This Air-Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe produces wings so crispy that you won't believe they're not fried! Not only are they healthier than traditional fried wings, but they only take 15 minutes to cook! The delicious homemade Thai chili sauce takes this recipe to perfection.
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
We're huge fans of chicken wings in my house—who doesn't love wings? This quick, easy, and healthy recipe allows us to enjoy them when the craving hits. These wings are unbelievably crispy and I love coming up with different sauces to toss them in.
This air-fryer chicken wings recipe was inspired by my love of Asian food and hit the spot every time! Enjoy these as a snack on their own, or pair them with my chili lime potato stacks, pizza rolls recipe (with chicken tikka), or hot and sour soup made with the leftover spicy broth from this recipe.
Jump to:
Why you'll love this air-fryer chicken wings recipe
- Super crispy - The 2-step cooking method used in this recipe results in the crispiest wings.
- Quick and Healthy - Using an air fryer means a shorter cooking time and a lot less oil in the recipe.
- Prep ahead - Boil the chicken wings and make the sauce a day or two ahead of time. Simply air fry and toss the wings in the sauce when you want to serve them.
- Low-carb and gluten-free - This recipe is great if you're looking for a low-carb or gluten-free entree.
Ingredient notes
- Baking Powder - A key ingredient in this recipe and what makes the chicken wings so crispy.
- Franks Hot Sauce - This is a tip from a friend who makes the best chicken wings. Cooking the wings and adding the hot sauce really flavors them from the inside.
- Vegetables - Adding a few basic vegetables you would add to any stock helps the taste of the wings and results in a delicious stock you can use as a base for all your other cooking.
- Butter—This helps add a rich, authentic flavor to the wings and makes them taste just like the fried version.
- Garlic and Ginger - These add depth to the sauce, so it doesn't taste like it came out of a bottle.
- Sesame oil - This is necessary to bring that true Thai flavor to the air-fryer chicken wings recipe.
- Sambal Oelek - One of my favorite chili sauces, this is available at most supermarkets or on Amazon. If you can't source this, use any chili garlic sauce your store offers.
- Sweet chili sauce - A supermarket staple in the Asian aisle at supermarkets, this helps balance the spicy and acidic flavors in the sauce and rounds it out.
Please see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the complete list of ingredients, measurements, and recipe instructions.
Substitutions & variations
- Add a different sauce - These wings taste delicious tossed in traditional buffalo sauce, barbecue sauce, or any other flavor you want to experiment with.
- Use cornstarch - Baking soda works best, but cornstarch is a good substitute if necessary in this air-fryer chicken wings recipe.
- Try a dry rub - Toss the wings in a combination of your favorite dry spices, like garlic powder, white or black pepper, paprika, and even lemon pepper. Mix the spices and add them to the wings with some olive oil and baking powder; air fry and enjoy with ranch dressing.
- Use the leftover sauce - The Thai chili sauce tastes great as a glaze on any other meat, like Salmon, shrimp, or grilled chicken breasts. Use any leftover sauce, or double it up and freeze it for a later meal.
How to make this air fryer chicken wings recipe
- First step - Add the chicken wings, along with all the vegetables and 8 cups of water, to a cooking pot and bring everything to a boil. Add the hot sauce and continue to cook for an additional 10 minutes.
- Second step - Remove the chicken wings, place them on a baking sheet with a rack, and allow them to dry out for about 10 minutes.
- Third step - Pat them dry and add the baking powder.
- Fourth step - Toss well in the baking powder. This will help absorb any residual moisture and also help thin out the skin for a perfect crispy texture.
- Fifth step - While the wings are cooking at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes, add all the ingredients for the sauce to a saucepan and cook on medium heat.
- Sixth step: Cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Once you have a cohesive mixture, turn the stove off.
- Seventh step - After 10 minutes of cooking, flip the wings and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes until they have a crispy exterior on both sides.
- Eighth step - Add the cooked wings to the saucepan with the sauce and mix well. Allow them to sit in the sauce for 5 minutes before serving.
Tips for the best air fryer chicken wings recipe
- Add the hot sauce to the broth at the end - The heat from the hot sauce can be overpowering as the broth cooks, so add it only at the end.
- Make sure the wings are dry - This is essential to crispy wings. Follow all the steps: air drying, patting them dry, and then tossing them in the baking powder for perfect results.
- Don't overcrowd the basket - Lay the wings down flat in an even layer (no overlapping) and leave a little space between each piece for perfect cooking.
- Use a thermometer - Since air fryers vary, as does the size of chicken wings, for perfect results, use a meat thermometer and cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Recipe FAQS
Boiling the wings first will enhance their flavor, but if you want to simplify the steps, simply pat your raw wings dry, season them with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, sprinkle with baking powder and some cooking oil, and air fry for 20-25 minutes. For perfect results, make sure to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer.
To bake the chicken wings, preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Follow all the steps and cook for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through.
It's best to eat the wings the day they're cooked. However, if you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight box in the fridge for up to 2 days and freezer for up to 6 weeks. To reheat, make sure they're fully defrosted, and then heat them in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. You can add more sauce to them to freshen them up.
Other Asian-inspired recipes you may like
If you decide to try this recipe, Please don't forget to leave a rating and comment below! If you take a picture, tag me on Instagram! Thank You!
Air-Fried Chicken Wings Recipe
WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Ingredients
Chicken Wings
- 4 lb chicken wings (see notes)
- 2 sticks celery
- 1 whole onion
- 10 cloves garlic
- 8 cups water
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ¼ cup Franks hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon baking powder (see notes)
Thai Chili Sauce
- ¼ cup sweet Thai chili sauce
- ¼ cup Sambal Oelek sauce (see notes)
- ¼ sup Sriracha hot chili sauce
- 2 tablespoon lime Juice
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic
- 1 tablespoon ginger
- 2 tablespoon dark sesame oil
- 4 tablespoon butter
Garnish
- 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
Chicken Wings
- Put the chicken wings, onion, garlic cloves, celery sticks, carrot, and salt and bring to a boil
- Once the water reaches a boil add the Franks Hot Sauce and boil on medium heat for 10 minutes. (see notes)
- Remove the wings using a slotted spoon, and lay them flat on a cookie sheet rack to dry for about 10 minutes. (See notes)
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
- Pat the wings dry and toss them in the baking powder.
- Air fry for 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through. (see notes)
- Remove from the oven and toss in the prepared sauce. (see notes)
Thai Chili Sauce
- Grind, crush or grate your garlic, and ginger.
- Add these along with all of the remaining ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Simmer for 5-10 minutes to get a well blended consistency
- Cover and set aside till it's time to toss the wings
Garnish
- Plate and sprinkle with the sesame seeds and cilantro and serve.
Leave a Reply