Air-fried chicken wings are a delicious and healthier alternative to traditional deep-fried wings. When cooked in an air fryer, chicken wings have crispy skin on the outside while remaining juicy and tender on the inside. Best Crispy Chicken Wings In a PowerXL Air Fryer is our favorite air fryer chicken wings recipe.
WHAT MAKES THESE AIR-FRIED CHICKEN WINGS SPECIAL?
- Air-fried wings are a healthier option:
- Air frying requires significantly less oil compared to traditional deep frying. By using hot air circulation, the air fryer can produce crispy chicken wings with a fraction of the oil used in deep frying. This results in a healthier final product with reduced fat and calories.
- Air-fried wings haveareduced fat content:
- The air fryer cooking process allows excess fat to drip away from the chicken wings as they cook. This process helps to remove a significant amount of fat, making the wings less greasy and healthier overall than those prepared in a deep fryer.
- Air-fried wings still have a crispy texture:
- The PowerXL Air Fryer, and other air fryers, use rapid air circulation to create a crispy exterior on the chicken wings. The result is a delightful texture that closely resembles traditional deep-fried wings.
- This recipe isquick and convenient:
- Air fryers heat up quickly and cook food faster than traditional ovens or deep fryers. This time-saving aspect makes air-frying chicken wings a convenient option for those looking for a quick and easy meal or snack.
- Why use an air fryer?:
- Air fryers are versatile kitchen appliances that can be used for various other dishes apart from cooking wings. You can also use them to cook vegetables, fish, fries, and even bake desserts. Thus, investing in an air fryer allows you to experiment with a wide range of recipes and expand your culinary options.
- Easy cleanup:
- Cleaning up after cooking can be a hassle, especially when dealing with oil splatters. Air fryers, on the other hand, have a non-stick coating on their baskets or trays, making them easy to clean. Additionally, there's no need to deal with used oil, which is a great way to simplify the cleaning process.
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INGREDIENTS
To make delicious crispy chicken wings in the PowerXL Air Fryer, you need these simple ingredients.
For the full recipe with quantities, see the recipe card at the end of the post.
MARY'S TWO CENTS
This chicken wing recipe is cheap, cheap, cheap! The secret is to buy the party wings in a big bag in the freezer section, take out enough for two, and freeze the rest. The quality does not suffer becuase the wings are flash frozen. The cost of a small package of wings in the meat department will cost you nearly as much as a big bag frozen wings. Make sure to buy the uncooked chicken wings. The precooked ones are best saved for a kid's sleepover. đŸ™‚
INGREDIENT NOTES
- Chicken wings - We like the flat portion of the chicken wing as well as the drummettes. Most packaged frozen wings have the pieces separated and the wing tips removed. I occasionally use whole chicken wings with the wing tips intact. It makes for a dramatic presentation.
- Sweet paprika - You can also use smokey paprika or hot Hungarian paprika for a real kick!
- Cornstarch - This is the secret ingredient that makes the crispy coating on your air-fried wings.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Add the dry wings to a big bowl. Add all of the spices and the cornstarch.
Mix well to cover the wings and set aside for 20-25 minutes.
Preheat the air fryer to 400 for 2-3 minutes. Air fry wings for 12-14 mins.
Flip the wings halfway through then remove when crispy golden brown.
ALTERNATIVE FLAVOR PROFILES FOR CHICKEN WINGS
If you're looking for flavor alternatives to plain crispy chicken wings, here are a few options you can try:
- Buffalo Chicken Wings: Buffalo wings are a classic and popular flavor for chicken wings. They are coated in a tangy and spicy sauce made with hot sauce, butter, and other seasonings like garlic and paprika. Serve with blue cheese dressing, carrot, and celery sticks.
- BBQ Wings: BBQ wings are another popular option that involves brushing the wings with BBQ sauce while cooking or marinating them in the sauce beforehand. There are many different BBQ sauce varieties to choose from, such as sweet and smoky, spicy, or tangy.
- Teriyaki Wings: Teriyaki wings are coated in a sweet and savory sauce made with soy sauce, honey, ginger, and garlic. You can also add other ingredients like rice vinegar, sesame oil, or chili flakes for extra flavor.
- Honey Mustard Wings: Honey mustard wings are a delicious sweet and tangy option. The wings are coated in a sauce made with honey, mustard, mayonnaise, and other seasonings like garlic and cayenne pepper.
- Lemon Pepper Wings: Lemon pepper wings have a tangy and zesty flavor. The wings are seasoned with lemon zest, black pepper, garlic powder, and salt, and then baked or fried until crispy.
- Garlic Parmesan Wings: Garlic Parmesan wings have a savory and cheesy flavor. The wings are coated in a mixture of grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and dried herbs like parsley and oregano.
These are just a few flavor alternatives for crispy chicken wings. Next time you can experiment with different spice blends and marinades to create your own unique flavors.
EQUIPMENT
- Power XL Air Fryer or another brand
- Large bowl
TOP TIPS
- It's important to note that while air frying can produce healthier results compared to deep frying, the overall healthiness of the dish still depends on the ingredients used and portion sizes. For example, if you coat the wings with high-sugar or high-sodium sauces, it can affect their nutritional value. Therefore, it's essential to consider the ingredients and portions when enjoying crispy chicken wings made in an air fryer.
- Remember, cooking times may vary depending on the size and thickness of the chicken wings, so adjust accordingly. Always ensure that the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (degrees f) (74°C) for safety.
Equipment
- PowerXL Air Fryer or another brand
- Large bowl
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken wings flats, drummettes, or whole wings
- 1 ½ tablespoons paprika
- 1 ¼ tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 ¼ teaspoons Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Preheat your PowerXL Air Fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 2-3 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine salt, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and cornstarch. Mix well to create a coating.
- Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Add the chicken wings to the bowl and toss them with the mixture until each wing is evenly coated.
- Place the chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Cook the chicken wings in the air fryer for 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. This will ensure that they cook evenly and become crispy on all sides.
- Once the chicken wings are golden brown and crispy, remove them from the air fryer.
- Let the wings cool for a few minutes before serving. You can serve them as they are or toss them in your favorite sauce, such as buffalo, or barbecue. Serve with bleu cheese dressing or your favorite dipping sauce.
- Enjoy your crispy chicken wings with your favorite wing sauce!
Stephanie says
I made these last night when our friends came over to watch the basketball game. Our team lost but these air-fryer wings were a real winner. Just the right amount of spice and crispiness - an added plus is I don't feel guilty eating these.
Mary says
Sorry for your loss. đŸ¤£
Nora says
Those chicken wings turned out perfectly! So crispy! Yum! The whole family fell in love with them right away!
Andréa Janssen says
I use my air fryer so often, but didn't have a recipe for crispy chicken wings. Thank you for sharing, because it looks so delicous!
Nicole says
I have the power xl air fryer also, and these wings came out amazing! The combination of garlic and paprika was perfect, and the corn starch added the best amount of crisp to these wings!! I will make again!