Extra Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Name: Extra Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2.5 pounds chicken wings, split; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1¼ tsp lemon-pepper seasoning; ¾ tsp seasoning salt; ¾ tsp garlic powder

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Air fryer chicken wings are absolutely the best wings you will ever make. They are easy to make, cook time is about 30 minutes, and the final result is crispy and flavorful wings on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. Because they are cooked in an air fryer, hardly any oil is used, and cleanup is a breeze! Toss them in your favorite sauce, or serve as is, lightly seasoned, with ranch dipping sauce.

Extra crispy chicken wings on a white cutting board, sprinkled with fresh parsley, served with a bowl of buffalo dipping sauce

We had so much fun cooking these chicken wings in the air fryer. It was even more fun eating them. We enjoyed a meal of chicken wings, carrot sticks, and a spinach salad. We turned on some 90s country music, and we were transported back in time to our college days, munching on wings in the lounge. 😉 Our daughter thought we were nuts.

If you like air fryer recipes, be sure to check out my reader favorite, Ultimate Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries; my healthy Air Fryer Keto Tuna Patties, Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas, or Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes recipe. Also, don't forget Tilapia in Air Frye r, Teriyaki Salmon in the Air Fryer; they are so quick and easy!

Want more wings? Check out Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings!

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Why we love these wings
Ingredients
Instructions
Favorite sauces to try with wings
Top Tips
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
More Reader Favorite Recipes
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Why we love these wings

They are so easy to make
Only a few ingredients are needed
Only 1 tablespoon of oil is used
No flour, baking powder, or cornstarch is needed
They are crispy and taste like they were deep-fried
They have far fewer calories than deep-fried wings as hardly any oil is used
The grease from the wings drips down underneath the wings in the air fryer, so the wings don't sit in grease
Cleanup is a breeze; wipe it out and done!
The wings are perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside, and juicy and tender on the inside.
They are ready in about 30 minutes.
Everyone can add the sauce they like if they want it, and everyone's happy!
They are fun to eat!

Air fryer chicken wings served with dipping sauce

Ingredients

The ingredient list is minimal for this easy-to-make recipe. All you need are:

Fresh chicken wings. Frozen wings will work too.
Olive oil. This is so the dry rub has something to stick to.
Dry rub seasoning: Lemon pepper, seasoning salt, and garlic powder

Ingredients needed to make air fryer chicken wings.

Instructions

Place chicken wings into a large bowl. Pour olive oil over the chicken. Add seasoning to the chicken.

Seasonings and oil added to the chicken wings in a white bowl

Stir well with a large spoon or tongs until seasoning is spread evenly on the wings—Preheat air fryer to 380°F. Place seasoned chicken wings into an air fryer basket. Leave space between the wings so the air can circulate around them and cook evenly.

Seasoned chicken wings place in air fryer basket

Cook for 25 minutes, shaking the basket about every 10 minutes to crisp up evenly. Below is what they look like after 25 minutes. They are cooked and ready to eat, but there is one more step if you want them extra crispy!

Air fryer wings after they are cooked for 25 minutes

Turn up the temperature to 400°F, and cook for 5 minutes more. This will completely crisp up the skin on these chicken wings. That's all there is to it! See how the grease runs off and into the holes of the air fryer?

Remove from the air fryer basket and eat as is, deliciously seasoned (my favorite), or toss them in your favorite BBQ sauce for BBQ wings, or in Buffalo sauce if heat is your thing!

I make a side of ranch dip to dip them in, so good! I also like to serve carrot sticks, celery sticks, and pepper strips with these wings, and they all taste good dipped in ranch. 😉

Other sides I like to serve with these wings are freshly made coleslaw, Easy Baked Beans, Crispy Oven-Roasted Potatoes, corn on the cob, or a green salad.

Air fryer wings served on a cutting board with ranch dip

Favorite sauces to try with wings

There are so many sauces you can toss your wings in; some of our favorites are:

Buffalo sauce
Honey garlic sauce
Teriyaki sauce
BBQ sauce
Garlic parmesan sauce
Sweet chili sauce

Air fryer chicken wing cooked until crispy, served on a white plate

Top Tips

Always preheat the air fryer before adding the chicken wings
Do not overstuff the air fryer basket; otherwise, the air will not circulate, and the skin will not crisp up properly
Shake the air fryer basket every 10 minutes, so the wings cook evenly.
All air fryers are not the same, and cook times may vary; always keep an eye on the air fryer while cooking, so they don't burn.

Extra crispy air fryer chicken wings served on a white platter

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What temperature do you air fry chicken wings?

I set the temperature at 380°F for 25 minutes, shaking the basket every 10 minutes. I then turn the heat to 400°F for five more minutes to make the wings extra crispy. If you cook them at 400°F the entire time, the wings may be drier and chewier.

Can you air fry frozen chicken wings?

Yes, you can—season frozen wings and place them in a preheated air fryer. After 10 minutes, the wings should be thawed and broken apart. Shake the basket and continue cooking. You will need to add an extra 5 minutes to the cooking time.

Are air-fried wings healthy?

Air frying is healthier than deep-frying in oil. It cuts calories by 70% to 80% and has much less fat.

Can you stack chicken wings in an air fryer?

You can, but they will not be as crispy. I suggest cooking the wings in 2 batches; that way, every wing will be nice and crisp.

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