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By Shawn Williams
3.67 from 3 votes
Jul 03, 2020, Updated Feb 28, 2024
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With the rise of air fryers, achieving that perfect crispy chicken wing exterior has never been easier. My dry-rubbed air fryer wings are crispy, flavorful, and downright irresistible. Whether you’re hosting a game night, planning a family gathering, or simply craving a satisfying snack, these air fryer wings will have everyone coming back for more.
My chicken wings are coated in a simple dry rub consisting of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. The wings are tossed in a splash of olive oil and then generously coated in spices. The seasoning adds so much flavor and contributes to the texture of perfect crispy skin.
Looking for more delicious air fryer recipes? Try my garlic and parmesan chicken wings and my air fryer coconut shrimp recipe! If you prefer deep-fried recipes, try my buffalo chicken rangoons and my beer-battered fried pickles.
Table of Contents
- How to Air Fry Chicken Wings
- How Many Wings Can I Cook at Once?
- More Chicken Recipes
- Dry Rub Air Fryer Chicken Wings
How to Air Fry Chicken Wings
There is no need to preheat an air fryer when cooking chicken wings. The air fryer will heat up very quickly and will rapidly cook your wings to perfection.
- Prep wings by removing excess moisture with a paper towel. This will help to make the skin crispier.
- If you’re seasoning your wings, toss them in a bowl with olive oil until the skin is lightly and evenly coated. This will help the spices adhere and also help make the skin extra crispy. Season all over with your favorite herbs and spices or just salt and pepper.
- Place wings in a non-preheated air fryer at 375°F. Be sure to arrange with minimal overlap if possible. If cooking larger volumes, tossing the wings periodically will ensure even cooking.
- Air fry for 20-25 minutes or until skin is crispy and fully cooked through in the center (at least 165°F internal temp for chicken). Just to note, chicken wings can be cooked up to 180°F and remain juicy and tender due to their higher fat content.
How Many Wings Can I Cook at Once?
I was able to fry 1 1/2 pounds of wings in about 20 minutes in a 4-quart air fryer. You can fit up to 2-3 pounds of wings, however, it may take closer to 30 minutes to fully cook. With larger quantities, the trick is to flip/toss the wings a few times throughout frying to ensure an evenly cooked exterior.
Tips & Tricks
- Experiment with different seasonings, such as garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, or a BBQ rub, to create unique flavor profiles.
- If cooking in smaller batches, keep the cooked wings warm in a low oven (around 200°F) while the remaining batches cook.
- Chicken wings can be cooked upwards to 180°F and remain juicy and tender due to their higher fat content.
- If your wing recipe calls for sauces or gazes, I always recommend adding those last after the wings are fully cooked. Air fry the wings first using the steps above and then toss the wings in a large bowl with buffalo sauce or whatever sauce you’re using just before serving. This prevents making a mess of your air fryer and also makes for crispier and better-tasting wings. This method is perfect for serving wings in a variety of different sauces!
More Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Garlic and Parmesan Chicken Wings
Buffalo Chicken Rangoons Recipe
Skillet Chicken Parmesan
Grilled Honey Garlic Chicken Wings Recipe
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3.67 from 3 votes
Dry Rub Air Fryer Chicken Wings
By: Shawn Williams
Servings: 4
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Cook: 25 minutes mins
Total: 30 minutes mins
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Deliciously crispy air fried wings tossed in a simple dry rub consisting of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, brown sugar, salt, and pepper.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2-2 pounds chicken party wings, wingette and drummette separated
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 1/2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Sliced carrots, celery, and ranch dressing for serving
Instructions
Pat wings dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture from the skin.
Toss wings in a bowl with olive oil until evenly coated. A light coating is all that is needed but add more oil if needed. Season with salt and pepper and all spices. Toss until wings are evenly coated in the dry rub.
Transfer wings to a 4-5 quart air fryer arranging them as evenly as possible in the basket with minimal overlap.
Air fry at 375°F for 22-26 minutes, or until wings are crispy and fully cooked through (at least 165°F internal temp for chicken). Note: I do not preheat my air fryer prior to cooking wings. Toss the wings 2-3 times throughout the cooking process to ensure even cooking. Serve immediately with optional carrots, celery, and ranch dressing.
Notes
Just to note, chicken wings can be cooked up to 180°F and remain juicy and tender due to their higher fat content.
If cooking closer to 3 pounds of wings, it may take closer to 30 minutes to fully cook the wings, depending on the size of your air fryer. Do not overfill.
If using sauces such as buffalo sauce, I recommend prepping the wings by tossing in olive oil and seasoning with salt and pepper. Air fry the wings first, then toss in buffalo sauce/whatever sauce you’re using just before serving. This prevents a mess and makes for better-tasting and crispier wings.
Nutrition
Serving: 5wingsCalories: 558kcalCarbohydrates: 4.4gProtein: 45.9gFat: 40.1gSaturated Fat: 10.5gCholesterol: 162mgSodium: 287mgFiber: 0.03gSugar: 3.6g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: American
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