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Crispy Air-Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings Recipe (Easy!)

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These crispy air-fryer buffalo chicken wings deliver shatter-crisp skin and juicy meat without deep frying. Ready in under 40 minutes with simple pantry ingredients, they’re perfect for game day or weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds chicken wings (party wings, separated into drumettes and flats)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder (aluminum-free)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • ⅓ cup hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot recommended)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Celery sticks (for serving)
  • Carrot sticks (for serving)
  • Blue cheese or ranch dressing (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Prep the wings: Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels. Lay them out on a paper towel-lined baking sheet and let them sit for 5 minutes while you preheat the air fryer.
  2. Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) and let it preheat for 3-5 minutes.
  3. Season the wings: In a large bowl, combine the baking powder, salt, pepper, and garlic powder (if using). Add the dried wings and toss well to coat every surface.
  4. Arrange in the air fryer basket: Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd.
  5. Cook for 12 minutes: Air fry at 380°F for 12 minutes. After 12 minutes, flip each wing using tongs.
  6. Crank up the heat: Increase the air fryer temperature to 400°F (204°C). Cook for another 10-12 minutes, flipping once more halfway through. The wings should be golden brown and crispy.
  7. Check internal temperature: Use an instant-read thermometer to check the thickest part of a drumette. You’re looking for at least 165°F, but 170-175°F is ideal.
  8. Make the buffalo sauce: While the wings cook, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat or in the microwave. Whisk in the hot sauce, honey (if using), and Worcestershire sauce. Keep warm.
  9. Sauce the wings: Transfer the cooked wings to a clean bowl. Pour about half the buffalo sauce over them and toss gently to coat. Add more sauce as needed.
  10. Serve immediately: Arrange the sauced wings on a platter with celery and carrot sticks. Serve with blue cheese or ranch dressing on the side.

Notes

Don’t skip drying the wings thoroughly; moisture is the enemy of crispy skin. Use aluminum-free baking powder to avoid a metallic aftertaste. Let wings rest 2-3 minutes before saucing to maintain crispiness. For extra crispy wings, increase the 400°F cook time to 15-18 minutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken wings, buffalo wings, crispy wings, game day appetizer, easy wings recipe

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