The Big Mistake to Avoid When Making Air Fryer Chicken Wings

When I first began using an air fryer, I predominantly used it to heat frozen foods and warm up leftovers. It was efficient and, eventually, I started to prefer it over my oven. But when I learned I could use it to cook chicken from scratch, it became my all-time favorite kitchen appliance.

So far, chicken wings are my favorite meal to make in the air fryer. They’re simple, quick and delicious — and most importantly to me, cleanup is a breeze because very few dishes are used during the cooking process. 

But in order to make the perfect air fryer chicken wings, there’s one mistake you must avoid when placing the wings in the air fryer. Don’t overcrowd your air fryer when cooking wings — and never, ever, layer them on top of each other. Doing so would cause uneven cooking and worst of all, soggy wings. Instead, if you’re cooking a large amount of wings, do so in multiple batches rather than trying to cook them all at once. 

Place the wings in a single layer in your air fryer and space them apart so they don’t stick together. They will slightly shrink while cooking, which will add even more space for when you flip them halfway through the cooking process. While you can make any flavor of wings in the air fryer, my go-to are these simple buffalo chicken wings. 

Keep reading to learn how you can make your very own crispy and delicious air fryer wings in less than 30 minutes. 

Ingredients:

• 1 pack of chicken wings (about 15 wings)
• 1/2 cup of Frank’s RedHot Hot Sauce
• 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter melted
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil 
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder 
• 1 teaspoon of paprika 
• 1 teaspoon of pepper

How to make 25-minute air fryer chicken wings:

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Step 1: Pat dry the chicken wings and place them in a large mixing bowl and drizzle olive oil over them.

Step 2: Combine the seasonings and sprinkle them on the wings, then mix well.

Step 3: Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, then flip them and cook for another 10 minutes. Make sure to not overcrowd the air fryer, and cook them in multiple batches if needed.

Step 4: While the wings are cooking, melt the unsalted butter in a small saucepan, then add in Frank’s RedHot Hot Sauce (or a hot sauce of your choosing) and simmer on low heat for three to four minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Step 5: When the wings are done cooking and have reached an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees, place them in a clean mixing bowl and pour the buffalo sauce mixture over them.

Step 6: Toss the wings until they are fully coated and serve hot with dipping sauce and carrots and celery. 

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