Air fryer chicken wings with baking powder are the crispiest chicken wings you will ever make. They are super easy to make, and the cook time is only about 30 minutes. The final result is wings that are crispy and flavorful on the outside and 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 your favorite wing sauce.
I had so much fun cooking these chicken wings in the air fryer. And it was even more fun eating them.
These are the best chicken wings, and they go perfectly with carrot sticks, cucumbers, and a spinach salad.
We turned on some 90s country music and were transported back to our college days, munching on wings in the lounge. 😉 Our daughter thought we were nuts.
These wings taste like traditional fried chicken wings, but are much healthier as very little oil is used.
These crispy air fryer wings make a perfect appetizer for parties, game day, or anytime.
If you like air fryer recipes, check out my Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Air Fryer French Fries, my healthy Air Fryer Keto Tuna Patties, Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas, or Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes recipe. Also, don't forget Tilapia in Air Fryer, and Teriyaki Salmon in the Air Fryer; they are so quick and easy!
Want more extra crispy wings? Check out Crispy Smoked Chicken Wings!
🐓 More air fryer chicken recipes
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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- This is an easy recipe to make
- Only a few ingredients are needed to make the best air fryer chicken wings.
- Only 1 tablespoon of oil is used; so much healthier than deep frying.
- No flour or cornstarch is needed.
- They are crispy and taste like they were deep-fried. These are restaurant-quality chicken wings you will make again and again.
- 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 oil, making them healthier.
- Cleanup is a breeze; wipe out the air fryer and done!
- The wings are perfectly cooked, crispy, juicy, and tender on the inside.
- They are ready in about 30 minutes.
- Everyone can add their favorite sauce if they like, and everyone's happy!
- They are fun to eat! They just might become one of your favorite foods.
- Serve them as an appetizer or as a main dish.
🐔 Ingredients
These crispy air fryer wings are made with simple ingredients that you can find at your local grocery store.
- Fresh chicken wings. Frozen wings will work too.
- Olive oil. This is so the dry rub has something to stick to.
- Baking powder. This is the secret ingredient in getting really crispy chicken skin.
- Dry rub seasoning: Lemon pepper, seasoning salt, onion powder, and garlic powder.
⏲️ Instructions
First, dry the chicken wings with paper towels to absorb excess moisture.
Next, add the dry rub ingredients of lemon-pepper seasoning, seasoning salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and baking powder to a small bowl.
Then, mix the dry rub ingredients until well combined.
Next, place chicken wings in a large bowl. Pour olive oil over the chicken. Toss the wings around so they get fully covered in oil.
Then, add the dry rub seasoning to the chicken.
Stir well with a large spoon or tongs until the seasoning is spread evenly on the wings.
Preheat the air fryer to 380°F.
Finally, place seasoned chicken wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Leave space between the wings so the hot air can circulate around them and cook evenly.
Depending on the size of your air fryer and the size of your chicken wings, you may need to cook the wings in batches. I like putting each batch of wings in a different wing sauce so we have a lot of variety.
Set the timer for 25 minutes. Remove the basket halfway through the cooking time (after about 12 or 13 minutes).
Flip the wings over using tongs. Place the basket back into the air fryer for the remainder of the cooking time.
The picture below is what the wings look like after 25 minutes. They are cooked and ready to eat, but there is one more step if you want them extra crispy!
Turn up the temperature to 400°F, and cook for 5 minutes more. This will completely crisp up the skin on these lemon pepper wings. That's all there is to it! I love how the grease runs off and into the holes of the air fryer.
The chicken wings should be done, but you can use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature is 165 degrees F. This is the temperature when they are safe to consume.
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 also like to dip them in ranch dip; so good! I also like to serve carrot sticks, celery sticks, and pepper strips with these wings; 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, Smoked Corn on the Cob, or a green salad.
♨️ Favorite wing sauces
There are so many sauces you can toss your wings in; some of my favorites are:
- Buffalo sauce
- Honey garlic sauce
- Teriyaki sauce
- BBQ sauce
- Hot sauce
- Garlic parmesan sauce
- Sweet chili sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Blue cheese dressing
🧂 Substitutions
- Olive oil: You can also use avocado oil. I do not recommend using cooking spray as it can ruin the finish on your air fryer basket.
- Dry rub: Use your favorite spice rub for chicken. I also like to use my homemade chicken rub. Experiment with spices such as smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, and Cajun seasoning.
- Spicy: Add cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the spice rub. You can also add black pepper, cayenne pepper, or chili powder.
📖 Variations
- Buffalo chicken wings. To make Buffalo wings, coat the wings in a mixture of hot sauce and butter.
- BBQ chicken wings. Toss the wings with your favorite barbecue sauce after they come out of the air fryer.
- Salt and pepper wings. Use a simple coating of salt and pepper on the wings instead of the dry rub.
- Honey garlic chicken wings: Toss the wings in a mixture of honey, garlic, and soy sauce after air frying.
- Asian-style chicken wings: For a unique flavor, toss the cooked wings in a mixture of hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Serve with diced green onions for garnish.
🌡️ Storage
- Fridge: If you have leftover wings, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: To freeze leftover wings, let them cool to room temperature, then place them in a Ziploc bag. They will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: When reheating chicken wings, it is important to use a lower temperature than when cooking them initially. This will prevent the skin from becoming tough and dry. Start by preheating your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, place the chicken wings in the basket in a single layer and cook for about 3 minutes a side until heated through.
💭 Top Tips
- Always preheat the air fryer before adding the chicken wings for best results.
- For extra crispy skin, spray the chicken with a light spray of olive oil spray or avocado spray directly on the 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 halfway through the cooking time 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.
⭐ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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.
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.
Air frying is healthier than deep-frying in oil. It cuts calories by 70% to 80% and has much less fat.
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.
It takes about 30 minutes to cook chicken wings in the air fryer. So first, cook them for 25 minutes at 380 degrees F, then for 5 minutes at 400 degrees F.
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📋 Recipe
Extra Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Baking Powder
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds chicken wings, split
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Dry Rub Seasoning
- 1¼ teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
- 1½ tablespoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon seasoning salt
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F.
- Pat chicken wings dry with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture.
- Mix the lemon-pepper seasoning, baking powder, seasoning salt, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small bowl.
- Place chicken wings into a large bowl. Pour olive oil over the chicken. Add the dry rub seasoning to the chicken. Toss the wings with tongs to make sure they are evenly coated.
- Place the chicken wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook the chicken wings for 25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time.
- After 25 minutes, increase the temperature to 400°F and cook for 5 more minutes until the chicken skin is golden brown and crispy.
- Transfer chicken wings to a bowl and toss with your favorite wing sauce.
- Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Fridge: If you have leftover wings, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: To freeze leftover wings, let them cool to room temperature, then place them in a Ziploc bag. They will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: To reheat chicken wings, it is important to use a lower temperature than you did when cooking them originally. This will prevent the skin from becoming tough and dry. Start by preheating your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, place the chicken wings in the basket in a single layer and cook for about 3 minutes a side, or until heated through.
- Always preheat the air fryer before adding the chicken wings for best results.
- For extra crispy skin, spray the chicken with a light spray of olive oil spray or avocado spray.
- 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 halfway through the cooking time 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.
Oscar
These wings turned out super crispy. Loved using my air fryer for the wings and the lemon pepper hit the spot.
Addie
These air fryer wings are extra crispy!