Crispy Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
Were you gifted an air fryer for the holidays and are wondering what to make first with it? Or are you one of those people who does not fry anything in the house? Like me! Or are you just someone who loves crispy chicken wings, the tangy zip of hot steamy buffalo sauce, and find them irresistible? Look no further than this easy recipe for crispy air fryer chicken wings! Crispy skin on the outside with tender and moist meat inside and lots of messy but oh-so-addictive buffalo wing sauce. I included my recipe for homemade buffalo sauce. It’s a “semi-homemade” (cue the Sandra Lee vibes) sauce that starts with hot sauce and continues with butter, vinegar, and more. It takes just minutes to melt together the butter with the handful of other ingredients and I find that the buttery sauce is silky and creates succulent chicken wings. Make these wings for your holiday parties, New Year’s Eve parties, game day and Superbowl parties, graduation parties, or any time you’re craving finger-licking good chicken wings. Oven baking instructions are also provided in case you don’t have an air fryer.
Ingredients in Crispy Air Fryer Wings
For these easy, crowd-favorite chicken wings and the homemade buffalo sauce, you only need a handful of easy to find fridge and pantry ingredients including the following items:
Chicken wings Kosher salt Hot sauce Unsalted butter White vinegar Worcestershire sauce Garlic powder Cayenne pepper, optional
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Air Fry Chicken Wings
It doesn’t get any easier to make restaurant-worthy crispy chicken wings at home than this air fryer recipe. Here’s an overview of how to make crispy wings in the air fryer:
Air Fry the Wings Until Crispy:
Make the Buffalo Wing Sauce
What to Serve with Air Fried Crispy Wings
Tradition begs that these air fryer buffalo chicken wings are served with carrot and celery sticks with some ranch of blue cheese dressing, but it’s up to you.
Storage Instructions
Like any type of wings, these extra crispy air fryer wings are best served hot and fresh for maximum crispiness and saucy perfection. Don’t Crowd – The cardinal rule of air frying anything is do not crowd the air fryer basket. If in doubt, cook the remaining food in another batch. This is because air fryers are really just mini convection ovens with hot air swirling around the food which is what creates the crispy exterior texture. However, if air can’t swirl because you’ve crowded the basket, you won’t end up with crispy food. And in this case, your chicken wings won’t be crispy. Take the Temperature – Air frying little chicken wings isn’t rocket science and knowing when they’re done is no where near as tricky as knowing when your Thanksgiving turkey is done. However, if in doubt, use a digital thermometer and make sure it reads 160 to 165F before removing the wings. However, extra wings will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days noting they won’t have the same crispy texture as they did when freshly made.
Looking for More Air Fryer Dinner Recipes?
In case you were just gifted an air fryer, or have resolutions to get healthier and cook in a healthier fashion, or you’re an air frying pro, I’ve got you covered with these air fryer recipes:
Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Breast Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos Air Fryer Pork Chops Air Fryer Copycat Cracker Barrel Meatloaf Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken
More Easy Appetizer Recipes:
Baked Honey Lemon Pepper Wings — It doesn’t get any better than chicken wings with crispy skin and juicy fall-off-the-bone meat! The baked chicken wings are tossed in a delectable, buttery, lemon pepper sauce that clings to the wings perfectly! Air fryer instructions also provided. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Spicy Baked BBQ Chicken Wings — These baked bbq chicken wings are perfect for entertaining, parties, or whenever you’re craving juicy chicken wings. Bonus: you only need 5 ingredients! Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs — EASY homemade chicken meatballs that simmer in buffalo wing sauce, seasonings, and spices in your slow cooker! Juicy and full of all the flavor of traditional buffalo chicken wings, minus the messy factor! Great for game day parties, holidays, graduations, or anytime you need an appetizer that kids and adults alike just adore! Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos — All the flavor of the chicken taquitos in your favorite Mexican restaurant, but healthier because these are air fried! Crispy and crunchy on the outside with a perfectly spicy chicken, cheese, and cream cheese filling mixture that just melts in your mouth! EASY, ready in 20 minutes, and the whole family will want seconds! Oven baking instructions are also provided. Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets — These EASY air fryer nuggets are coated in a mixture of Panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan, which makes them EXTRA flavorful and SO CRISPY! Dip them in this 30-second homemade honey mustard sauce for a guaranteed family FAVORITE!!
