Air Fried Buffalo Chicken Wings

Chicken wings, patted dry and salted with a bit of baking powder, go into the air fryer at 360°F for 24 minutes, then a final 6 minutes at 390°F to crisp the skin. They get tossed in a butter, hot sauce, and garlic mixture and served with blue cheese dip on the side.

Why You'll Love Air Fried Buffalo Chicken Wings

Baking powder in the dry rub helps the skin crackle without deep frying, and the two-stage cook (24 minutes at 360°F, then 6 more at 390°F) gets it golden. The hot sauce is whisked with melted butter, garlic, and a bit of vinegar, then tossed with the wings straight out of the fryer, with blue cheese dip on the side.

Tips and Tricks

• Pat wings very dry before cooking to maximize crispiness.
• Use baking powder (not baking soda) to help achieve a golden, crackly skin.
• Flip the wings multiple times for even cooking and crispiness.

Variations

• Spicy Honey Wings: Toss wings in a mixture of hot sauce and honey for a sweet-heat combo.
• Garlic Parmesan: Swap the buffalo sauce for melted butter, garlic, and parmesan cheese.
• BBQ Wings: Use your favorite BBQ sauce instead of hot sauce for a smoky flavor.

Substitutions

• Chicken Drumettes: Can be used instead of whole wings.
• Franks Red Hot: Substitute with any hot sauce of your preference.
• Butter: Use ghee or olive oil for a dairy-free option.

Best served with

• Blue cheese dip
• Celery and carrot sticks
• Crispy fries or roasted potatoes
• A cold beer or sparkling water

How to Store Leftovers

• Store leftover wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place them in a preheated oven at 400°F for 8-10 minutes to re-crisp the skin. Avoid microwaving as it can make the skin soggy.

Common Questions

Air Fried Buffalo Chicken Wings

No ratings yet

Crispy, tender buffalo chicken wings made healthier with an air fryer. Served with a rich, buttery hot sauce and blue cheese dip for the ultimate flavor combo.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 36 minutes mins

Total Time 41 minutes mins

Servings: 2

Course: Appetizer, Meat

Cuisine: American

Calories: 668

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 1 lb chicken wings
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoon butter
• ¼ cup hot sauce Crystal or Frank's Red Hot
• 1 tablespoon garlic minced
• ½ tablespoon white vinegar
• Nonstick cooking spray as needed
• Thinly sliced chives for garnish
• ¼ cup blue cheese dip store-bought or homemade

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Paper Towels
• Mixing bowl
• Saucepan

Method

 

1. Pat the chicken wings dry thoroughly with paper towels. Sprinkle evenly with kosher salt.
2. Preheat air fryer to 360°F. Spray the basket lightly with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange wings in a single layer without overcrowding or touching.
3. Cook wings for 12 minutes, then flip and cook for another 12 minutes at the same temperature.
4. Flip wings once more, increase temperature to 390°F, and cook for 6 minutes more, flipping halfway through. The skin should be golden and crispy; add a few extra minutes if wings are large.
5. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add hot sauce, minced garlic, and vinegar; whisk until smooth and heated through.
6. Transfer wings to a large bowl, pour sauce over them, and toss well to coat evenly.
7. Plate wings, sprinkle with sliced chives, and serve immediately with blue cheese dip on the side.

Nutrition

Calories: 668kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 47gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 189mgSodium: 4985mgPotassium: 430mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 361IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 343mgIron: 4mg

Notes

Storage: Best fresh and crispy right out of the fryer. Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 3 days; reheat in the air fryer or oven to bring back the crunch, skip the microwave since it turns the skin soft.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!