It’s wing time! Whip up a batch of sizzling, golden-brown Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Sriracha Dipping Sauce, and savor the tender, juicy perfection!
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Dipping Sauce
Whether I’m making a meal out of them, or just serving a few as a tempting appetizer, wings make me happy! I love the crispy crunch and juicy interior of perfectly fried chicken wings, and the sauces! Oh my! From ranch to buffalo to this awesome sriracha option, there are so many mouthwatering choices!
And, this easy air fryer version makes it simpler than ever to make authentic “fried” wings. You only need cooking spray, seasonings, and there’s hardly any cleanup. Awesome, right?
Recipe Ingredients
These crave-worthy chicken wings are perfectly delicious on their own, or with the hot and spicy Sriracha dipping sauce! They’re sure to be a favorite!
For the Wings
- Wings: This recipe is for 2 pounds of chicken wings. I like the wings separated into flats and drums.
- Zest of 1 Lemon: Lime works great, too!
- Salt: One teaspoon, or to taste.
- Paprika: You can use sweet or smoked paprika, whichever you like or have on hand.
- Garlic Powder: Easy to use and provides tons of flavor!
- Baking Powder
- Thyme: I use a teaspoon of dried thyme here.
- Cayenne: Just ¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper gives a nice kick! Feel free to omit this if you want milder wings.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper, to taste.
For the Dipping Sauce
- Sriracha: You’ll need ¼ cup of sriracha sauce for this recipe.
- Butter: 3 tablespoons butter, unsalted
- Garlic Salt: Just ¼ teaspoon of garlic salt, or to taste.
How to Cook Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
I love cooking in my Air Fryer. It’s such an easy and healthy way to make your favorite fried foods, without using an obscene amount of oil or making a mess.
- Season the Chicken Wings. Using paper towels, thoroughly pat dry the chicken wings. Place the chicken wings in a bowl and add the lemon zest, salt, paprika, garlic powder, baking powder, thyme, cayenne, and black pepper; toss the wings gently to coat.
- Prep the Air Fryer. Coat the inside of the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Set the cooking temperature to 400˚F.
- Fry the Wings in Batches. Arrange the chicken wings in the air fryer basket in one single layer with spaces in between. (Don’t try to fit all the chicken wings at once; you will need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding.) Spray the wings with cooking oil, and bake for 8 minutes or so per side, flipping and spraying again with oil in between cooking.
How Long Do Wings Take in the Air Fryer?
- I find that it takes wings anywhere from 8 to 12 minutes per side, or 16 to 24 minutes total. That’s because chicken wings vary in size and thickness. If you’re using large wings, give them more time to cook. You’ll know they’re done when the meat separates easily from the bones, the chicken is tender, and the juices run clear. Nonetheless, please use an internal meat thermometer and insert it into the thickest area of the wing, being careful to avoid the bone. When wings’ internal temperature registers at 165˚F, they’re done.
How to Make the Dipping Sauce
While the wings are cooking, prepare the sauce:
- Simmer the Sauce Ingredients. Place the sriracha sauce, butter, and garlic salt in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer, whisking continuously until the butter melts.
- Adjust Seasoning. Remove from the heat; taste for salt, and adjust as needed.
- Serve. Plate up the fried wings and serve with dipping sauce.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Want to learn more? Here are a few easy tricks to making really good wings in an air fryer. Bon appetit!
- Fit More Wings: If you stand some of the wings up along the sides of the air fryer, you can fit more inside. Drums work best for this, standing straight-up on the thicker end.
- Avoid Commercial Cooking Sprays: Some aerosol-type cooking sprays like Pam can actually damage your air fryer over time, so it’s better to spritz pure olive oil, avocado oil, etc. onto the food and basket. Don’t have a spray bottle for your oil? Try brushing a tiny bit on with a basting brush.
- Try Baking Powder: This has long been a “secret” for being nice, crispy fried chicken! Just add about a teaspoon of baking powder to your seasoning mixture. It will help the chicken cook up extra-crispy and golden brown. Yum!
Serving Suggestions
What kind of side dishes do you like to serve with chicken wings? While veggie sticks and bleu cheese are always popular, there are so many other cool ideas out there to try! These are some of my favorites.
- Sweet Potato Wedges: Sweet potatoes are a powerhouse of nutrition, and they’re so delicious simply baked into crispy, satisfying wedges. Try my Crispy Sweet Potato Wedges recipe for a side dish your whole family will adore!
- Broccoli and Cheese: Cheese, broccoli, bacon, oh my! This Cheesy Broccoli Casserole with Bacon is like mac and cheese, only better! It’s loaded with flavor and goes really well with crispy wings. Try it and see!
- Cobb Salad: You already love the crunch of fresh veggies with hot wings, so why not try a big, colorful salad? This Mediterranean Cobb Salad is so fresh and hearty, it’s absolutely stunning with a plate of these scrumptious wings.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
- To refrigerate, place the wings in shallow, airtight containers and store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, place the wings on a sheet pan or other baking dish, and bake at 350˚F until heated through.
ENJOY!
AIR FRYER CHICKEN WINGS
Crispy, golden-brown chicken wings are cooked to perfection in the air-fryer and served with a homemade sriracha butter sauce.
Instructions
Using paper towels, thoroughly pat dry the chicken wings.
Place chicken wings in a bowl and add lemon zest, salt, paprika, garlic powder, baking powder, thyme, cayenne, and black pepper; toss to coat evenly.
Coat the inside of the air fryer with cooking spray.
Set Air Fryer to 400˚F.
Arrange chicken wings in the Air Fryer basket in one single layer with spaces in between. Don’t try to fit all the chicken wings at once; you have to cook them in batches.
Spray wings with cooking oil and cook for 8 minutes.
- Flip over the chicken wings; spray with cooking oil and continue to cook for 8 more minutes, or until chicken wings are golden brown and cooked through. Larger chicken wings will need more time to cook through. Use an instant read thermometer for accuracy; chicken wings are done when internal temperature registers at 165˚F. DO NOT measure the temperature near a bone.
In the meantime, prepare the Sauce:
Place sriracha sauce, butter, and garlic salt in a small saucepan; set the saucepan over medium-low heat and bring to a simmer, whisking continuously until the butter melts.
Remove from heat; taste for salt and adjust accordingly.
Garnish chicken wings with parsley and serve with lemon wedges and prepared Hot Sauce.
Notes
- WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS: For those following a WW diet, the Points were calculated with skinless bone-on chicken wings to reduce the points by almost half. We calculated 11 Points with the skin ON, and 6 points without the skin.
- NET CARBS: 0 g
Nutrition Facts
AIR FRYER CHICKEN WINGS
Amount Per Serving (6 ounces)
Calories 236
Calories from Fat 171
% Daily Value*
Fat 19g29%
Saturated Fat 7g35%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 78mg26%
Sodium 859mg36%
Potassium 160mg5%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 516IU10%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 17mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keywords: air fryer chicken wings, healthy air fryer recipes, sriracha dipping sauce
