Air Fryer Whole Chicken Wings

Name: Air Fryer Whole Chicken Wings
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 lb Chicken Wings; 1/4 tsp Natural Ancient Sea Salt; 1/2 tsp Black Pepper; 1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika; 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder; 1/2 tsp Onion Powder; 1 tbsp Baking Powder; Cooking Spray (avocado oil or olive oil cooking spray or use about 2 tbsp of avocado oil or olive oil from the bottle)

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These air fryer whole chicken wings taste like deep-fried chicken without the flour, breading, or oil. Learn how to make crispy chicken wings in an air fryer in about 30 minutes using this easy recipe. Add any of these sides for chicken wings to turn it into a meal.

whole cooked chicken wings in an air fryer

Why Make Whole Chicken Wings in Your Air Fyer

Quick: These wings only take 30 minutes from start to finish. That’s so much faster than if you were to make chicken wings in the oven.
Perfect for weeknight dinners: since these cook quickly, they’re perfect if you want to enjoy full chicken wings after a busy day.
Simple ingredients: besides whole wings, one of the best things about this recipe is that you just need a few spices to make this main dish or appetizer.
Crispy skin: this is my favorite air fryer chicken wings recipe because of the crispy chicken skin. That makes these wings a perfect “holder” for your favorite wing sauce like classic buffalo sauce or the ones from my honey buffalo wings, sweet chili wings, or wet lemon pepper wings.

Ingredients Needed

This is what you’ll need to make delicious chicken wings in your air fryer. Be sure to check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full amounts and instructions.

Chicken wings – I use raw whole wings instead of cutting the wings into flats, drums, and wing tips.
Sea salt
Black pepper
Smoked paprika
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Baking powder – this ingredient is optional since it helps with crisping the skin similar to what happens in a deep fryer. If you don’t want crispy air fryer chicken wings, you can skip this one.
Cooking Spray or oil: going the wings a spray or drizzle helps them to crisp as they are air frying.

smoked paprika, baking powder, black pepper, onion powder, sea salt, garlic powder, olive oil, chicken wings on separate plates

How to Make Air Fryer Whole Chicken Wings

Making air-fried chicken wings is actually pretty easy. Here are four key steps:

Prepare the chicken: dry the chicken wings with a paper towel to remove excess moisture, place the wings in a large bowl and mix the spices in a small bowl.
Coat the wings with spice mixture: this adds flavor to the wings, but also works to crisp the wing skin.
Add the wings to the air fryer basket in a single layer and add a drizzle of oil or generous spray of cooking spray. The extra oil helps to brown the chicken skin.
Air fry the wings: I cook most of my chicken wings in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes, depending on how crispy I want the final dish to be.

step-by-step instructions for how to cook whole chicken wings in an air fryer

Cooking Tips and Variations

Bring the chicken to room temperature: If you have the time, remove your chicken from the fridge about 30 minutes before making this recipe. This will ensure that you end up with juicy chicken wings.
Space them out: Make sure to not crowd the wings in the air fryer basket. For crispy wings, there should be space between each wing so the hot air can circulate.
Dry the chicken wings before cooking: This recipe tells you to dry the wings before seasoning them. Make sure to take that step seriously. The drier the wings, the crispier they’ll get in the air fryer.
Cook until crispy enough for you: chicken is safe to eat when a meat thermometer says that the thickest part has an internal temperature of 165 degrees. When I make these, that means I’m actually cooking them a bit more. So, be sure to cook them at least 12 minutes per side and decide whether you want to add more time.
Use these in as a healthier option for fried chicken, then make a meal with these side dishes for chicken and waffles

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

These wings will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days. You can reheat in the air fryer at 360F for 6-7 minutes, or in the oven at 350F for 15-20 minutes.

Depending on your air fryer, different brands have a reheat setting that you could use too!

How do I get crispy chicken wings in an air fryer?

To get crispy chicken wings in an air fryer, make sure to pat the wings dry with paper towels before seasoning them. Also, make sure to space the wings out evenly in the air fryer basket so that they cook evenly.

How long should I cook whole chicken wings in an air fryer?

The cooking time for whole chicken wings in an air fryer varies depending on the size of the wings and the temperature of the air fryer. I prefer to use 400 degrees for about 24 minutes.

Do I need to preheat my air fryer before cooking chicken wings?

Preheating helps ensure that the wings cook evenly and get crispy on the outside. But, some air fryer models do not require preheating so this is optional.

Can I cook frozen chicken wings in an air fryer?

Yes, you can cook frozen chicken wings in an air fryer. However, you’ll need to increase the cooking time by 5-10 minutes to ensure that they cook all the way through. I also add sauce since they don’t turn out crispy like this recipe.

What are some good seasonings to use on chicken wings in an air fryer?

Some popular seasonings to use on chicken wings in an air fryer include garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. You can also use your favorite dry rub or marinade for added flavor.

air fryer whole chicken wings on a big plate with hot sauce

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