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Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings are the perfect way to achieve crispy, delicious wings with minimal effort. These saucy wings use simple ingredients and your favorite BBQ sauce for a delicious game day appetizer or meal the whole family will love.
We love a good air fryer recipe, and these crispy chicken wings have earned a permanent spot in our dinner rotation. The hot air in the air fryer basket cooks them to golden brown perfection, with extra crispy skin thanks to a simple but powerful secret ingredient: baking powder. Toss them in your favorite barbecue sauce for saucy wings the whole family will love.
Your total cooking time will depend on the size of your air fryer and how many raw chicken wings you’re working with. For the best results and extra crispy skin, always cook in a single layer in the air fryer basket—even if that means working in batches. I usually make these when I’m not feeding a crowd, and the air fryer gives me the best results every time.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings
- Quick and Easy: Only 10 minutes of prep and about 25 minutes in the air fryer. Perfect for busy evenings or last-minute gatherings.
- Crispy, Not Greasy: Thanks to the air fryer, you’ll get restaurant-quality chicken wings using less oil.
- Customizable Flavors: Easily adapt this recipe with your favorite BBQ sauce or add a kick with cayenne pepper or hot sauce.
- Great for Sharing: Ideal as party appetizers or a satisfying family dinner.
Ingredient You’ll Need
- Chicken Wings: Choose fresh raw chicken wings and split them into flats and drumettes for even cooking. If using frozen wings, thaw them completely before cooking for the best crispy results.
- Baking Powder: The secret ingredient for extra crispy wings. Be sure not to use baking soda!
- Garlic Powder and Smoked Paprika: Adds depth of flavor and a delicious smoky aroma.
- Barbecue Sauce: Use your favorite BBQ sauce—Sweet Baby Ray’s is my family’s favorite—always a crowd-pleaser!
- Cooking Spray: Avocado oil spray is our go-to for its high smoke point and neutral flavor. Olive oil spray works too—just lightly coat your air fryer basket for best results.
How to Make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings
- Prepare Your Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Give the air fryer basket a quick spritz of cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Season Wings: Pat wings dry with a paper towel, then toss in a large bowl with baking powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Toss until evenly coated.
- Air Fry First Batch: Place wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Air fry for 10 minutes, then flip and cook another 8-10 minutes until golden brown and crispy, making sure the internal temperature of the wings reaches between 160°F and 165°F.
- Coat with Sauce: Transfer wings to a clean large bowl, toss with your favorite BBQ sauce to coat evenly.
- Final Crisp: Return sauced wings to the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, caramelizing the sauce beautifully.
No Air Fryer? Make Crispy Oven-Baked BBQ Chicken Wings
Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss wings with homemade dry rub and baking powder. Arrange in a single layer on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Bake 45 minutes, flipping halfway. Coat with BBQ sauce and bake 10 more minutes, until the internal temperature of the wings reaches 165°F. Serve with extra sauce and enjoy!
Expert Tips and Substitutions
- Extra Crispy Skin: Baking powder is key! Don’t skip it.
- Do Not Overcrowd the Air Fryer: Arrange wings in a single layer with space in the air fryer basket. This helps the hot air circulate for extra crispy skin and even cooking.
- Air Fry the Wings with the Sauce: Don’t skip this step—it caramelizes the barbecue sauce, locking in flavor and keeping the wings crispy and saucy.
- Spice It Up: Add cayenne pepper, chili powder, or hot sauce for a spicy kick.
- Switch up the dry rub: Try different flavors like lemon pepper, Old Bay, or your favorite homemade dry rub to give these crispy wings a new twist.
Storing and Making Ahead
- Refrigerator: Store leftover wings in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Warm in the air fryer at 350°F for 5 minutes to revive crispiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these wings without baking powder?
You can, but they won’t be as crispy. Baking powder is the secret for achieving restaurant-quality wings.
How can I make these wings spicier?
Add cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the seasoning mix or drizzle hot sauce after cooking.
Can I freeze cooked wings?
Yes, freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat in the air fryer.
Similar Recipes
If you loved these Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings, here are a few more easy favorites you might enjoy:
- Baked Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
- Fresh Bruschetta Al Pomodoro
- Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Mango Slaw
- Hot Honey Chicken Wings (Baked or Fried)
- Easy Baked Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus
- Easy Steak Nachos
- Baked Mango Habanero Chicken Wings
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken wings, split into flats and drumettes
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼-½ cup barbecue sauce, plus more for serving
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380F, lightly spraying the inner basket with cooking spray.
- Pat the wings dry, then place them in a large bowl. Sprinkle baking powder and spices over the wings and toss until evenly coated.
- Add the wings to the air fryer in an even layer, spritzing the tops evenly with cooking spray. Depending on your air fryer size, you may need to do more than one batch (clean excess grease between batches, as needed).
- Air fry for 10 minutes. Flip the wings over and fry for 8-10 minutes more, or until the wings are golden and cooked to between 160 and 165F internally.
- Transfer the wings to a large, clean bowl and toss them with enough barbecue sauce to coat both sides.
- Return wings to the air fryer and fry at 350F for 3-5 minutes more, until barbecue sauce is caramelized to your liking. Serve with additional sauce, as desired.
Notes
- Store leftovers in the fridge for 3 days.
- For crispier wings, do not skip baking powder.
- Reheat wings in the air fryer for best texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
