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These crispy Air-Fried BBQ Chicken Wings are your go-to for a delicious and fuss-free meal. Coated in a sticky blend of sweet honey, tangy mustard, and smoky barbecue sauce, each wing is bursting with irresistible flavor.
The air fryer ensures a crispy, golden exterior without excess oil, while the juicy meat inside stays tender and succulent. Ready in under 30 minutes, these wings are perfect for game days, family dinners, or any time you crave a mouthwatering meal with minimal effort!
At these memorable gatherings and moments, you will also love to try my Balsamic Goat Cheese Kale and Mushroom Pizza, Viral Smashed Tacos, Sweet, Spicy, & Crispy Asian Chicken, and Easy 15-Minute Sheet Pan Fajitas recipes. These are delicious and satisfying recipes that will elevate your experience
Table of Contents
- Recipe Overview: Air-Fried BBQ Chicken Wings
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients
- Recipe Tip
- Step-by-Step Guide
- Recipe Tip
- How to Cut Chicken Wings
- How to Serve Air-Fried BBQ Chicken Wings
- Variations and Substitutions
- Recipe Tips
- Storage Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes:
- Air-Fried BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe
Recipe Overview: Air-Fried BBQ Chicken Wings
Cuisine: American
Cooking Method: Air Frying
Skill Required: Easy, great for all levels
Signature Taste: Crispy, smoky, and sweet with a sticky BBQ glaze
Diet Info: Gluten-free, easily adaptable for other dietary needs
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick and Easy: These air-fried BBQ chicken wings are ready in under 30 minutes, perfect for a quick meal or snack.
Healthier Choice: Made in an air fryer with less oil, they’re a lighter alternative to traditional fried wings.
Bursting with Flavor: Combining sweet honey, smoky paprika, and tangy BBQ sauce creates an irresistible taste.
Perfectly Crispy: The air fryer ensures a golden, crispy skin while keeping the chicken juicy and tender inside.
Great for Any Occasion: Whether it’s game night or a casual dinner, these wings are always crowd-pleasers!
Ingredients
Air-Fried Chicken Wings
Chicken Wings: Patting them dry before seasoning helps achieve a crispier skin in the air fryer.
Cornstarch: Creates a light, crispy coating by absorbing moisture from the chicken skin.
Salt: Enhances the natural flavors of the chicken and helps create a crispy exterior.
Paprika: Adds smoky flavor and gives the wings a rich color.
Garlic Powder: Provides a mild garlic flavor that enhances the overall seasoning.
Black Pepper: Adds a subtle kick and complements the smoky BBQ flavor.
Cooking Spray: Prevents the wings from sticking to the air fryer basket, ensuring an even crisp.
Sticky BBQ Sauce
Barbecue Sauce: Use your favorite brand or make your own for personalized flavor.
Honey: Adds sweetness and helps create a sticky, caramelized glaze.
Ketchup: Adds tanginess and a hint of sweetness to balance the sauce.
Yellow Mustard: Provides a slight tang and depth to the BBQ sauce.
Worcestershire Sauce: Adds umami and depth to the sauce for a more complex flavor.
Recipe Tip
Make sure to preheat your air fryer for a few minutes before adding the chicken wings. This helps create a crispier skin right from the start, ensuring even cooking and a deliciously golden-brown finish.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Pat dry the chicken wings well using a paper towel. The right step towards getting Crispy BBQ chicken wings
Step 2: Drop the wings in the spice mix (cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt).
Step 3: Spray the air fryer tray with cooking oil spray. Then, place the chicken wings in the air fryer tray.
Step 4: Bake the wings at 380°F for 15 minutes. Flip the wings, then set at 400°F and bake them for 5 more minutes.
Step 5: Place the air-fried wings in a bowl, then pour the sticky barbecue sauce over them. Toss them around to coat them well using a tong.
Recipe Tip
Lightly brush the wings with a bit of oil or use a cooking spray before air frying. This not only helps in crisping up the skin but also adds a beautiful golden shine, enhancing their appearance and flavor.
How to Cut Chicken Wings
If you couldn’t find pre-cut chicken wings, let’s help you turn a whole chicken wing into its 3 portions consisting of a drumette, a wingette, and a wing tip with only two simple and easy cuts!
First, flip your chicken wing skin side down. Use your fingers to locate the joints and locate the ridge between the drumette and the wingette.
Next, place your sharp knife just beside the ridge, parallel to the drumette. Cut through the ridge with minimal resistance to separate the drumette from the wingette.
Finally, locate the second ridge between the wingette and the wing tip, and cut through this ridge to separate the wingette from the tip.
And there you have it! Perfectly cut chicken wing pieces ready to be the stars in your private cooking show! Check out my guide on the Perfect Way to Cut Chicken Wings for more tips and details.
How to Serve Air-Fried BBQ Chicken Wings
Serve these crispy, sticky wings hot, straight from the air fryer. Arrange them on a platter with a sprinkle of fresh herbs or a drizzle of extra BBQ sauce for a finishing touch.
Pair your wings with classic sides like celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.
Enjoy your crunchy BBQ chicken wings with a side of onion rings, baked potato balls, coleslaw, or the KFC copycat baked potato wedges!
Finally, pair your favorite game treat with yet another classic! That’s right! A serving of good old-fashioned mac and cheese would make your dinner table a sight to behold!
Variations and Substitutions
Spicy Wings: Add cayenne pepper or hot sauce to the BBQ sauce for an extra kick.
Sweet and Tangy: Swap honey with maple syrup or brown sugar for a different sweet profile.
Asian-Inspired: Replace the BBQ sauce with a mix of soy sauce, hoisin, garlic, and ginger for a unique twist.
Gluten-Free Option: Ensure all ingredients, including the BBQ sauce, are gluten-free.
Recipe Tips
Pat Drying: Make sure to pat the chicken wings thoroughly dry with paper towels before seasoning to achieve the crispiest skin.
Use Cornstarch for the Best Crunch: Mixing cornstarch with your spices gives the wings an extra crispy texture by absorbing moisture and creating a light crust.
Cooking time: It depends on the size of the wings you are using. So although it is important to follow the recipe, keep an eye out for the size and time needed.
Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer: Arrange the wings in a single layer with space between them for even cooking and maximum crispiness.
Double-Coating: After the initial coating of BBQ sauce, air-fry the wings for an extra 2-3 minutes to caramelize the sauce, then add another layer for an extra sticky, flavorful finish.
Customize the BBQ Sauce: Adjust the sweetness or spiciness of the sauce to your preference by adding honey, hot sauce, or other seasonings.
Storage Tips
Refrigerating: Place leftover wings in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for about 3 days. Ensure the wings cooled completely before storing to prevent condensation and sogginess.
Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the wings in a single layer on a baking sheet of parchment paper, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be kept in the freezer for about 1 month.
Reheating: Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-7 minutes or until crispy and warmed through.
If reheating in the oven, spread the air-fried wings on a baking sheet, then pop them in the oven for 15 minutes at 350°F. I recommend allowing them to chill at room temperature before you go for the oven.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but make sure to thaw them completely and pat them dry before cooking for the best texture.
Of course, you can! Enjoy this recipe with chicken thighs or evenly cut chicken breasts. Pay attention to adjusting the cooking time for doneness.
Cooking times may vary by model, so monitor your wings closely, especially towards the end.
My recipe calls for cooking the chicken before coating it in sauce. BBQ sauce contains sugar which would leave a bitter taste if cooked too long on high heat, and that’s a risk I wouldn’t want to make.
Absolutely! You can substitute BBQ sauce with buffalo sauce, honey mustard, or any of your favorite sauces.
More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes:
- Quick and Easy Air Fryer BBQ Salmon
- Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
- Seasoned Air Fried Rotisserie Chicken
- Crispy Air-Fried Sweet Potato Fries
- Beef Shawarma Egg Rolls – Air Fried
Air-Fried BBQ Chicken Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken Wings
- 3 pounds cut and ready chicken wings, 24-30 wing pieces
- 1 tablespoon corn starch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- cooking spray
Sticky BBQ Sauce
- 1½ cups barbeque sauce
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
Chicken Wings
- Pat dry the chicken wings well using a paper towel.
- In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, black pepper and salt.
- Sprinkle the spice mix gradually over the chicken wings mixing every few seconds to evenly coat all the wings.
- Spray the air fryer with cooking oil spray then place the chicken wings in the air fryer tray.
- Bake them at 380°F for 15 minutes. Flip the wings, then set at 400°F and bake them for 5 more minutes.
- Place the air-fried wings in a bowl, then pour the sticky barbecue sauce over them. Toss them around to coat them well using a tong.
Sticky BBQ Sauce
- In a small saucepan add the barbecue sauce, honey, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire on medium-high heat stirring frequently to avoid sticking.
- Simmer the sauce for about 5 minutes stirring frequently.
- Add of the sauce to a bowl, and reserve the rest for serving.
Notes
- Pat Drying: Make sure to pat the chicken wings thoroughly dry with paper towels before seasoning to achieve the crispiest skin.
- Use Cornstarch for the Best Crunch: Mixing cornstarch with your spices gives the wings an extra crispy texture by absorbing moisture and creating a light crust.
- Cooking time: It depends on the size of the wings you are using. So although it is important to follow the recipe, keep an eye out for the size and time needed.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer: Arrange the wings in a single layer with space between them for even cooking and maximum crispiness.
- Double-Coating: After the initial coating of BBQ sauce, air-fry the wings for an extra 2-3 minutes to caramelize the sauce, then add another layer for an extra sticky, flavorful finish.
- Customize the BBQ Sauce: Adjust the sweetness or spiciness of the sauce to your preference by adding honey, hot sauce, or other seasonings.
