Skip the deep fryer! These crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings are a healthier, mess-free take on a classic. This easy recipe uses just baking soda, a few basic spices, and your favorite barbecue sauce to get delicious wings with that extra crispy skin we all love.
The Perfect Game Day Snack
Chicken wings are one of those classic appetizers that really don’t disappoint, perfect as a game day food or appetizer any time of year. The great thing about air fryer wings is, for one, you’re using way less oil, and two, deep frying is so damn messy… who wants to deal with that?
And I’ll tell ya, you don’t need much to make the best air fryer BBQ chicken wings! All you need is your air fryer, chicken wings (duh), a bit of seasoning, and some of your favorite sauce. And don’t be afraid to play around with the flavor – treat this recipe as your starting point.
Want more tasty chicken wing recipes? Check out my Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Wings, Instant Pot Buffalo Style Chicken Wings, and Best Damn Air Fryer Honey Garlic Wings!
Ingredients
- Chicken wings: You can use whole wings or party wings (wings that have already been separated into drumettes and flats).
- Baking powder: Don’t skip the baking powder! It draws out moisture and creates perfectly crispy wings.
- Seasoning: I use a mix of garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Feel free to use your own favorite seasoning blend.
- Your favorite BBQ sauce: This is where you can really personalize your tasty barbecue wings! Use a smoky, sweet, or spicy BBQ sauce, whatever you love.
Other Sauce Ideas
We all know wings don’t end at BBQ sauce. Here are some different flavors to try:
- Buffalo sauce: Hot sauce, melted butter, and vinegar for a classic tangy, spicy kick.
- Honey mustard: Honey, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and garlic powder for a sweet and tangy twist.
- Teriyaki glaze: Soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and minced garlic for an Asian-inspired flavor.
- Garlic parmesan: Melted butter, minced garlic, grated parmesan, and chopped parsley for a mouthwatering sauce.
- Lemon pepper: Lemon juice, black pepper, and melted butter for a simple but delicious combination.
Preparation
First things first: you’ll want to pat those wings super dry with a paper towel. The drier, the crispier!
Next, grab a big bowl and toss in your baking powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Now, add your wings and get in there with your hands to make sure every single wing is coated evenly.
Pro Tip
Don’t skip that drying step! Getting rid of all the moisture is key to getting those perfectly crispy wings.
Air Frying
Okay, time for the air fryer! Place those wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 400°F for 15 minutes.
Pro Tip
If you have a lot, you might need to do this in batches – don’t overcrowd it, or they won’t get crispy.
Now, flip the wings over and cook for another 10-12 minutes until golden brown and crispy, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Brush or toss wings with BBQ sauce. Cook 3-5 more minutes until the sauce is sticky and bubbly.
Pro Tip
Not sure if they’re done? Just poke ’em! If they feel firm, they’re good to go. Or, grab your trusty meat thermometer to be extra sure.
Serving
Alright, almost there! Let those beauties cool down for just a couple of minutes before you dive in. Serve and enjoy.
Make an Epic Game Day Spread
These air fryer BBQ chicken wings are a quintessential game-day food, so why not pair them with a full game-day spread? These Easy BBQ Chicken Nachos and Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks are total classics. And for something fresh to balance things out, you’ve got to try my Best Damn Air Fryer Street Corn and Sweet and Chunky Mango Salsa!
Storage & Reheating
Got leftover wings? Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. When ready to reheat, place them back in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes, or until heated through.
As always, use your best judgment when reheating leftovers and discard any that have been sitting out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Recipe
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings
- Total Time: 37 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings
Description
These crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings are a healthier twist on the classic. With just baking soda, a few spices, and your go-to BBQ sauce, you’ll get perfectly crispy wings – no deep fryer needed!
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ tablespoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce (about 1 cup)
Instructions
- Pat wings completely dry with paper towels.
- Mix baking powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add wings and toss with your hands until evenly coated.
- Place wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer (cook in batches if needed). Cook at 400°F for 15 minutes.
- Flip wings over and cook for another 10-12 minutes until golden brown and crispy, and internal temp reaches 165°F.
- Brush or toss wings with BBQ sauce. Cook 3-5 more minutes until the sauce is sticky and bubbly.
- Let cool for 2 minutes before serving.
Notes
Got leftover wings? Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. When ready to reheat, place them back in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes, or until heated through.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cool Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
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