Air Fryer Chicken Wings (SUPER CRISPY!) (VIDEO)
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My Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe has over 600 five star reviews and is trusted by hundreds of thousands of people to make the crispiest chicken wings without deep frying! My recipe is so easy and the wings are gauranteed to turn out super crispy every time (especially when you use one key ingredient!). Follow my guide below and you’ll have crispy air fryer chicken wings done in 20 minutes!
Watch the Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe Video!
A Note from CJ
These are the BEST Air Fryer Chicken Wings!
This recipe has been the TOP recipe on my website for 3 years – and for good reason! These are the crispiest air fryer wings you’ll ever have – and that’s due to one key ingredient: baking powder! Baking powder does two things: 1. it draws moisture to the surface of the skin, so it can evaporate, leading to a crispier skin, and 2. it increases the pH levels of the skin by breaking down the proteins, which helps the skin turn crispiest and more evenly browned when air-fried. (This is the same trick I use for my popular Baked Chicken Wings!)
I love eating these paired with one of my homemade sauces – Homemade Ranch or Popeye’s Blackened Ranch for dipping, Barbecue Sauce, Raising Cane’s Sauce, Chick-Fil-A Sauce, Honey Mustard, Spicy Mayo, Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
“This is my go to recipe for chicken wings, a much healthier alternative than deep frying and it tastes just as good if not better; juicy in the inside and crispy outside.”
How to Buy Chicken Wings for Air Frying
I recommend buying air-chilled wings for the crispiest skin!
- Air-chilled vs. water-chilled: Water-chilled wings absorb extra water during processing, which can prevent the skin from getting as crispy as possible. Look for “air chilled” on the packaging label if they are available. I’ve tested air frying both the water chilled and air chilled wings, and the air chilled chicken wings always come out crispier!
- Whole wings vs. party wings: Whole wings are often times cheaper than the pre-cut party wings. I recommend only air frying the individual wings flats and drumettes. See below on how to cut whole wings to save money!
- Wing size: Once the wings are cut into flats and drumettes, count the number of wings per pound, then refer to my cooking time guide below to ensure your wings come out super crispy!
How to Cut Whole Chicken Wings (Into Flats and Drumettes)
Whole chicken wings have three parts: the wing tip, the flat, and the drumette. We are only air frying the wing flats and drumettes for this recipe. To cut the whole wings properly, follow these easy steps:
- Find the two joints that connect the three parts (refer to the dotted lines below).
- Use a sharp knife to find where the joints naturally separate and cut through them, doing your best to avoid cutting through bone.
- Remove the chicken wing tips and save them for homemade chicken stock!
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!
- chicken wings – I used both chicken drumettes and flats; try to use wings of similar sizes, as this will help ensure the wings cook evenly.
- neutral oil – my go to neutral oil is avocado oil but you can also use canola or vegetable oil.
- white pepper – I recommend using white pepper over black pepper because I personally find that the finer grind of white pepper works better in the seasoning. You can substitute with black pepper if you prefer, but make sure it is finely ground to prevent the peppercorns from burning in the air fryer.
- baking powder – this is the KEY ingredient for crispy chicken wings – see my personal note above for the 2 reasons why it works! Use aluminum-free baking powder for best results.
How to Make Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Pat Dry and Season the Chicken Wings – The first step patting the wings with a paper towel to get them as dry as possible. You want to remove any excess moisture from the wings to help them crisp up. Next, place the chicken wings into a bowl with kosher salt, white pepper, baking powder and neutral oil and mix well.
Air Fry the Chicken – Lay your chicken wings in a single layer in your air fryer basket, making sure there is enough space between the wings to allow for air to circulate freely in the basket. Air fry them at 400F for 10 minutes.
Flip and Air Fry Again – After the first “fry” in the air fryer, the chicken pieces might look a little bland and grey, but don’t worry! Flip them and then air fry a second time at 400F for another 5-11 minutes until they are super crispy! (This time may vary based on your air fryer and the size of your wings – see note in the recipe card or my time guide below)
How Long to Cook Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
I’ve tested this recipe multiple times with different sized chicken wings. For the best and most accurate results, you can weigh the flats and dummettes according to the guide below to determine how long to cook the wings.
After air frying the first 10 minutes, flip the wings and refer to the section below to determine the remaining cooking time. This will vary depending on the size of your wings and how crispy you want them (you can always add an extra 1-2 minutes on top of this for extra crispy wings).
- Small wings (12+ wings per pound): Air fry 5 minutes after first flip (15 minutes total)
- Medium wings (10 wings per pound): Air fry 8 minutes after first flip (18 mintues total)
- Large wings (8 wings per pound): Air fry 11 minutes after first flip (21 minutes total)
Key Tip
CJ’s Expert Tips / Storage
Pat Dry the Wings – Make sure to pat dry the chicken wings so they are completely dry. Dry chicken wings will result in the seasoning sticking better to the chicken (versus falling off in wet clumps), and they will also crisp up better in the air fryer.
Cooking Time – The cooking time may vary for the wings depending on their size (see my note in the recipe card). If the skin isn’t crispy enough, just add a few more minutes until the skin is as crispy as you like. To ensure doneness, use a thermometer probe to make sure the internal temp reads at least 165F.
Using Frozen Wings – If you are using frozen wings, I recommend defrosting them first. This is so that the seasonings and baking powder will properly absorb into the wings and create the crispy skin. I do not suggest cooking the wings straight from the freezer.
Storage and Reheating – Store any leftover chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. They will soften as they sit in the refrigerator – to restore their crispiness, you can reheat them in the 375F for 7-8 minutes.
If you tried this Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!
Air Fryer Chicken Wings (SUPER CRISPY)
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 lb chicken wings, separated into drummettes and flats; air-chilled preferred
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1/2 tsp baking powder, do NOT use baking soda!
- 1/2 tbsp neutral oil, I used avocado oil
Instructions
- If using whole wings, first cut them into flats and drumettes, saving the chicken wing tips for homemade chicken stock.
- Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Add the chicken wings to a bowl, then season them with salt, white pepper, baking powder and neutral oil. Mix until the wings until they are evenly coated.
- In a single layer in the air fryer basket, place the chicken wings in the air fryer ensuring they do not touch each other, and air fry for 10 minutes at 400F.
- Flip the chicken wings and air fry again for 5-11 minutes at 400F (depending on the size of the wings – see note below) or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
- Serve with your favorite wing sauce or eat dry and enjoy!
Notes
- Small wings (12+ wings per pound): Air fry 5 minutes after first flip (15 minutes total)
- Medium wings (10 wings per pound): Air fry 8 minutes after first flip (18 mintues total)
- Large wings (8 wings per pound): Air fry 11 minutes after first flip (21 minutes total)
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe was originally published in October 2025, and updated in October 2026 to include detailed instruction on how to buy chicken wing and how to cut whole chicken wings.
Best chicken wings recipe i have come across and so simple.
What is the point in patting them dry if you’re going to coat them in oil?
You want to remove as much moisture (water) from the skin of the wings as possible. This will help crisp them up more effectively in the air fryer with the help of the oil and baking powder!
I just made these for dinner and they are the best wings I’ve had in a long time
Because water steams, oil crisps.
Tried many recipes and this one is by far the best. Very crisp. I prefer dipping my cooked wings after air frying; that way, you can enjoy the super crispness that this recipe yields.
Thanks so much, Rich!
Best recipe ever……so easy……
Thank you John!
Loved these wings. Made them for my family and they raved about them. Very crispy
Made yesterday! Fabulous! Did 6 flavors, 3 wet and 3 dry! Keeper recipe!
These wings are a hit! Soooo crispy! Tried these once and not ever making wings any other way.
Wow, wow, wow!! I had stopped making wings they never came out quite right. This recipe is perfection!
The BEST crispy air fryer wings ever!
These wings were so good. I will always use this recipe.