Crispy Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer - The best recipe for crispy chicken wings in the air fryer. Easy to make with a dry rub, keto-friendly, delicious and lower in calories.
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You'll Love Dry Rub Air Fryer Chicken Wings
If you’re looking for a stress free, easy-to-make dinner in your air fryer, these Dry Rub Wings are an excellent choice. A dry rub is a combination of dried herbs and spices mixed together and rubbed on the wings. It’s an easy option and doesn’t require the time it does with a traditional marinade. By simply coating the wings in dry rub and popping them in the air fryer, you’ll have crispy chicken wings from the air fryer in under 30 minutes.
Are chicken wings healthy if air fried?
Chicken wings that are air fried are healthier than deep fried chicken wings. Deep frying involves the wings being fried in some form of fat, usually vegetable oil. When using an air fryer, no vegetable oil is required. Instead, the heat circulates through the machine around the wings to give it the same crispy texture.
Dry Rub Wings Air Fryer Ingredients
- Mix of Chicken Wings and Drumettes
- Smoked Paprika
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper
- Wing Sauce (optional)
Can you air fry frozen chicken wings?
You can use frozen wings if you thaw them first. In order to get a crispy wing and for food safety, you’ll want them to be completely thawed before cooking.
How To Make Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Detailed instructions and measurements are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- Add your wings and drumettes to a large mixing bowl.
- In separate bowl, combine the smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the spice mixture over your wings and drumettes and then rub in and mix to combine. You want the wings and drumettes completely coated in the mix on all sides.
- Preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes on 400°F (this step helps them get crispy!)
- Once it is preheated, spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray (I use avocado oil)
- Place the wings and drumettes in the basket making sure they do not overlap. You may need to do it in two batches. Place the basket back in the air fryer and cook them at 360°F for 12 minutes.
- Open the air fryer basket and flip your wings and drumettes over. Put the basket back in the air fryer and cook them for 5 minutes at 380°F.
- Once done, remove them from the air fryer basket and place them in a mixing bowl.
- Serve them as is or with your favorite wing sauce!
How many wings can I air fry at once?
There is no specific number of wings you can use, but it will depend on your air fryer. You don’t want to overcrowd it because the air won’t be able to circulate completely around the wings. Be sure to do a single layer and do them in batches if needed.
Tips for Air Fryer Chicken Wings Dry Rub
- Try to find the package at your store that has both wings and drumettes combined if you like both.
- Don't let them overlap in the air fryer. This will prevent them from getting extra crispy.
- The increase in temperature is key! Don't skip it.
- Having a dry rub for the air fryer chicken wings help that skin crisp up without extra moisture. Don't add any sauce until they are fully cooked.
- This recipe can also be used for whole chicken wings! You may need to cook it just a couple of minutes longer depending on the size of the wings.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe FAQ
Using this method, they need a total of 17 minutes in the air fryer.
Absolutely! I actually prefer my wings made in the air fryer. They get extra crispy without being deep fried.
Any air fryer that comes with a basket will work great. I personally have this one and it works perfectly!
I actually find that the air fryer makes things crispier than I can achieve in the conventional oven.
A dry rub for wings is a mixture of dried herbs and spices that is rubbed on the raw wings prior to cooking.
You can use a binder or the natural moisture from the wings to get the dry rub to stick to the wings.
Dry rub is put on wings before cooking. It will adhere and flavor the wings while cooking.
Yes, you should always season wings before frying. For maximum flavor and crispy texture, seasoning should be added prior to cooking.
How To Serve Dry Rub Air Fryer Wings
If you decide to go with a spicy wing sauce, wings are excellent served with either ranch or blue cheese and a side of celery and carrots. The combination will help alleviate some of the heat from the spicy sauce.
Side dishes that go excellent with chicken wings include:
Macaroni and cheese
Onion rings
French fries (Try my Crispy Baked Garlic Potato Wedges)
Fried pickles
How To Store
To store leftover air fryer chicken wings, add them to an airtight container once they have cooled completely. They will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer.
To reheat, I recommend using your air fryer to develop a good texture without over cooking. If frozen, you should thaw them completely before reheating for best results. I recommend 350°F for 10 minutes in the air fryer.
Alterations for Picky Eaters
- Use their favorite dipping sauce - if they get to dip in something they love, all the better!
- Remove the meat from the bone for them. Some picky eaters have a hesitation to meat still on the bone.
- Serve it with ranch. A lot of picky eaters love to dip in ranch and it goes perfectly with this recipe.
Alterations to Lower Calories or WW Points
- Use a point friendly wing sauce, ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce
Chicken Wing Dry Rub Air Fryer Calories
The average chicken wing contains 43 calories per wing. Wings vary in weight and size, so individual wings may vary.
Do air fried wings have less calories?
Air fried wings have less calories than traditional deep fried wings because air fryer wings are not submerged in oil.
How many calories are in 6 chicken wings?
There are roughly 250 calories in 6 air fried chicken wings. Wings vary greatly in weight and size so it is important to weigh out your individual wings for accurate nutrition information.
Other Ways to Use the Dry Rub
Dry rub is excellent on various forms of chicken including thighs, breasts, and whole chicken. You can utilize it on pork and turkey as well.
How long will the dry rub last?
If the dry rub is made separately and stored in an airtight container away from sunlight, it will stay fresh for up to 6 months.
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Dry Rub Wings Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb mix of chicken wings and drumettes
- ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
- ½ tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- wing sauce optional
Instructions
- Add your wings and drumettes to a large mixing bowl.
- In a separate bowl, combine the smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Pour the spice mixture over your wings and drumettes and then rub in and mix to combine. You want the wings and drumettes completely coated in the mix on all sides.
- Preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes at 400°F (this step helps them get crispy!)
- Once it is preheated, spray the air fryer basket with nonstick spray (I use avocado oil)
- Place the wings and drumettes in the basket making sure they do not overlap. You may need to do it in two batches. Place the basket back in the air fryer and cook them at 360°F for 12 minutes.
- Open the air fryer basket and flip your wings and drumettes over. Put the basket back in the air fryer and cook them for 5 minutes at 380°F.
- Once done, remove them from the air fryer basket and place them in a mixing bowl.
- Serve them as is or with your favorite wing sauce!
Cindy
You don't have an air fryer or an outdoor/ indoor grill. Can these be baked in the oven? I see people baking wings in the oven where they put a cooling rack over a cookie sheet? If so, let me know and how long would you suggest baking them. Thank you very much!
kara
Hi Cindy,
I would recommend lining a baking sheet with foil and then placing a wire rack on top of that. Be sure to spray the rack with nonstick spray because the wings will stick otherwise. I would bake them at 425°F for 40-50 minutes, flipping halfway through. Be sure not to crowd them on the rack.