Whip up some homemade fried chicken with these Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Wings! Ready in just 35 minutes, they make the perfect snack, crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside! Delicious served with your favourite dipping sauce.
*Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links - This means I receive a commission for purchases made through those links, at no cost to you. Please click here for further info*
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Scatty Mum.
If you are looking for a foolproof way to make homemade crunchy fried chicken then these air fryer crispy chicken wings are your answer!
This recipe is super easy, with just 4 ingredients and some seasoning. But the result? Crispy, crunchy skin on the outside and juicy, succulent chicken on the inside.
We create the crispy skin using baking powder. It works its magic by interacting with the proteins in the chicken, raising the pH levels to create that golden-brown crunch. Plus, it helps to draw out any excess moisture from the skin. It may sound a bit scientific, but trust me, it works and is the secret to that perfect crispiness!
These fried chicken wings are also gluten-free, in fact, they are free from the top 14 allergens!
Using the air fryer gives you that fried chicken taste without having to deep fry the chicken, so it’s a lot healthier too! Another crispy air fryer favourite is these air fryer honey & garlic chicken thighs.
But if you don’t have an air fryer (seriously, get one!) then try these delicious oven baked salt & pepper chicken wings or gochujang chicken wings instead.
They're ideal for munching on during game day or as a tasty addition to any party buffet.
Jump to:
🥘 Ingredients You Will Need
✋ Double check all packaging for allergens ✋
- Chicken Wings - You can either buy the wings pre-cut into drummettes and wingettes or buy whole wings and cut them yourself. Here is a handy guide to cutting chicken wings or if you are buying them from the butcher you can ask them to cut them for you.
- Baking Powder - The magic ingredient! This helps the chicken skin to turn brown and crispy. Do not substitute for bicarbonate of soda, it’s baking powder you need.
- Seasonings - I have used a combination of onion granules, garlic granules, sea salt and black pepper to give some extra flavour to the wings.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
✏️ How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Wings
⬇️ Here you will find an overview of how to make the recipe. For full information on ingredients and quantities please see the recipe card at the bottom of the page ⬇️
Step 1: Start by prepping your chicken wings – if they're not already separated, chop them into drumettes and wingettes, discarding the wing tips or using them to add to a chicken stock.
Then, pat the wings dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the baking powder, salt, pepper, onion granules, and garlic granules.
Toss the chicken wings in the seasoning mixture until they're evenly coated.
Step 3: Preheat your air fryer to 150˚C / 300˚F. We will start by cooking the wings at a lower temperature and then finish them off at a higher temperature.
This will ensure they're golden brown and crispy on the outside while remaining juicy on the inside.
Step 4: Once it's preheated, place the seasoned chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure it’s not overcrowded. You may need to cook them in two batches.
Step 5: Air fry the chicken wings for 15 minutes, then flip them over, increase the temperature to 200˚C / 390˚F and continue to cook them for another 15 minutes.
Step 6: Once the wings are cooked (check with a meat thermometer, the temperature should read at least 74˚C / 165˚F), remove the wings from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving.
💡 Tips & Tricks
- ✔️ Pat Dry: Before seasoning, make sure to pat the chicken wings dry with kitchen paper towels. Removing any excess moisture helps the wings crisp up better in the air fryer.
- ✔️ Don’t Skip The Baking Powder: Adding baking powder to the seasoning mixture helps create that extra crispy texture on the wings. It's a game-changer!
- ✔️ Don't Overcrowd The Basket: Arrange the chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each wing. Overcrowding the basket can prevent proper air circulation which will result in uneven cooking.
- ✔️ Flip Halfway Through: Flip the wings halfway through the cooking time to make sure all of the sides crisp up nicely.
- ✔️ Check for Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to check the chicken is cooked. They should reach at least 165°F (75°C).
- ✔️ All Air Fryers Cook Differently: This recipe has been tested using my Instant Pot Vortex Plus Clear Cook air fryer and the temperatures and timings are specifically tailored for this model. Please be aware that various air fryer brands may cook differently, so I would advise you to regularly check the food's cooking progress to ensure the best results.
🥡 Storage & Reheating
I would recommend eating the wings straight after cooking for ultimate crispiness! That being said you can store them safely in the fridge for up to 2 days then reheat the wings in the air fryer for around 5-7 minutes at 200C/400F until they're crispy & hot again.
🍴 How To Serve
These crispy chicken wings are just what you need for game day snacking or as a tasty appetiser on your party buffet, especially alongside these vegan pesto pinwheels and gluten-free mini sausage rolls.
When it comes to dunking, some popular dipping sauces include:
- ⭐ BBQ Sauce
- ⭐ Sriracha
- ⭐ Spicy Buffalo Sauce
- ⭐ Classic Blue Cheese Dressing.
Don't forget to add some veggie sticks like celery and carrots for a classic combo!
💬 Recipe FAQs
The most common reason for chicken wings not crisping up in the air fryer is because the air fryer basket has been overloaded. Cook the wings in a single layer, cooking them in two batches if necessary.
Also, make sure you pat the wings dry with kitchen paper towel before cooking to dry the skin.
You may also need to cook them for a little bit longer depending on the size of the wings to give them time to crisp up.
Yes, you can cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer, but they will require additional cooking time. Cook for an extra 10 minutes, checking the chicken is cooked with a meat thermometer.
⚡ More Air Fryer Recipes
Check out these other delicious air fryer delights!
If you loved this recipe, please leave me a 5🌟 rating or comment below. I really do appreciate it. 😊
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 kg ( 2.2 lb) chicken wings cut into drummettes and wingettes
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon onion granules
- ½ teaspoon garlic granules
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Start by prepping your chicken wings. If they are not already separated, chop them into drummettes & wingettes. ( See ingredients section in the main post for a guide on how to do this). Pat them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- In a large bowl, combine baking powder, salt, pepper, onion granules, and garlic granules.
- Toss the chicken wings in the seasoning mixture until they are evenly coated.
- Preheat your air fryer to 150˚C / 300˚F.
- Place the seasoned chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they aren't overcrowded. You may need to cook them in two batches.
- Air fry the chicken wings for 15 minutes, then flip the wings over, increase the temperature to 200˚C / 390˚F and cook for a further 15 minutes until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
- Once cooked (check with a meat thermometer 165˚F) remove the wings from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before serving with your favourite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Pat Dry: Before seasoning, make sure to pat the chicken wings dry with kitchen paper towels. Removing any excess moisture helps the wings crisp up better in the air fryer.
- Don’t Skip The Baking Powder: Adding baking powder to the seasoning mixture helps create that extra crispy texture on the wings. It's a game-changer!
- Don't Overcrowd The Basket: Arrange the chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each wing. Overcrowding the basket can prevent proper air circulation which will result in uneven cooking.
- Flip Halfway Through: Flip the wings halfway through the cooking time to make sure all of the sides crisp up nicely.
- Check for Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to check the chicken is cooked. They should reach at least 165°F (75°C).
- All Air Fryers Cook Differently: This recipe has been tested using my Instant Pot Vortex Plus Clear Cook air fryer and the temperatures and timings are specifically tailored for this model. Please be aware that various air fryer brands may cook differently, so I would advise you to regularly check the food's cooking progress to ensure the best results.
Comments
No Comments