Quick and Easy Air Fryer Chicken Wings with BBQ Sauce (2024)

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.

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.

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.

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.

See Also

Confetti Cake Cookies (Crumbl Copycat Recipe)

There you have it - the best chicken wings, ready to be devoured, ensuring every last drop of sauce is savoured to the fullest!

Serving Suggestions

Seen below we served our chicken wings with a side of homemade coleslaw, salad and sweet potato wedges (recipes to come soon – stay tuned!).

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.

Air Fryer Chicken Wings in BBQ Sauce

Luke and Kay - Flawless Food

Rate this Recipe

Nutrition

Calories: 1446kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 100gFat: 101gSaturated Fat: 26gPolyunsaturated Fat: 20gMonounsaturated Fat: 45gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 416mgSodium: 2676mgPotassium: 1008mgFiber: 1gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 953IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 6mg

Tried this recipe? Share an image on Facebook / Instagram / PinterestPlease mention @flawlessfooduk or tag #flawlessfooduk!

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.