Air Fryer Chicken Wings (SUPER CRISPY!) (VIDEO)

5 from 518 votes
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Who doesn’t love chicken wings!? I love making them in the air fryer, which I consider a bit of a shortcut way to make crispy, juicy chicken wings! Air Fryer Chicken Wings have been a highly requested recipe and after a couple of tests this is my favorite way to make them!

These Air Fryer Chicken Wings only take a few minutes to make, but require one KEY ingredient – baking powder! The baking powder reacts with the chicken skin by raising its pH level to create beautiful golden brown and crispy skin. They’re delicious on their own, but also spectacular with my Easy Homemade Ranch Dressing, BBQ Sauce, or Raising Cane’s Sauce!

Air Fryer chicken wings cooked in air fryer

Watch the Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe Video Below!

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Air Fryer chicken wings raw ingredients in bowls

Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Wings

I love this air fryer chicken wing recipe because only a few ingredients will make crispy, juicy chicken with less fat than deep frying! Firstly, here are the ingredients you will need!

  • chicken wings
  • neutral oil – my go to neutral oil is avocado oil but you can also use canola or vegetable oil
  • kosher salt
  • white pepper – I get asked all the time if you can sub black pepper for white pepper – and my answer is, it depends BUT you need to watch the ratio. White pepper has a milder flavor profile than black pepper, so it’s not a 1-1 substitute. I would start with less black pepper and add as you go. (But really, you should have white pepper in your pantry! It’s a staple in mine!)
  • baking powder – The baking powder reacts with the chicken skin to raise the pH level and and creates tiny air bubbles, which also helps form a crispy coating.

Want to use the oven instead? Make my Baked Chicken Wings! Feel like pork? Try Air Fryer Crispy Pork Belly!

Air Fryer Chicken Wings: Recipe Instructions

Pat the Chicken Wings Dry

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. Mix well with your hands and head to the air fryer!

Marinated chicken wings with baking powder and seasonings

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 (preheat if needed) for 10 minutes!

Air fryer chicken wings raw in the air fryer basket

Flip and Air Fry the Chicken Wings

After the first “fry” in the air fryer, the chicken pieces might look a little bland and grey, but don’t worry! Give them a flip then air fry a second time at 400F for another 8-12 minutes until they are crispy! This time may vary based on the size of your wings, so adjust the time accordingly.

Air Fryer Chicken wings Close Up

This was the final result – look just how incredibly crispy that chicken is! You can see the puffed skin from the baking powder, which results in a beautiful paper thin and crisp exterior. You can also watch the video for audio evidence as well ๐Ÿ™‚

Want a non-meat alternative? Try my super crispy Air Fryer Tofu!

COOKING TIME
The cooking time may vary for the wings depending on their size. If the skin isn’t crispy enough, just add a few more minutes until the skin gets to where you want it to be. To ensure doneness, use a thermometer probe to make sure the internal temp reads at least 165F.

If you liked this Air Fryer Chicken Wings recipe, check out some of the most popular air fryer recipes like my Air Fryer Chicken Thighs, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, or my other fried chicken recipes on the blog like my:

5 from 518 votes

Air Fryer Chicken Wings (SUPER CRISPY)

Servings: 2
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Air Fryer chicken wings cooked in air fryer
These Air Fryer Chicken Wings are perfectly juicy and crispy in the air fryer! They come together in minutes and taste so delicious with or without sauce!

Ingredients 

Chicken

Instructions 

  • Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
  • In a bowl, season the chicken wings with salt and white pepper along with baking powder and neutral oil. Mix until the wings are evenly coated.
  • In a single layer, place the chicken wings in the air fryer and air fry for 10 minutes at 400F.
  • Flip the chicken wings and air fry again for 8-12 minutes at 400F (depending on the size of the wings) or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
  • Serve with your favorite wing sauce or eat dry and enjoy!

Notes

Ingredient Tips:ย 
Neutral oil – my go to neutral oil is avocado oil but you can also use canola or vegetable oil.
White pepper – I get asked all the time if you can sub black pepper for white pepper – and my answer is, it depends BUT you need to watch the ratio. White pepper has a milder flavor profile than black pepper, so it’s not a 1-1 substitute. I would start with less black pepper and add as you go. (But really, you should have white pepper in your pantry! It’s a staple in mine!)
Baking powder – the baking powder reacts with the chicken skin to raise the pH level and and creates tiny air bubbles, which also helps form a crispy coating.
Recipe Tips:
Ensure the wings are as dry as possible (pat them dry with a paper towel) prior to seasoning. This will ensure the skin puffs up and blisters in the air fryer basket during air frying!
The cooking time may vary for the wings depending on their size. If the skin isn’t crispy enough, just add a few more minutes until the skin gets to where you want it to be. To ensure doneness, use a thermometer probe to make sure the internal temp reads at least 165F.

Nutrition

Calories: 274kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 23gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 1358mgPotassium: 192mgFiber: 0.1gVitamin A: 180IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

About CJ

Iโ€™m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

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5 from 518 votes (407 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




190 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    These came out so tender, juicy and crispy! Mahalos CJ for this recipe! We have made this several times. The last time I omitted the oil and added cornstarch. Came out great still!

  2. 5 stars
    Love the recipe and I even seasoned them with Cayenne Pepper and Lemon pepper salt mixed. It turned out great ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ

  3. 5 stars
    Iโ€™ve made air fryer wings before, but never thought of adding baking powder to make them crispy. Always learning something new on your site!

  4. 5 stars
    I’ve made air fryer wings before, but never thought of adding baking powder to make them crispy. Always learning something new on your site!