Air-Fryer Wings 3 Ways: Quick and Easy

by Sarah Harper MS, RD, LDN | Jul 26, 2022 | Lunch/Dinner, Recipe, Sauces/Dressing, Snack | 0 comments

These Air Fryer Wings are super crispy, yummy, and easy. These are perfect for watching a sporting event or for an easy weeknight meal!
Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!

Original Article Published – 7/6/21

Air-Fryer Wings

I make air-fryer wings almost a lot. I once thought I could only get good wings at a restaurant, deep fried, slathered in sauce, but I was wrong.

My air-fryer chicken wings are better than at a restaurant. Why? In addition to tasting better, they are also much cheaper and healthier! I can adjust the cooking time to make my wings as crispy as desired. Furthermore, wings can be transformed into many different flavors and styles with sauces! I love knowing exactly what sauce is going on my wings. There are many store-bought varieties that are low in added sugar and sodium that are my “go-to’s”.

My Favorite Sauces to Make From Scratch for Air-Fryer Wings

As convenient as store-bought sauces can be, it’s surprisingly easy (and fun) to make your sauces from scratch! Additionally, you can go beyond the classic buffalo and BBQ sauces. Try out some of my faves.

Wet Sauces:

Dry Rubs:

  • Old Bay
  • Lemon Pepper
  • Plain ole’ salt and pepper

Air-Fryer Wings 3 Ways

Salt and Pepper: Let’s start here because it’s basic and the easiest to throw together. Salt and pepper is my base wing recipe. I always start off the wings in the air-fryer seasoned with salt and pepper. Once cooked, they are delicious just the way they are.

Buffalo or Basic BBQ: Want to step up those naked air-frier wings but don’t have time to make a sauce from scratch? No problem. In a pinch, I use sugar-free buffalo sauce from a few different brands, and I love New Primals BBQ sauce. The New Primal also has many buffalo flavors, they have hot, medium and mild.

Pair this with some carrot, celery, and/or cucumber poppable and I’ve got the best football app around. These Air Fried wings also pair well with a big salad like my Creamy Tomato & Herb or  Yogurt Cilantro Lime Slaw.

PB&J Wings: This last flavor combo is my favorite. Sounds weird, but hear me out, PB&J Wings. This combination of flavors is fun, different, and truly yummy. Just take my Thai-Inspired Peanut Sauce and coat the wings after air-frying. Then, create a magical dipping sauce with grape jelly and sweet chili sauce. And there you have it, a pretty easy-to-throw-together PB&J air-fryer chicken wing.

Sharper Nutrition Fix: Dressings, Sauces, and Marinades

Usually, I am all about making my own dressings, marinades, and sauces but sometimes I need something fast! Store-bought sauces can turn a weeknight meal from a chore into an easy home-cooked meal.

My number one recommendation for purchasing sauces in the supermarket, read the nutrition label! When reviewing the nutrition label pay close attention to added sugars and sodium content. The USDA DGA recommends not going over ~30g of added sugar per day and 2300mg sodium.

A Dietitian’s Opinion of Fat-Free Salad Dressings

Generally, I am not a fan of Fat-Free Salad dressings. Fat helps absorb the fat-soluble vitamins our body needs. Also, eating fat appropriately is actually super healthy and much needed. Some things our body needs fat for include, energy, organ protection, cell growth, and cholesterol/ blood pressure control. In addition, fat-free dressings are often loaded with lots of added sugar.

Be sure to review the ingredients list when considering a store-bought dressing, sauce, or marinade. Look for things like high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, sugar etc. Really looking for any other ingredients you may be making a cognizant effort to avoid. Some tried and true brands I use, are The New Primal, Annie’s, and Tessemae.
Take a look below at two different Ranch Dressings. The list on the left is a lot less overwhelming and I actually know what I am about to pop in my mouth!

Air Fryer Wings

These Super Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings are so easy, quick, and delisious you will want to make them again and again! Pro tip: This recipe works with Drumsticks as well!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 321 kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Tongs
  • Large Bowl (if mixing with sauce)

Ingredients
  

  • 12 Chicken Wings flat and drum connected or 24 wings of separate flat and drum pieces
  • 1/4 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp Fresh cracked pepper
  • 1/2 cup Sauce of choice optional - see notes

Instructions
 

  • Cover the bottom of the Air Fryer with aluminum foil for wast cleanup. Place oven tray back in position.
  • Using clean tongs, pop wings on tray and sprinkle with desired amount of salt and pepper (both sides).
  • Cook on 370 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Flip chicken after 15minutes and cook for another 10-15minutes.
  • Serve naked, sauce on the side, or coated in your favorite wing sauce.

Notes

Sauce: I love The New Primal buffalo sauces. They have hot, medium, and mild buffalo, BBQ, and many more. Note, the nutrition facts for this recipe do not include the sauce you have chosen. 

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcalCarbohydrates: 0.2gProtein: 26gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 111mgSodium: 251mgPotassium: 229mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.003gVitamin A: 213IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 19mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Like This Recipe?

Try these wings with my Tarragon Blue Cheese Dressing

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Hi, I'm Sarah Harper. I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who loves to cook, eat, and talk about food! Here at The Addy Bean, you'll discover an array of flexitarian recipes. My mission is to inspire and encourage others to eat and explore the world of plant-based foods!

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