5 Star Reader Comment
Fixed the wings tonight for dinner and used your “mama salt.” Not only were they extremely easy, but very tasty as well. My husband kept saying “you need to fix these again.” I’ve tried several of your recipes and they all deserve 5 stars. Thank you for all you do.
Rhonda
The Wings I’m Known For in My Neighborhood
I am known around my neighborhood for two things: my hospitality and my chicken wings, and I take both seriously. Over the years, I have served up more game day food than I can count to a house full of folks, and wings are always the first thing to disappear off the platter.
What surprises people is how simple this recipe really is. No oil, no marinating, no long ingredient list. Just a good dry seasoning, a hot air fryer, and knowing exactly when to bump up the temperature for that final crispy finish. Once you try it this way, you will understand why I never bothered going back to frying wings in oil on the stovetop.
Enjoy!
Donya’s Best Tips for Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Pat them bone dry: Moisture is the enemy of crispy skin. Pat the wings dry with paper towels before they touch the seasoning.
Skip the oil: Chicken skin has enough natural fat on its own. Adding oil just makes for a greasier basket, not crispier skin.
Give them room to breathe: A crowded basket steams instead of crisps. Cook in a single layer with a little space between pieces, even if that means a second batch.
Shake often: Shake the basket every five to eight minutes so the wings cook evenly on all sides.
Finish hot: That last blast at a higher temperature is what gives you deep golden color and a real crunch.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken wings are the star here. Fresh or frozen wingettes, drumettes, and wing tips all work.
- Montreal steak seasoning is my go-to dry rub. Garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, or chili powder work well too.
- Salt and pepper help tenderize the meat and make the other flavors pop.
A Few Ways I Switch This Recipe Up
- Wet or dry, your call: I like mine dry and loaded with seasoning, but a good sauce works too.
- Homemade House Seasoning: Adds a smoky flavor from paprika.
- Homemade Taco Seasoning: Great for a Mexican-style dinner spread.
- Buffalo or BBQ: Toss the finished wings in buffalo wing sauce or BBQ sauce.
- Dipping sauces: Alabama White Sauce, Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce, or Homemade BBQ Sauce for a punch of smoky flavor.
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Pat the chicken dry, then toss with seasoning in a large bowl. Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook following the chart above. For full details, quantities, and cook times, see the recipe card below.
Temperature and Timing Chart
| Stage | Temperature | Time | What to Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | 375°F | 20 minutes | Cook in a single layer, shaking the basket every 5 to 8 minutes |
| Stage 2 | 400°F | 3 minutes | Increase heat for extra crispy skin |
| Frozen wings | 375°F | 20 to 25 minutes | Shake the basket halfway through, check for desired crispiness |
Make-Ahead Tips
Hosting a football watch party or feeding a crowd on game day? Here is how I keep the work off my plate.
Season ahead: Toss the wings with the seasoning, then refrigerate them covered for up to 24 hours before cooking.
Cook and refrigerate: Fully cooked wings keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze for later: Cooked wings freeze well for up to 3 months. Freeze in a single layer on a sheet pan first, then transfer to a freezer bag.
Reheat in the air fryer: Bring wings back to crispy at 350 to 400 degrees for a few minutes, until hot and crispy again.
More Air Fryer Recipes You’ll Love
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings
- 2 teaspoons Montreal Steak Seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Using paper towels, pat chicken dry. Place in a large bowl and sprinkle with seasoning.
- Place 1 layer of chicken wings in the air fryer basket. Do not crowd basket. Set the air fryer to 375 degrees and cook the wings for 20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5-8 minutes.
- Increase the temperature to 400 degrees and cook for 3 minutes for extra crispy skin.
- Remove wings from the basket, sprinkle with additional seasoning, and salt if desired. Serve hot.
Notes
-
- Once they are cooked, dip them into Alabama White Sauce, Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce or Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce for a punch of smoky flavor.
-
- I use Homemade Montreal Steak Seasoning to add a good dose of pepperiness.
Nutrition
Serving Suggestions
Sprinkle on hot pepper flakes, or drizzle with Hot Honey, then dip the chicken wings into Blue Cheese Dressing. Serve Outrageously Good Stuffed Celery sticks on the side to cool things off. These are also really tasty with a side of air fryer french fries or Mediterranean Pasta Salad.
Commonly Asked Questions
Cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer for 20-25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking. Check for desired crispiness and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
Yup! Cook them at a high temperature, around 375 to 400 degrees, for the time listed in the recipe. This will help get the skin.
Always after. Sauce added before cooking can burn in the air fryer. Cook the wings fully, then toss them in your sauce of choice.
The most common culprits are a crowded basket or skipping the high-heat finishing stage. Give the wings space and do not skip that final blast of heat.
If you tried this Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!
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Fixed the wings tonight for dinner and used your “mama salt”. Not only were they extremely easy, but very tasty as well. My husband kept saying ” you need to fix these again”. I’ve tried several of your recipes and they all deserve 5 stars. Thank you for all you do.
That’s music to my ears—thank you so much for the kind words! I’m thrilled you tried the wings with “Mama Salt” and that they were a hit at your dinner table. Sounds like your husband’s already placing his repeat order!
So glad the recipes have been working well for you—keep me posted on what you try next!
~Donya
Do you use air fryer liners for less clean up
I use it for lots of different reasons. Enjoy the recipes.
~Donya
If I want to put teriyaki sauce on my wings when would I add that? Before or after cooking?
I guess after. Let me know how it turns out.
~Donya
Can I Make these in the oven, I don’t have an air fryer.
Hey Linda.
Sure you can make them in the oven. I would cook them at a high temperature, 375 or 400 so that they’ll get crispy on the outside.
Let me know how they turn out.
Have a great day,
~Donya
Thanks for the recipe! This will be my first try at air frying anything! Are the wings cooked from frozen or do I thaw them first?
Awesome!
Make sure the wings are thawed and wipe them dry with a paper towel. They are going to be great! Keep me posted.
Have a great day.
~Donya