Air Frying has made eating healthy and fast possible without compromising flavor or texture. One of my favorite things (other than fries) to make in the air fryer is chicken wings. Air frying chicken wings make the most crispy wings with NO OIL required. The only ingredients you will need are chicken wings, baking powder, and salt & pepper. You can eat the wings as is without a sauce toss them in your favorite wing sauce. Today I will be sharing 3 quick wing sauces that you can make while the wings are cooking in the air fryer. 
To get started, cut and dry your wings (with a paper towel if needed) completely. Dry wings will yield a crispy texture. After the wings are dried. Toss them in baking powder along with a dash of salt and pepper. You can get creative here if you’d like and season the chicken with your favorite spice blend.
Next, place in the air fryer (preferably on a rack) and air fryer until crispy (refer to recipe box below for more details). 
As you can see, the wings are SUPER crispy and mouth-watering. At this point, you can simply serve the wings as is or toss them in a wing sauce. 
Now to the fun part, the sauces! The first is buffalo sauce, the 2nd option is a honey bbq sauce and the 3rd is a garlic parmesan coating. if making things from scratch is not your thing, simply toss the wings in a store-bought wings sauce! 
How to Make Super Crispy Wings in the Air Fryer
Use Baking Powder: I learned this trick years ago and it has been my favorite way to get crispy skin-on chicken wings. This Magic Ingredient raises the PH level in the chicken wings and makes them SUPER crispy. Just be sure the baking powder you are using is aluminum-free.
Pat the chicken dry: Be sure the wings are completely dried through. This will help the baking powder stick to the skin and result in a super crispy texture
No Oil Needed: This is my absolute favorite part about air frying chicken wings. That’s right, no oil needed. The oil from the chicken wings will break down and when combined with the salt and baking powder, will form a crunchy crust that is to die for.
Air-frying Method: The wings are first air-fried on medium heat to cook the interior and then the heat is turned up to 400F+ to acrisp up the skin. The result is chicken wings that are soft and tender on the inside and super crispy on the outside.
Don’t over-lap: Spread the wings out so they don’t overlap. Giving the wings enough room will allow them to cook evenly and crispy all around. Using a large air-fryer will allow you to achieve the best results in just 1 round. This is our favorite air-fryer for large batches. 
Super Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings (3 Ways!)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Chicken wings
- 1 tbs baking powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garlic Parmesan Wings
- ¼ cup butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese freshly grated or pre-grated
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
- 2 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley leaves
Honey Bbq Wings
- 1 cup bbq sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 2 tsp sriracha or hot sauce optional
Instructions
- Remove tips of chicken wings and split at the joint. Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel. In a large bowl, toss chicken wings with 1 tablespoon baking powder and a dash of salt and pepper. Transfer to air-fryer basket and place in the air fryer.
- Cook at 375F for 25 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking time. Increase the temperature to 420F or highest setting and bake for another 5 minutes or until the skin is crispy and brown. Remove from air fryer and immediately toss in wing sauce of choice.
To Make Garlic Parmesan Wings
- Cook garlic in butter then turn off the heat and pour it into a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients along with the wings to the bowl and toss.
To Make Buffalo Wings
- Cook butter with garlic for 2 minutes. Turn off heat and pour into a large bowl. Add hot sauce and salt. Stir in wings.
To Make Honey bbq wings
- Simmer all ingredients in a small pot or pan. Transfer to a bowl and toss in wings.
Video
Notes
Equipment
This hands down imo is the best way to make wings! Even over frying. I always do the garlic parm for one half and Buffalo for the other. I added about a tsp of gochugaru Korean chili flakes and two dashes of worsechestire sauce. I didn’t have baking powder so I used potato starch as a substitute and it worked fine. Wings were very crispy out of the air fryer. I did 23 mins at 370 then 3 minutes at 400 (as high as mine would go). I didn’t want to dry the wings out so I recommend watching the last few minutes and test how crispy the skin is. Oh also use this same recipe for cubed breast (boneless wings) and it works just as well, cooked them for 15 minutes.
The 2lbs of chicken wings, once cooked are they split between the three sauces, or is it 2lbs per batch of sauce. Sorry it is not clear in the instructions. Thank you
Can’t understand if I have to cook the wings in the Recep ie sauce or just dip them in after
Do I just start with plain cooked wings whatever Recep ie we choose
You cook them first and toss them after you done.
Personally, I make as many of each flavor as each person wants. And he leftovers I have can be stored in the fridge for up to a week …. OR…. Just hear me out…. I save a couple wings each and make one batch of what I call “everything”! All of the sauces mixed together. It’s actually really awesome and a great way to use up any leftover sauce you have. I’m not the author but this is the recipe I use and I am a chef!
I have had my toaster oven style air fryer for just a few weeks and have been experimenting with various recipes I found on the internet. For most I have had to increase the temperature or the time or both to get sufficient browning, and my “crispy air fryer chicken thighs” turned out juicy and delicious, but nothing resembling crispy. Well, I took a leap of faith and followed this recipe as written, (with the addition of some garlic powder) and it certainly paid off! The wings were crispy and delicious, even without any sauce. I’m not sure if the magic is in the baking powder, the chicken skin, or the combination of the two, but this worked great and my husband was in heaven eating these… Although not so much when it came to cleaning the air fryer oven … LOL
I have made these wings SO many times and they always turn out delicious!! Thank you for the amazing recipe! I want to make this for super bowl but I dont have a lot of time to make so many batches (my air fryer isn’t as big as i’d like). Have you tried this in the oven? And if so what temp and how long? Thank you!!
The recipe works great. All those who had issues didn’t follow as instructed and would have an issue with a boiled water recipe.
Don’t mess up and use baking soda instead of baking powder. LOL. I did this time. I could taste it a little on the wings without sauce and ended up giving the uncooked ones a rinse before I fried them up. But they crisped up great just like they do with the baking powder. These are so good and great for game days.
Best wings ever. Only different ting I did was cook for 20 min and then put sauce on. Cooked at 425 for 5 min. Other thing Idid wasuseSweet Baby Ray’s Mild Buffalo Sauce.
I used flour instead of baking powder and they came out great. Only cooked it for 10mins on each side then 4 mins on the higher sitting..Came out great..Just ate them plain.
Trying to figure out why my house filled up with smoke?!?!?! Followed the directions….then when I turned the temperature up…within 5 min house full of stinky smoke. Transfered to regular oven.
Looks like this maybe be an air fryer issue. Was there something in the air fryer?
My air fryer is a TFal there is only 1 setting off or on???
Followed instructions exactly. No aluminum in my baking powder. Wings are done and edible but blond and nowhere near as crispy-looking or -tasting as the photo.
Did you shake off the excess flour and brush the chicken with oil?
Your recipe says no oil needed why would they be brushed with oil?
I am not sure what the previous answer was referring to! I have used this recipe hundreds of times, I am a chef and it is the only recipe I use for wings! Unfortunately, I do not know the solution to your problem. The only thing I can think would be overcrowding. But my wings always work perfectly touching side to side. I usually put about 10 wings in at a time but I have a large fryer. Maybe your air fryer is going out? I hope you found a solution because this recipe is incredible. I hope you get my response and respond back to me.
I believe it should be baking powder rather than soda. You would be correct that the baking soda would give them a terrible taste.
I love these wings! How do you think chicken tender’s would turnout using this recipe?
Made these without baking powder still turned out great. One question though, this recipe references the IP air fryer. Are you using the bake setting or fry for these. It does make a difference in my opinion
These are hands down the best wings I have ever had! I would take just a few minute off cook time but that may just be my air fryer. Also loved the bbq and garlic parm sauce (family doesn’t like spice so hot sauce was out). So good!
Going to try this but I have a paddle in my actifry no rack? Will this still work?
I’ve never used an air fryer with a paddle attachment but it should work. Be sure to shake the air fryer a few times or flip the wings so all sides cook evenly.
These turned out perfectly!! I loved the Buffalo sauce. I ended up with decently large drum sticks and cooked them for 24 min (flipping after 12) at 400 and they were perfect. Definitely would make again!
Baking Powder ……. YAHTZEE !!!!
What if I don’t have a basket air fryer?
I have an air dryer with racks?
That will work!
Does this need to be completed in batches, or will the 2lbs go in all at once?
Depends on your air fryer. If it can fit them all then you should be fine. I had to do mine in batches because I didn’t have enough room.
That would depend on the size of your air fryer but most likely in batches or as long as they are not overlapping.
Getting ready to cook some wings & follow this recipe. Checked my baking powder & noticed it contained “sodium aluminum sulfate”. What happens if I use the baking powder with sodium aluminum sulfate?
Same for me. So wondering as well.
Forget the baking powder. It is really not needed. And, IMHO, makes the wings taste cruddy.
Great recipe! Wings were delicious! Followed the recipe to the t and got perfect wings! So glad I bought an airfryer and even more glad I found this recipe!!! Definitely a keeper! 👍
I have a question. I am nervous about cooking them for 25 minutes. Nothing irks me more than dry chicken. Does it come out overcooked/ dry or is it nice and juicy? Thanks!
I have a ninja 3.6 quart air fryer and I did about 14 wings. 10 min 375 flipped 10 min 375 and shuffled them and put them back again for 4 min at 400
I also preheated the fryer for 3 min
These were great! I did not need the final 5 min at the higher temp, but I think my fryer runs hot. Made the garlic parm – OMG so good!
Wanted to use this recipe bc I just got an air fryer, but the ads on mobile make this website unusable 🙁
I find them distracting too. My tip is to click on “print” on the recipe to read it without the ads. I know the bloggers have to make money with advertising and I am not knocking them for it, but I can read the recipe a bit easier without the constant flashing and movement on the screen.
My baking POWDER also has the aluminum.
It’s called DAVIS BAKING POWDER. what can I use instead.
Argo baking powder does not have aluminum in it
Why baking soda with no aluminum?? Does it matter?
You would need BAKING POWDER, not baking soda so please don’t make the mistake some others have made! as for the aluminum, it’s because it adds an unwanted metallic taste to the food.
The best crispy chicken I’ve had. Followed the recipe exactly and it turned out perfect. I will be trying the baking powder on pork crackling as well. I also made up the buffalo sauce, it too was spot on. Thanks.
Absolutely delicious! Thank you. I made the garlic wings. My granddaughter said they were the best wings she ever had.!
So glad your granddaughter enjoyed the wings!
Why baking powder? Followed your directions to a tee because it sounded good. Baked them last night, had about 8 drummies, could taste the baking powder. The morning I woke up to bad headache, sore achy shoulders., plenty of bathroom time. Going on about 4 gallons of water to flush my system.
The baking powder helps crisp the skin of the chicken. I’m sorry to hear what happened to you but it may not be related to the recipe because we’ve never had an issue with it.
I’ve never left a review of a recipe before. This was awful! I followed the recipe exactly but the wings tasted overwhelmingly like baking powder. Yuck. Feel like to need to scrub my tonight to get the taste out of my mouth!
I swear the people complaining about the baking powder taste used baking soda on accident lol or they had the stuff with aluminum in it 🤔
Did your baking powder contain aluminum? That may be why!
8 drummies is not near 2 pounds of chicken !!!
My go-to crispy wings recipe. Fool proof and perfect wings, every time.
this was great! since getting my air fryer a few months ago, i’ve been trying to get crispy chicken and fish, with only mediocre results. now, i’ve got a tried and true way to go for wings, i’ll be tweaking it a little for catfish.
I made the buffalo wings. They were delicious!!! I didn’t see garlic listed in the ingredients list for the sauce, but added a dash of garlic and onion powder to the sauce. The hot sauce wasn’t quite hot enough, so I added sriracha hot sauce and little bit of vinegar (gave it a little more kick and flavor). I inadvertently did not read all the way through the directions and brought the sauce to a low simmer, then dipped the wings in the sauce. I’ll definitely be making them again.
P.S. I loved the fact that the wings were crispy and not dried out.
Yum, thanks for the feedback! crispy wings are the best 😀
Made these for my husband ,first time doing air fryer wings my husband loved them I did BBQ wings .
Mine just turned out salty. All you can taste is the baking powder. Maybe Australian ingredients are different. I made two batches and the second batch I sprayed with oil to try and cook out the baking sods and was a little better but still rubbish.
I’m sorry about that! Try cornstarch next time.
Worried that you used baking soda instead of baking powder. That would make huge difference, and likely not very good. Sorry about that….
Baking soda will give you that awful salt like taste.
The recipe says to use baking POWDER.
I just made these and the were fantastic, light and crispy.
These were fantastic. I was making 4lbs so I pulled them out in batches & laid them on a cookie sheet. I did the last 5 minutes at the 420 in a large batch! Still very crispy. Also 15 to 20 minutes was enough for mine to cook. The garlic sauce was amazing, but I skipped the red pepper due to Grandkids were eating with us. Granddaughter couldn’t get enough!
Hi. My store had zero wangs the first time I tried this recipe so I had to use young chicken legs. Came out so good! I also used the buffalo sauce as well as the garlic parm sauce. I had keto peeps over so I substituted sugar with monkfruit and it was a hit! I do have a question about the buffalo sauce. The recipe doesn’t call for garlic but the instructions say to cook butter with garlic. I didn’t use garlic the first time around but I’m making some tonight and I just wonder how much garlic was meant to be used for this recipe.
Yum, drumsticks sound delicious! Thanks for the feedback 🙂
We just got an air fryer for christmas and this is the first recipe we tried. Excellent! They came out nice and crispy and the sauces were delicious! Thank you!
Made it twice – Garlic Parm & Honey BBQ, Delicious and easy. May have to buy a bigger air fryer !
OMG this was AMAZING!!!
I served this after everybody ate and said they were too full to eat anything else. It was so good there was NONE left. I don’t usually write food reviews but this was the best chicken wings I have had in a LOOOOOOOOOONG time. Thank you!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review <3
Fabulous. Don’t need sauce. Loved them. This is a keeper. Will try on chicken legs next. I cannot lie, sprayed with a bit of olive oil.
I used this recipe on legs. It was yummy!
I dont have a rack. Are the results the same
Does your air fryer come with a basket or mesh?
Soooo good!!! Thanks for all of the tips – they really add up to great wings!!
This recipe is a plus, delicious! I made without the sauce and was perfect. I’ll try the sauces next time. Loved it!
Thank you.
These are the bomb! I’ve tried other air fryer wing recipes but these are the best! I only made the honey bbq sauce and it was great! I’ll be trying the others. Thank you!
I’m a tad confused on the buffalo recipe. Ingredients call for hot sauce, butter, and honey or brown sugar. However in the recipe details it says to “heat garlic and butter in a sauce pan and then stir in hot sauce” you’ve added garlic that was not mentioned and then omitted the honey or brown sugar from the recipe details. Could you please update the recipe?
Couldn’t find your response to the person who noted that “the recipe says to “heat garlic and butter in a sauce pan and then stir in hot sauce” you’ve added garlic that was not mentioned and then omitted the honey or brown sugar from the recipe details.” I added garlic and left out honey & brown sugar and the wings were fabulous. Could they be even better with brown guar and honey!!