Description
This Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe delivers crispy, juicy, and flavorful wings with a simple dry rub and quick cooking method. Perfectly seasoned and cooked to golden perfection in the air fryer, these wings are great served plain, tossed in your favorite sauce, or with a side of ranch or blue cheese dip.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Wings
- 2 pounds chicken wings (separated into drumettes and flats)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Dry Rub
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 400°F in air fryer mode to warm it up while you prepare the wings.
- Dry wings: Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels; this step is crucial for achieving maximum crispiness.
- Coat the wings: In a large bowl, toss the dried wings with olive oil. In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Add this spice mixture to the wings and stir until they are evenly coated.
- Air fry: Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Arrange the wings in a single layer without overcrowding. Cook at 400°F for 7 minutes, then flip each wing over and cook for an additional 8 minutes or until golden and crispy.
- Serve: Serve the wings plain or toss them in your favorite sauce such as buffalo or BBQ with a hint of sriracha. They also pair wonderfully with ranch or blue cheese dipping sauces.
Notes
- Patting the wings dry is essential for crispy skin; any moisture will steam the wings and soften the exterior.
- Use baking powder (not baking soda) to help the skin crisp up without affecting taste.
- Feel free to customize the dry rub to your preference by adjusting the spices or adding cayenne for extra heat.
- If making buffalo sauce, melt equal parts butter and hot sauce and toss wings after cooking.
- Cook wings in batches if your air fryer basket is small to avoid overcrowding and ensure even cooking.
- Allow wings to rest for a few minutes after cooking to redistribute juices and improve texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 wings
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
