Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Printable Version)
Golden, crispy wings air fried and tossed in a tangy Buffalo sauce, perfect for game day or snacks.
# What You Need:
→ For the Chicken Wings
01 - 1.5 lbs chicken wings, separated into flats and drumettes
02 - 1 tbsp baking powder (aluminum-free)
03 - 1 tsp garlic powder
04 - 1 tsp onion powder
05 - 1 tsp paprika
06 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
07 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ For the Buffalo Sauce
08 - 1/3 cup hot sauce (such as Franks RedHot)
09 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1 tsp honey (optional, for sweetness)
11 - 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
12 - 1/4 tsp garlic powder
→ For Serving
13 - Celery sticks
14 - Carrot sticks
15 - Blue cheese or ranch dressing (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Pat the chicken wings very dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
02 - In a large bowl, toss the wings with baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
03 - Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Cook in batches if necessary.
04 - Air fry at 400°F for 24-26 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking, until golden brown and crispy.
05 - While wings cook, combine hot sauce, melted butter, honey, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until smooth and warmed through.
06 - Transfer cooked wings to a clean bowl. Pour Buffalo sauce over wings and toss to coat evenly.
07 - Serve immediately with celery sticks, carrot sticks, and blue cheese or ranch dressing on the side.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The baking powder trick creates restaurant-level crispiness without any deep frying mess
- You can customize the Buffalo sauce heat exactly to your crowd's preference
02 -
- Letting the wings rest uncovered in the fridge for an hour before air frying takes the crispiness to another level
- Work in batches rather than crowding the air fryer, because those crispy edges are worth the extra time
03 -
- Room temperature wings cook more evenly, so take them out of the fridge about 20 minutes before seasoning
- The sauce clings better to warm wings, so toss them immediately after they come out of the air fryer