Cook without touching your screen
Start Hands-Free Cook Mode and Quick Crave will guide you through this recipe step by step. Use your voice to move forward, repeat a step or ask about an ingredient.
Need help choosing dinner?
Tell us what you have, how much time you have, and what you feel like eating. Dinner Rescue will build a personalized dinner plan.
Chicken wings in the air fryer come out genuinely crispy — no deep fryer, no oven, no breading required. The key is patting the wings completely dry before seasoning, cooking at 400°F, and shaking the basket at the halfway point so every side gets direct hot air. This recipe uses about 2 lbs of split chicken wings (flats and drumettes). Arrange them in a single layer without overcrowding — cook in batches if your basket requires it. Total cook time is 22 minutes per batch, and the wings are done when the thickest part of the drumette reaches 165°F internally.
Pro Tip
Dry wings are crispy wings. Pat every piece thoroughly with paper towels before adding oil and seasoning — any surface moisture will steam the skin instead of crisping it. If you have time, let the seasoned wings sit uncovered in the fridge for 30 minutes before cooking.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs split chicken wings (flats and drumettes)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
- 2
Pat the wings completely dry with paper towels — this is the most important step for crispy skin.
- 3
In a large bowl, toss the wings with olive oil until lightly coated. Add garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and cayenne (if using). Toss until evenly coated.
- 4
Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not stack or overlap — cook in batches if needed.
- 5
Cook for 11 minutes, then shake the basket to flip and redistribute the wings. Cook for another 11 minutes — 22 minutes total is a reliable guide for standard split wings around 2 lbs. The wings are done when the thickest part of the drumette reaches 165°F (74°C) on an instant-read thermometer and the skin is deeply golden and crispy.
- 6
Transfer to a wire rack or plate. Serve immediately — wings lose crispiness as they sit. Toss in your favorite sauce after cooking if desired.
Total time: 5 min prep + 22 min cook · Serves: 4 · Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredients used.
Cooking guide: How Long to Cook Chicken Wings in an Air Fryer at 400°F
