How do you Make Chicken Wings Crispy in the Air Fryer?

The secret behind crispy air fryer wings is the temperature, which you should set on high (at least at 400°F). Also, make sure the wings are at room temperature and not overly moist when adding them to the air fryer. Make sure you pat dry your wings before applying the seasoning. You know that dry skin helps to create a better crispy skin. My secret? Adding baking powder to the seasoning. The bubbles from the baking powder expand while in the air fryer, resulting in crispier wings!

What does Baking Soda do to Chicken Wings?

Baking soda has been one of those grandma’s tips for crispy fried chicken since forever, but there’s science behind adding the unusual ingredient to the yard bird. Baking soda reacts with moisture, and it bubbles. So, if you’re coating the chicken with batter, for example, the bubbles will expand and make the batter lighter — increasing the surface’s crispiness. How’s that for a neat cooking tip? And it works with air fryer wings too!

When to use Baking Soda and Baking Powder for Crispy Chicken?

Of course, all secret ingredients come with some controversy, and some people say its baking soda and not baking powder that you should use for frying chicken. It turns out we’re all right. Baking powder is better for frying chicken, as the ingredient has both an acidic and an alkaline element. Baking soda is best for baking chicken, mainly if you use some kind of acidic marinade (like lemon juice) in the mix.

How Long Does it Take to Cook Chicken Wings?

For perfectly crispy air fryer wings, you want to ‘fry’ them for at least 20-25 minutes, flipping them once halfway. All air fryers are different and chicken wings can come in various sizes. And there are many other factors at play, including the wings’ temperature, their humidity, and your preference; you must eyeball them to decide when they’re exactly right — for you.

Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Hot Pepper Peach Bourbon Sauce

Name: Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Hot Pepper Peach Bourbon Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 27 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 pounds chicken wings Make sure they are cut at joint; 2 Tablespoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt I use sea salt smoked in beechwood; 1 teaspoon pepper; 1 jar Hot Pepper Peach Bourbon Sauce Divided for coating and for serving as sauce

Description

This recipe for air fryer chicken wings with hot pepper peach bourbon sauce is the easiest way of making crispy and meaty wings with very little cooking oil. You only need some wings, garlic and onion powder, a pinch of baking powder, salt and pepper to taste. Don’t forget the fantastic Hot Pepper Peach Bourbon Sauce!

Ingredients

Scale

4 pounds chicken wings
- Make sure they are cut at joint
2 Tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
- I use sea salt smoked in beechwood
1 teaspoon pepper
1 jar Hot Pepper Peach Bourbon Sauce
- Divided for coating and for serving as sauce

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark when cooking

Instructions

Set the dial to “air fry” and the temperature to 400°F. Preheating your air fryer will give you the best, crispiest result. Use cooking spray or a fine mist sprayer to lightly coat your wings prior to cooking.
If you have wing tips, using a sharp knife, cut the two wing joints, and discard the wing tips.
Place the wings in a zip-lock bag and add your baking powder, salt and pepper. Shake to cover the wings.
Position the chicken on the wire rack in the air fryer. Make sure they are not touching each other.
Cook for 10 minutes on first side.
Remove the wings from air fryer and flip with tongs. Continue cooking until crispy for around 10-12 minutes until internal temperature measures 165°F.
Remove from the air fryer and immediately coat with the Hot Pepper Peach Bourbon Sauce. For this you will use about half the jar.
Serve with more sauce.

Notes

Some air fryers are also ovens by design. If you use this kind like I do, you don’t need to flip the wings.

See recipe blog post for instructions on how to cook these wings in a regular oven.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
Category: appetizer
Method: air frying
Cuisine: American