Forget the greasy mess of deep frying and the long wait of baking! If you’ve been searching for the secret to incredibly crispy, juicy chicken wings made right at home, your search is over. These Air Fryer Chicken Wings are a total game changer. Using a simple two temperature cooking method, we achieve a shatteringly crisp exterior and a perfectly tender interior without any added oil. Toss them in a classic, tangy buffalo sauce, and you’ve got a game day snack, party appetizer, or weeknight dinner that will have everyone begging for the recipe.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Unbelievably Crispy: The two stage cooking method (low and slow, then hot and fast) renders the fat and crisps the skin to perfection.
- Healthier & Less Mess: All that crispiness comes from the air fryer, not a vat of oil. That means less grease, less smell, and an easy cleanup.
- Foolproof Method: This technique guarantees perfectly cooked wings every single time; no more guessing or undercooked chicken.
- Endlessly Customizable: Serve them with classic buffalo sauce, or try BBQ, garlic parmesan, or just a sprinkle of salt and pepper.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- 2 pounds chicken wings, split at the joint, tips removed
- Kosher salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing, for serving
- Carrot and celery sticks, for serving (optional)
Instructions for Making Air Fryer Chicken Wings
1Prep the Wings: Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels. This is the #1 most important step for getting crispy skin! Generously season the wings on all sides with kosher salt.
2The Two Temperature Air Fry Method (The Secret!): Arrange the wings in a single layer in your air fryer basket, making sure they aren’t touching. This allows the hot air to circulate properly.
- First Phase (Cook Through): Set your air fryer to 360°F (182°C). Cook for 12 minutes.
- Flip: After 12 minutes, use tongs to flip all the wings over. Cook for another 12 minutes at 360°F. This longer, lower temperature cook time ensures the inside is fully cooked and juicy.
- Second Phase (Crisp Up!): Flip the wings one more time. Now, increase the air fryer temperature to 390°F (199°C). Cook for a final 6 minutes. This high heat blast makes the skin incredibly crispy and golden brown.
3Make the Classic Buffalo Sauce: While the wings are cooking, melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl or a small saucepan. Whisk the melted butter together with the hot sauce until you have a smooth, emulsified sauce.
4Toss and Serve: Immediately transfer the hot, crispy wings to a large bowl. Pour the buffalo sauce over the top and toss vigorously until every wing is evenly coated.
Serve your perfect wings right away with a side of cool ranch or blue cheese dressing and some fresh carrot and celery sticks.
The Crispiest Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken wings split at the joint and tips removed
- 1 tsp Kosher salt or to taste
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- ½ cup hot sauce e.g., Frank's RedHot
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing for serving
Instructions
- Pat chicken wings completely dry with paper towels. Season generously with kosher salt.
- Arrange wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 360°F (182°C) for 12 minutes.
- Flip wings and air fry for another 12 minutes at 360°F.
- Flip wings once more and increase temperature to 390°F (199°C). Air fry for 6 final minutes until golden and crispy.
- Meanwhile, melt butter and whisk with hot sauce.
- Toss the hot wings in the sauce to coat. Serve immediately with dressing.
Notes
- Dry is Key: Patting the wings dry is the most critical step for achieving crispy skin.
- Don't Overcrowd: Cook in batches if necessary to ensure the wings are in a single layer for the crispiest results.
- Sauce Variations: For dry rub wings, skip the sauce and toss the cooked wings in your favorite seasoning blend.
