Description
Enjoy perfectly golden, extra crispy chicken wings made effortlessly in the air fryer. These wings are seasoned with a flavorful blend of chili powder, garlic, and smoked paprika, with baking powder to ensure a crunchy texture. They cook quickly at high heat and are great served with celery sticks and homemade ranch dressing or your favorite wing sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Wings
- 12–14 chicken wings (drumettes and wingettes separated)
Seasoning & Coating
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt (additional salt to taste if needed)
- 1/2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp olive oil
Optional Serving
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Bring Wings to Room Temperature: Let the chicken wings sit at room temperature for at least one hour to help them cook evenly and faster.
- Prepare Air Fryer Basket: Using a paper towel, lightly oil the inside of the air fryer basket to prevent the wings from sticking during cooking.
- Season the Wings: Pat the wings dry thoroughly with paper towels. Combine kosher salt, chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and baking powder in a bowl. Toss the wings in this seasoning mixture until fully coated. Place the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air Fry the Wings: Set the air fryer to 400ºF and cook for 20-22 minutes. Halfway through cooking, about 10-11 minutes in, remove the basket and flip the wings to ensure even crisping.
- Check for Doneness: After 20 minutes, examine the wings. Smaller wings will be done between 20-22 minutes, but larger wings might need up to 22-25 minutes. Continue cooking if necessary until wings are golden and crispy.
- Serve: Remove the wings from the air fryer. Serve immediately with celery sticks and homemade ranch dressing or your favorite sauce. Optionally, squeeze fresh lime juice over the wings for a zesty kick.
Notes
- Bringing wings to room temperature ensures even cooking and crispiness.
- Baking powder helps create that signature crispy skin without deep frying.
- Use different spices or sauces to customize flavor.
- Do not overcrowd the basket; cook in batches if needed for best results.
- Leftover wings can be reheated in the air fryer to retain crispness.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: crispy chicken wings, air fryer chicken wings, easy appetizer, game day wings, homemade chicken wings
