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Air Fryer for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know to Get Started

Beginner Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Crisp, juicy chicken wings are an ideal first air fryer recipe because they are simple, forgiving, and full of flavor. Serve them plain or toss the cooked wings with Buffalo sauce.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 34 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 2 lb (900 g) Chicken wings, split into drumettes and flats
  • 1 tbsp Neutral oil, such as avocado, canola, or vegetable oil
Seasoning
  • 1 tbsp Aluminum-free baking powder
  • 1 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • ½ tsp Garlic powder
  • ½ tsp Onion powder
  • ¼ tsp Black pepper
Optional Sauce
  • ½ cup Buffalo sauce or another favorite wing sauce

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Pat the wings very dry with paper towels. Combine the baking powder, kosher salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper, then toss the wings with the seasoning mixture and neutral oil.
  2. Preheat the air fryer for 3–5 minutes if your appliance benefits from preheating. Arrange the wings in a single layer without crowding the basket.
  3. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 22–30 minutes, turning or shaking the basket halfway through cooking. Continue until the wings are deeply browned and the thickest pieces reach at least 165°F (74°C).
  4. Let the wings rest for 2–5 minutes. Toss them with about ½ cup Buffalo sauce or serve the sauce on the side so the skin stays as crisp as possible.

Notes

Use baking powder, not baking soda, for crisp skin. Wings are safe at 165°F (74°C), though many people prefer the more tender texture they reach around 175–185°F (79–85°C). Cook in batches if needed.