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These Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and slathered in a classic, homemade Buffalo sauce that coats every nook and cranny of the wing.
They’re the perfect simple chicken wings to serve as an addicting appetizer for game day or to enjoy as a flavorful main course all year round.
If you haven’t been making chicken wings in the air fryer, then you’re missing out! The wings get crispy on the outside and are perfectly tender and juicy on the inside. Plus, this delicious side dish can be whipped up in just 30 minutes.
And while you can use your favorite blue cheese dressing, I recommend using my Homemade Ranch Dressing for dipping in! The coolness of this dressing and the spiciness of the Buffalo sauce is an addicting and winning combination! And best of all, you only need simple pantry staples to make this delicious homemade recipe.
why you will love these chicken wings
- Healthy: These air fryer Buffalo chicken wings are a healthy, lower-carb recipe made with minimal clean ingredients. Plus, no oil is needed to air fry these wings!
- Delicious: This simple recipe is bursting with flavor! Juicy chicken wings are coated in a savory dry rub and then slathered in a spicy-sweet Buffalo sauce that gets slightly sticky when air-fried. This easy recipe takes simple flavors and elevates them into a dish that’s so good!
- Easy: All you need is a handful of spices, some chicken wings, and your favorite hot sauce! Simple, easy to prepare, with the air fryer doing most of the work!
ingredients you’ll need
- Chicken wings: I love using bone-in chicken wings because they’re SO flavorful and the classic way to enjoy this dish, but if you’d prefer to make this boneless – cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into 1/2″ strips.
- Avocado oil: Avocado oil is my preferred neutral cooking oil. It’s added to the chicken wing ingredients to help it crisp up.
- Garlic powder: To add a savory taste, I used garlic powder with the seasonings. You can also substitute onion powder if you don’t have any garlic powder on hand.
- Smoked paprika: Used to give the wings a slightly smoky flavor as well as to give them a slight color.
- Kosher salt: I recommend using kosher salt for this recipe. However, you can use table salt, but you will want to cut the amount in half.
- Black pepper: Freshly grated black pepper has a distinct spiciness that pairs beautifully with the savory notes of the paprika and garlic powder.
- Coconut butter: Also known as coconut manana is pureed whole coconut flesh. Coconut butter is used in place of traditional butter in the Buffalo sauce while sneaking in vital fiber and nutrients!
- Honey: The sweet element of his slightly spicy sauce comes from the honey. Honey is a natural sugar and when paired with the hot sauce, it helps create that perfect sweet-spicy flavor of the wings.
- Hot sauce: True Buffalo wing fans will only use Frank’s Original Hot Sauce for that classic Buffalo flavor but feel free to use your favorite hot sauce!
how to make buffalo wings in air fryer
To begin, to a large Ziploc bag, add the chicken wings. Next, sprinkle in the seasonings and oil. Seal the bag and thoroughly mix to coat the wings.
Working in batches, place chicken wings into the air fryer basket and air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes. Be sure not to overcrowd and leave plenty of space.
While the wings are cooking, make the buffalo sauce. In a large bowl, combine all sauce ingredients.
Once the first batch of wings is finished, transfer to the bowl with the sauce and toss to coat.
Repeat the cooking and coating steps with the remaining batches of air-fried chicken wings.
When all wings are cooked and coated, repeat the cooking process in the air-fryer, working in batches, and air fry at 400°F for an additional 5-6 minutes.
what to serve with buffalo wings
The traditional chicken wing sides are creamy blue cheese dressing with a side of raw carrots and celery sticks. However, any of the below would taste delicious when paired with these wings:
- Sauces: Tangy ranch dressing, garlic Buffalo sauce, or even barbecue sauce would be wonderfully tasty!
- Raw veggies: Feel free to enjoy cool cucumbers, spicy radishes, or even sweet bell pepper strips with your wings.
- Potatoes: You may serve air fryer wings with all sorts of potatoes like hot German Potato Salad, baked Smashed Sweet Potatoes, Roasted sweet potatoes, or Garlic Herbed Red potatoes.
- Simple salad: A fresh salad always pairs wonderfully with crispy wings. Try my creamy cucumber salad or my healthy homemade coleslaw.
- Other Air Fryer Veggies: Make a whole air fryer spread with air-fried veggies! Serve these easy air fryer chicken wings with air fryer zucchini chips, air fryer onion rings, or even air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites!
frequently asked questions
If you’d like the skin to be even crispier (if that’s even possible!), add in 2 tsp of baking powder to the chicken seasoning mix. The baking powder helps soak up any extra moisture helping to dry out the skin.
Yes, you can air-fry frozen wings for this recipe! If using frozen, air-fry them for an additional 5 minutes at 400°F before increasing the temperature for the last 6 minutes to crisp up. If you notice the wings sticking together at the beginning, don’t worry! Just shake the basket after a few minutes to separate them.
Of course! Baking these wings in the oven will take longer and may not have the same results. Bake the chicken wings at 425°F, flipping halfway through, for 35-45 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
To get a golden-brown exterior, turn the broiler on for a few minutes before removing, keeping a close eye on the wings to ensure they don’t burn.
The wings are safe to consume when using a meat thermometer registers to 165°F when inserted into the thickest part of the wing.
If using your air fryer to reheat chicken wings, set the air fryer at 350F and reheat the wings for 5-8 minutes or until they are heated through. Depending on how cold the wings are, it may even need 10 minutes if they are partially frozen. Open the air fryer for 5 minutes, shake it to toss the wings, and air fry again for 2-4 minutes.
how to store, freeze, and reheat chicken wings
- Storage: Store any leftover wings in an airtight container or bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Allow buffalo wings to come to room temperature, then place in a freezer-safe, airtight container or bag, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Reheat wings in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5-8 minutes, until hot and warmed through or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
recipe notes and tips
- To make these boneless wings, use boneless skinless chicken breasts into 1/2″ strips.
- If you’d like to make these wings even crispier, add baking powder to the chicken wing dry rub
- Swap in butter for the coconut butter if that’s what you have on hand
- To make a traditional Buffalo sauce, use Frank’s Original Hot Sauce!
- Serve with a creamy blue cheese dressing and crisp raw veggies such as carrots and celery for a classic meal
- Feel free to use frozen wings, keeping in mind they will take a few minutes longer to fry in the air fryer.
recipes you may also like
- Honey Baked Chicken Drumsticks
- Easy Chicken Quesadilla
- Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
- Oven-Baked Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
- Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
- Crispy Oven-Baked Asparagus
- Creamy Chicken Tikka Masala
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Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
Ingredients
For The Wings
- 2 lbs chicken wings
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground pepper
For The Buffalo Sauce
- 2 tbsp coconut butter or oil, melted, or any other oil
- 2 tbsp honey
- ½ cup hot sauce of choice
Instructions
- Place the wings in a large Ziploc bag and add in the garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and oil. Seal the bag and mix/toss thoroughly to evenly coat the wings.
- Air-fry the chicken wings in batches, at 400°F for 10 minutes. Make sure the wings have plenty of space and are not overlapping.
- While the wings are cooking, make the sauce. In a large bowl, combine all of the buffalo sauce ingredients.
- Once the first batch of wings is done, transfer to the bowl with the buffalo sauce and stir or toss to coat. Repeat with the remaining batches of air fried chicken wings.
- Repeat steps with remaining chicken; cooking in batches until all are cooked and coated in the sauce.
- When all wings are cooked and coated, repeat the cooking process in the air-fryer, working in batches, and air fry at 400°F for an additional 5-6 minutes.
Notes
- Storage: Store any leftover wings in an airtight container or bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Allow buffalo wings to come to room temperature, then place in a freezer-safe, airtight container or bag, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Reheat wings in the air fryer at 350°F for about 5 minutes, until hot and warmed through.
- Tip: The wings are safe to consume, when using a meat thermometer registers to 165°F when inserted into the thickest part of the wing.
- You can make our Homemade Buffalo Sauce recipe to make these wings.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
