These air fryer chicken wings are made extra crispy thanks to the addition of baking powder! Quick and easy to make, they require no breading or flour, but are instead coated with a flavorful dry rub seasoning for a healthy, low carb appetizer or snack perfect for game day. Just air fry, toss in your favorite wing sauce, and serve! {Gluten-free & Dairy-free}
Table of Contents
The Best Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Is there anything better than a homemade batch of chicken wings on game day (or any day for that matter)? My husband and boys love wings, and these Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings have been our go-to up until now. But, once we tested out this method with the air fryer and my new favorite secret ingredient, we’ve been hooked!
They’re so crispy, but require very little oil and all that crispy coating soaks up your favorite sauce like nothing else. Everyone raves about them!
Featured Comment
These are seriously the best chicken wings EVER! My husband couldn’t stop raving about these wings. They were perfectly seasoned and so crispy… definitely making these again!! – Rebecca
For more game day appetizers, check out these Epic Beef Nachos Supreme and Air Fryer Chicken Bites!
Why We Love These Healthy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Made in the air fryer to be lower in fat and calories
- Uses minimal ingredients and less processed than most store-bought frozen wings
- High in protein and naturally lower carb
- Super simple recipe ready in about 10 minutes of prep
- Easy to scale up and feed a crowd (great for tailgating or parties)
- Crispy crunchy coating thanks to a little baking powder!
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken wings: Use drummettes or wingettes, rather than whole chicken wings, for even cooking and easier eating. (Prefer to use whole chicken wings? Check out these whole baked chicken wings instead!)
- Baking powder: This is the secret ingredient to creating extra crispy wings with no flour or breading required! Be sure to use baking powder, NOT baking soda as the results won’t be the same. You need the starches in the baking powder to get the crispiest skin!
- Seasonings: Season with this homemade chicken wing dry rub, made from chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt. It’s super flavorful and has just a hint of spice.
How to Air Fry Chicken Wings – Step-by-Step Instructions
- Dry the wings really well with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture, and place them in a large bowl.
- In a separate, small bowl combine the baking powder and seasonings. Gently rub the spice mixture over the chicken skin, making sure they are well coated.
- Lightly brush the air fryer basket with cooking oil, and arrange the chicken wings in a single layer on the rack, leaving space between each wing.
- Cook the wings at 400 degrees F for 22 minutes or until they’ve reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F when measured with a meat thermometer.
Tip: For extra crispy air fryer chicken wings, add an additional 5 minutes to the cooking time.
How Long To Cook Chicken Wings In An Air Fryer
Every air fryer cooks slightly differently, and your chicken wings may take longer or shorter to cook depending on their size and thickness and the type of air fryer that you have.
To prevent them from overcooking, make sure to keep a close eye on your baking powder chicken wings as they cook, flipping them over every 5 minutes or so.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable air fryer chicken wings recipe!
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Some people are sensitive to aluminum in baking powder and can taste it in food. If this is you, look for aluminum-free baking powder or skip it altogether. In this case, there is no other alternative.
- Don’t use baking soda instead of baking powder. It’s not the same and will not have the same result.
- For the crispiest chicken wings, remove as much moisture as possible from the surface of the wings before adding the spice mixture. I typically like to dab them thoroughly with a paper towel.
- If your chili powder has salt in it, you may wish to reduce the amount of salt added to the seasoning mix.
- Be sure to leave space between the wings in the air fryer. This allows for some free hot air circulation which helps the wings to get extra crispy skin.
- All air fryers cook slightly differently so you may need to adapt cooking time accordingly. I used the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer when testing these chicken wings.
- If tossing with a hot sauce, or a BBQ sauce, allow the wings to rest for 5 minutes. This will help them retain their crispness much better after applying the sauce.
Storage and Reheating Guidelines
To store
If you don’t finish them all in one sitting, the best way to keep leftover air fryer chicken wings fresh is to transfer them to an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
How to Reheat Chicken Wings in Air Fryer
To ensure your wings stay nice and crisp, I recommend reheating them in the air fryer or oven. To do so, simply set the temperature to 400 degrees F, and warm your wings for a few minutes or until they are heated through.
Alternatively, you could reheat them in the microwave. Just keep in mind that they are likely to become a little softer and less crisp.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! You’ll likely just need to add a few minutes to the cooking time.
I like to brush the bottom of the air fryer basket with a bit of oil or use some olive oil spray to prevent the chicken wings from sticking. You don’t need much!
Baking powder is alkaline. As a result, it raises the pH level of the chicken wings which breaks down their peptide bonds and speeds up the browning process. As a result, they become crispier faster without the need for flour or breading!
What to Serve with Chicken Wings
Of course, these air fryer baking powder chicken wings are super tasty on their own.
However, they also taste great paired with a variety of sauces and sides, like ranch or blue cheese dressing, buffalo sauce, and more. Then, pair them with your favorite sides, like:
- Raw carrot and celery sticks
- Homemade French fries
- Healthy roasted potatoes
- Slow cooker loaded baked potato soup
- Baked sweet potato fries
- Cranberry walnut coleslaw
- Easy taco dip recipe with ground beef
- Football charcuterie board
Recipe Variations
- To make spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the seasoning blend, or toss the wings in buffalo sauce or sriracha.
- To make low sodium: Add less salt or omit it completely.
- Skip the spices: Air fry your chicken on its own with just a bit of baking powder and salt to make naked air fryer chicken wings that can be dipped, dunked, or drizzled with all your favorite sauces and spreads or eaten on their own.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Boneless Turkey Breast
- How to Make Zucchini Fries in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Butternut Squash Cubes
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings {With Baking Powder}
Ingredients
- 12 thawed chicken wings (drumettes and wingettes, not whole ones)
- 1/2 tablespoon baking powder NOT baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Optional Garnish
- Sprinkle of fresh parsley
Instructions
- Dry the wings really well with paper towel to absorb any excess moisture. Place them in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, combine the baking powder, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt.
- Gently rub the seasoning all over the wings until evenly distributed. Set aside.
- Lightly brush the air fryer basket with some cooking oil to help prevent sticking. Arrange the chicken wings in a single layer on the rack so that there's some space between each wing.
- Place the rack with the wings inside the air fryer. Set the temperature to 400F. Set the cooking time to 22 minutes and press start. If you like your wings extra crispy, add 5 more minutes to the time above.
- When time is up, check your wings for doneness. They should be deep golden brown with crispy edges and have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. If not done, allow them to cook for another 3-5 minutes.
- Carefully remove the wings from the air fryer and arrange on a plate or a serving platter. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Some people are sensitive to aluminum in baking powder and can taste it in food. If this is you, look for aluminum-free baking powder or skip it altogether. In this case, there is no other alternative.
- Don’t be tempted to use baking soda instead of baking powder. It’s not the same and will not have the same result.
- For the crispiest chicken wings, remove as much moisture as possible from the surface of the wings before adding the spice mixture. I typically like to dab them thoroughly with a paper towel.
- If your chili powder has salt in it, you may wish to reduce the amount of salt added to the seasoning mix.
- Be sure to leave space between the wings in the air fryer. This allows for some free hot air circulation which helps the wings to get extra crispy skin.
- All air fryers cook slightly differently so you may need to adapt cooking time accordingly. I used the Ninja Foodi Air Fryer when testing these chicken wings.
- If tossing with a hot sauce, or a BBQ sauce, allow the wings to rest for 5 minutes. This will help them retain their crispness much better after applying the sauce.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in November 2022 and the photos, text and post formatting were updated in January 2025.
Awesome you can’t eat just one!
Totally agree! These things are addictive!
These are seriously the best chicken wings EVER! My husband couldn’t stop raving about these wings. They were perfectly seasoned and so crispy…definitely making these again!!
That’s amazing! Our family loves these wings too…glad they were a winner!