Whether you're planning a relaxed evening in or looking for the perfect party snack, these Air Fryer Chicken Wings coated in a delicious barbecue sauce will have everyone asking for more.
With an air fryer, you can achieve irresistible crispy chicken wings in only 20 minutes without all the grease from traditional frying and a lot quicker than cooking in the oven.
We have added barbecue sauce to the cooked wings, but you can add any sauce you like.
Jump to:
We love chicken wings, we also have oven baked salt and pepper chicken wings or honey and garlic chicken wings for you to try you can always cook the wings in the air fryer instead.
Cooking Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Ready to make some finger-licking good air fryer wings? Watch our air fryer chicken recipe video, and prepare to impress!
Click above to get the quick easy to follow air fryer chicken recipe card, or continue to read on for all the recipe tip and more advice.
Equipment
The good thing about air fryer recipes is you don't need much equipment; Here's what you'll need:
We use our Ninja Dual Drawer Air Fryer, which comfortably fits 1kg of chicken wings.
A glass mixing bowl or any large bowl is perfect for coating the chicken wings with BBQ sauce.
Use tongs to flip those hot wings, and a thermometer will ensure the chicken is cooked just right.
Ingredients
Before we start, here's a rundown of everything you'll need to create these mouthwatering air fryer chicken wings.
- 1 kg Chicken Wings
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- Salt and Black Pepper
- 4 tablespoon BBQ Sauce
Don't worry if you're missing something—I'll provide some helpful substitutes along the way.
Chicken Wings
The star of our show, chicken wings! We're using 1 kg for this recipe, but feel free to adjust this amount based on how many mouths you're feeding.
Pat the chicken wings dry with kitchen paper towel before seasoning to make sure the seasoning sticks better.
Other Air Fryer Chicken Joint Recipes
If you can't get hold of wings, we have many recipes for other chicken joints cooked to perfection in the air fryer, like drumsticks, thighs (boneless or bone-in), and even a whole chicken!
Oil
While we go for olive oil due to its lovely flavour and health benefits, feel free to use any cooking oil you have. Sunflower, canola, or even coconut oil would work a treat.
If you are watching the calories, use nonstick cooking spray instead. You could remove the chicken skin after it is cooked before adding the sauce! But I can never resist that crispy skin!
Seasoning
Keep it classic with salt and pepper; this allows the barbecue sauce to shine. If you are not using a sauce, you may fancy adding a hint of all-purpose seasoning, onion, or garlic powder.
Sauce
Barbecue sauce is what takes these wings from good to great. We're particularly fond of Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue Sauce.
But if you're feeling adventurous, why not whip up a batch of homemade bbq sauce?
Other Sauce Ideas for Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Store-bought marinade or sauces you love will be just as tasty; here are some more air fryer chicken wing sauce ideas
- Buffalo Sauce
- Garlic Mayo
- Frank's Hot Sauce
- Nut Free Green Pesto
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Kebab Shop Chilli Sauce
Fresh Herbs
A sprinkle of freshly chopped chives provides a refreshing note against the rich sauce.
No chives? No problem! Parsley, coriander, or a dash of dried herbs could also do the trick.
Instructions
Now, we're on to the most exciting part – making chicken wings in the air fryer!
Preparation
In a large bowl, mix the chicken wings with olive oil
Season generously with salt and pepper. Optional - Add any additional dry seasonings now such as garlic powder or dried herbs.
Mix well, we find it easiest to use your hands to ensure they're evenly coated with oil, salt and pepper.
Now they are seasoned, its time to cook chicken wings in the air fryer.
How to Air Fry Chicken Wings
Place in the air fryer basket in a single layer, its important not to overcrowd the wings, as this will prevent the chicken skin getting crispy.
Make sure you wash your hands well after handling raw chicken. Also, remember to clean the mixing bowl; you'll need it to coat the air-fried crispy wings with sauce once they are cooked.
Temperature and Cooking Time
Set your air fryer to 200°C/ 400°F. Cook wings for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through the air fry process.
The size of the chicken wing will determine the air frying time, the skin should be golden brown and perfectly crispy.
Check Chicken Internal Temperature
For extra reassurance, you can check the chicken wings are fully cooked using a meat thermometer. The cooked temperature for chicken is at least 74℃/ 165℉ at the thickest part.
You can serve these crispy air fryer wings as they are straight from the air fryer basket, or continue to add your favourite sauce.
Coating Chicken Wings with BBQ Sauce
Add the wings to a large bowl with your desired sauce, such as buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce, or hot sauce.
Toss the wings in the bowl to evenly coat with your favourite sauce.
There you have it - the best chicken wings, ready to be devoured, ensuring every last drop of sauce is savoured to the fullest!
Serve your sticky, saucy wings on a clean plate while still warm. Sprinkle with fresh herbs.
Serving Suggestions
Seen below we served our chicken wings with a side of homemade coleslaw, salad and sweet potato wedges (recipe to come soon).
To keep things interesting, serve them with a side of beer-battered onion rings, or cheesy chips.
Other Side Dish Ideas
Looking to spice things up? Serve these wings with some spicy jollof rice and corn on the cob. Or have a nosey at our other side dish recipes for more inspiration.
📖 Step by Step Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Wings in BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken Wings
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- Salt and Black Pepper
- 4 tablespoon BBQ Sauce
Instructions
- Place 1 kg Chicken Wings in a large bowl. Add 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- Sprinkle with Salt and Black Pepper
- Stir to coat well, using your hands is easiest.
- Place in the air fryer tray making sure they are not on top of each other. Cook for 15-20 minutes. (depending on the size of chicken wing).- After handling raw chicken, remember to wash your hands thoroughly. Clean the mixing bowl well too; you'll use it to coat the air fry crispy wings with sauce after cooking.
- Turn once halfway through for even crispy chicken skin
- To check they are cooked use a thermometer it should read at least 74℃/ 165℉
BBQ Sauce
- In a clean large bowl add 4 tablespoon BBQ Sauce
- Once chicken is cooked add them into the sauce. Shake and stir to coat them well.
- Serve straight away and enjoy the finger-licking goodness!
Video
Nutrition
Storage Advice
Got leftover air fryer wings? Cool the chicken wings and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Make sure to enjoy them within 2-3 days.
Freezing
Freezing the cooked and cooled wings allows you to savour them later. Defrost thoroughly in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
Microwaving is the quickest way to reheat air fryer chicken wings. The number of wings will determine the exact microwaving time.
More Chicken Recipes
If you've enjoyed this awesome recipe, be sure to explore more of our chicken recipes.
And there you have it, folks! A simple yet satisfying way to satisfy those chicken wing cravings. Who knew something so delicious could be this easy to make? Happy air frying! 🍗🌿
FAQ's
Here are the answers to some common questions we have had from our readers.
Should I use a preheated air fryer?
No, there is no need to preheat your air fryer for this air fryer chicken wings recipe.
JG
Tried these bbq chicken wings last week, so easy and very tasty. I used to add the sauce on to the chicken before cooking but this way you have done it is so much better!
Luke and Kay
Hi there!
Thank you so much for trying out our air fryer chicken wings with BBQ sauce. We're thrilled to hear that the recipe was easy to follow and that you enjoyed the flavour! We love finding new ways to enhance our recipes and we're glad you liked our method.
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. Happy cooking! 🙂