How to Cook Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer

How to cook chicken wings in the air fryer?

Apparently there are lots of dishes you can make from chicken wings, and the air fryer can do many of them. In today’s guide we’ll walk you through 4 methods from which you can create your own recipe.

The Classic Buffalo Wings

Typically, this dish dusts chicken drumettes and wingettes in seasoned cornstarch, then deep-fries them until crispy perfection. Using an air fryer instead of a deep fryer, you can also make this crispy treat.

The first method incorporates olive oil into the cornstarch mixture, so there’s fat for the starch to cook in and become crispy. The ratio should be 2 tbsp olive oil (or melted butter) to 1 cup cornstarch, just enough so there are small flakes among the fine particles. Coat the chicken with it, and air-fry at 400°F for 25 minutes.

The second method drizzles or sprays, if you prefer non-oily foods, the cornstarch-coated chicken with olive oil. Don’t brush off the excess. Air-fry the chicken at 400°F for 25 minutes, but flip halfway through and apply a second layer of oil on the other side.

Now if you’re making the wings to save for later, pull the frying basket out at the 12th minute and transfer what you want to save to another bowl. Leave them to cool before freezing or refrigerating, and continue cooking what you want to eat.

Once finished, toss the chicken (just the amount you’re eating) with your favorite buffalo sauce and enjoy with your favorite dip. Put the rest away.

Save

The KFC®

Something close to the KFC® chicken, actually. KFC® double-coats their chicken with flour so that they form flakes. These flakes only appear when deep-fried—properly deep-fried that is—so you can only achieve something similar with an air fryer.

Prepare three bowls, one with (seasoned) all-purpose flour, one with some beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs (preferably panko). Coat your wingettes and drumettes in the flour, eggs, breadcrumbs, then again in the eggs, and breadcrumbs. Lay the chicken into the frying basket, drizzle with oil, then fry at 400°F for 12 minutes, flip, drizzle with oil, and fry for another 12 minutes.

Similarly, at the 12th minute, remove the wings you’re saving for later before cooking the rest.

The Sticky Wings

These juicy wings with a chewy, smoky skin are our favorite. It’s pretty straightforward: add your chicken to the air fryer, and cook for 20 minutes at 450°F, flipping halfway through. There’s no need to remove any halfway through, since sticky wings reheat pretty easily.

The marinade, however, must stick well onto the wings, or your wings won’t be flavorful. If it doesn’t, thicken it with some cornstarch. Mix about 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with about 1 tablespoon of water, then stir the mixture into the bubbling sauce. Dip a spoon in, lift it up, and if the sauce can coat the back of it, the sauce is thick enough.

Also, it’s crucial that your marinades come with some form of sugar in them (honey, sugar, syrup, etc.). The ‘stickiness’ will result in caramelization. Without sugar, the sticky wings are just grilled wings.

If possible, marinate your wings in advance, preferably overnight, for more flavor.

The Dry Grilled Wings

The simplest dish we have on this list: slather your wings with your favorite spices and seasonings, then air-fry them at 450°F for 20 minutes.

Can Frozen Wings Be Used?

Chicken wings are relatively thin, and so you can cook all the way through easily from frozen. Treat them as regular wings. All they need are just a few extra minutes, about 5-10.

Keeping the Cooked Wings

According to the USDA’s storage chart, chicken keeps for about 4 days in the fridge and 3 months in the freezer. For best results, store the wings in air-tight containers or sealable bags.

• For the sticky wings and the dry grilled wings: If refrigerated, reheat in the air fryer at 400°F for 10 minutes; if frozen, at 450°F for 10 minutes wrapped in foil, then 5 more minutes without.
• For the buffalo wings and KFC® wings: If they’re frozen, add them to the frying basket, spray or drizzle them with olive oil, and air-fry for 17 minutes at 350°F. If they’re refrigerated, cook for 15 minutes only at 400°F. Be sure to face the side that seems less golden up.