How Long To Cook Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer?

How long to cook chicken wings in the air fryer?

Chicken wings are a perennial favorite for appetizers or snacks, consistently delighting crowds. Although deep frying is the conventional method of cooking them, using an air fryer to cook chicken wings results in a delectably crispy exterior while ensuring the interior remains juicy and tender.

The precise cooking time in an air fryer may differ depending on the wing size and your preference for crispiness, but typically, whole wings require about 24-28 minutes at 400°F. For boneless wings or smaller cuts, the cooking time should be adjusted to between 8-22 minutes. 

The key is cooking at a high temp to get the skin ultra crispy and browned. Just flip the wings halfway through for even cooking. In this article, we will completely discuss cooking chichkenr wings in the air fryer and also discuss the tips to make them perfect every time.

Prep the Wings

1. Start by choosing the type of chicken wings you prefer. Options include whole wings, drummettes, flats, or wing segments. Smaller pieces will cook faster than entire wings.

2. Wash the wings thoroughly and pat them completely dry. Make sure to remove any excess moisture, as this can prevent the skin from getting crispy.

3. Season the wings liberally with salt and pepper or any other spices you enjoy. Popular options include garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, lemon pepper, or poultry seasoning. The seasonings will get stuck to the skin for added flavor.

For extra crispy skin, you can coat the seasoned wings with a light layer of oil. This helps conduct heat and aids browning.

Set Up the Air Fryer

1. Grease the basket of your air fryer lightly to prevent sticking. Use oil, cooking spray, or butter.

2. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F which will give you crispy skin. If you prefer softer wings, lower the temp to 380°F.
3. Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, meaty sides down. Overcrowding will steam versus crisp the wings.

4. For boneless wings, cook at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping midway. Bone-in wings take 22-28 minutes. Times vary based on the size of the wings and doneness preference.

Air Fry the Wings

• Air fry the wings at 400°F, shaking the basket or flipping the wings occasionally to ensure even browning.
• The wings are done when the skin is crispy and browned and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• If using a lower temp like 380°F, extend the cooking time by 3-5 minutes. The benefit of lower temp is rendering more fat from the skin.

Finishing Touches

1. Immediately toss hot wings in your favorite sauce to coat. Or serve the sauce on the side for dipping instead.

2. Garnish with chopped parsley, sesame seeds, diced onions, or scallions to add freshness. Serve with carrot and celery sticks for dipping.

3. Allow wings to rest for 5 minutes before serving. This lets moisture redistribute for a juicier bite.

Enjoy hot, fresh, and crispy wings straight from your air fryer!

Troubleshooting

If your air-fried wings are not as crispy as you’d like, try these tweaks:

• Use smaller wings or wing segments which will crisp up better than whole wings.
• Remove excess moisture from the wings before seasoning. Pat them completely dry.
•  Give wings a very light coat of oil before air frying for ultra-crispy skin.
• Increase cooking temp to 400°F or increase time by 5 minutes.
• Use baking powder when seasoning wings. This helps dehydrate the skin.
• Finish wings by broiling for 2-3 mins to crispen the skin. Keep a close eye to avoid burning.

If your wings are overdone and dry:

Use thicker, meatier whole wings vs thinner flats or drumettes. The extra fat helps keep them moist.

•  Reduce cooking time and check often. It’s easy to over-crisp smaller pieces.
•  Cook at a lower temp like 380°F to allow fat to render without overcooking.
•  Don’t overcrowd the basket which causes steaming. Cook in batches for even crisping.
•  Brush wings with sauce or butter for the last 5 minutes to add back moisture.

Mastering the art of air fryer chicken wings takes a little trial and error based on your appliance. But properly prepping the wings, finding the right temp and time, and making a few adjustments will give you hot, juicy, crispy wings every time. Ditch the deep fryer and enjoy lighter yet equally delicious wings with your air fryer.

FAQs 

Conclusion

In the air fryer, whole chicken wings take 24-28 minutes at 400°F. Boneless or smaller wings cook faster in 8-22 minutes. Always cook at a high temp for crispy skin and flip halfway for even browning. 

The air fryer makes juicy, crispy wings easy and convenient. Ditch the deep fryer – air frying reduces fat and calories compared to deep frying. Just be sure not to overcrowd the basket which can lead to steaming vs crisping. 

With a few simple tips like patting the wings dry, oiling them lightly, and experimenting to find the ideal time for your air fryer, you can enjoy restaurant-quality wings anytime. Air-fried wings are hard to beat!

Let me know if you have any other air fryer cooking questions. I’m happy to help with tips and times to get perfect results. Air frying makes cooking wings so quick and easy.