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Home Recipes Main Dishes
5 from 1 review

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

26 min
by: Lindsay Grimes
March 26, 2020 (Updated: March 25, 2020)
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crispy air fryer chicken wings on black plate with small bowl of bbq sauce on pink background
Learn how to make the BEST CRISPY chicken wings in your air fryer in under 20 minutes! This easy recipe uses a small amount of oil and spices!

I love crispy chicken wings. These wings are crispy and salty and perfect for dunking in your favorite bbq sauce or buffalo wing sauce!

Wings are one of those magical things I can make for dinner that 1) comes together really simply with minimal prep and 2) my kids DEVOUR! My kids are picky depending on the day, depending on their mood, but there’s something about chicken wings that causes zero whining and fighting. It’s a great family weeknight meal!

I keep the sauciness on the side because my kids like to eat the wings straight with no sauce, but if you’re prefer to drizzle or coat your wings with sauce, you do you!

Here’s the crazy thing. You can buy chicken wings already cut. I’ve had them this way and they’re super convenient. However, you can buy the whole wing for way cheaper and cut them yourself! Below is a quick overview on how to cut chicken wings.

close up of crispy air fryer chicken wings

How to cut chicken wings:

  • If you stretch the wing out, you’ll noticed three parts of the wing: the tip (flapper), the middle (wingette or flap), and meaty top (drumette)
  • Use your fingers to feel for the joint ridges between the three parts of the wing.
  • Use a sharp knife to make slices at the ridges until the parts come apart.
  • Two helpful tips:
    • Flip the wing so the underside of the wing is facing up. This will help you better be able to see the different sections of the wing.
    • Make multiple slices with your knife instead of trying to push/force your knife through the wing.

close up of crispy air fryer chicken wings dipped in bbq sauce

So let’s jump into the recipe and make some crispy air fryer chicken wings! Cut the wings into three pieces: the flapper, the wingette/flap, and the drumette (described above). Place the wingette and drumette into a medium bowl and discard the flapper or save it to make homemade stock.

Add the avocado oil, garlic powder, salt, and ground pepper to the bowl. Fold to coat the wings.

Arrange the wings in your air fryer basket or tray in a single layer, about 1/2 inch apart. Set your air fryer to 400F. Once hot, slide the wings in and fry for 16 minutes.

Serve with your favorite bbq sauce and enjoy!

black plate filled with crispy air fryer chicken wings on white background

Did you make this? Leave a review below and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!

Recipe

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Learn how to make the BEST CRISPY chicken wings in your air fryer in under 20 minutes! This easy recipe uses a small amount of oil and spices!

Recipe by:Lindsay Grimes
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 1 review
Prep: 10 minCook: 16 minTotal: 26 min
Print recipe Rate recipe Pin Save recipe
Servings: serves 2

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 chicken wings
  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
  • bbq sauce or buffalo wing sauce for serving

Instructions

  1. Turn the chicken wing so the underside is facing up.
  2. Stretch the wing out and notice three parts of the wing: the tip (flapper), the middle (wingette or flap), and meaty top (drumette)
  3. Use your fingers to feel for the joint ridges between the three parts of the wing.
  4. Use a sharp knife to make slices at the ridges until the parts come apart.
  5. Place the wingette and drumette into a medium bowl and discard the flapper or save it to make homemade stock.
  6. Add the avocado oil, garlic powder, salt, and ground pepper to the bowl.
  7. Use a rubber spatula to fold everything together and coat the wings.
  8. Arrange the wings in your air fryer basket or tray in a single layer, about 1/2 inch apart.
  9. Set your air fryer to 400F.
  10. Once hot, slide the wings in and air fry for 16 minutes.
  11. Serve with your favorite bbq sauce and enjoy!
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crispy air fryer chicken wings pinterest image crispy air fryer chicken wings pinterest image

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  1. AvatarShabs says

    Posted on 3/27/20 at 7:01 pm

    Hi! If I’m using already cut wings, can they be frozen or do they have to be thawed for your recipe?

    Reply
    • Lindsay Grimes Freedman says

      Posted on 8/6/20 at 9:40 pm

      I used thawed wings. I’d say either thaw them, or look up online the air fry time for frozen wings because it would probably increase. Let me know how it goes!! xo

      Reply
  2. AvatarMariangeline Bumpus says

    Posted on 4/2/20 at 3:06 pm

    They came out so delicious and juicy!! 

    Reply
    • Lindsay Grimes Freedman says

      Posted on 8/6/20 at 9:34 pm

      Yay!! I’m so happy you love it!! xo

      Reply

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Lindsay

Nice to Meet You!

I’m Lindsay - cookbook author, blogger and chocolate lover! If gluten-free desserts are your jam, you’re in the right place! I live in south Jersey with my family and new puppy Roxie! Some of my favorite things are oat milk lattes, sunny days and warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies.

Read more...

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GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy-Free V Vegan VG Vegetarian EF Egg-Free NF Nut-Free P Paleo Browse All

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