wings to get? This recipe is made with chicken wings separated into flats and wignettes (the meaty portion that looks like a tiny chicken drumstick)
- Don’t forget: Pat the wings dry with paper towels before seasoning them.
- Switch it up: You can air fry the wings with the season mix above or you can use your favorite seasoning.
- Instead of the honey BBQ recipe above, you can use any other sauce you prefer.
- Crisp and Juicy: To get crispy wings, we air fry the wings at two different temperatures. This results in juicy and extra crispy wings without having to use baking powder.
- Storing: Leftover wings should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. (If you have any leftovers! We devour them in one sitting!)
- Freezing: Cooked air fried chicken wings freeze well and will keep in the freezer for 2 months.
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