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Air Fryer Chicken Wings Dry Rub Recipe, 10 Ways

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Subtly spicy and loaded with deep flavors, this Air Fryer Chicken Wings Dry Rub recipe is one you won’t soon forget! Sooo tasty!!!

Air fryer chicken wings dry rub served on a cast iron skillet with ranch dipping sauce and vegetable sticks.

One way to make Air Fryer Chicken Wings Dry Rub is in the southern style Cajun wings.

The good news is that you probably have the popular seasoning sitting in your pantry.

If not, it’s super easy to make. You only need to mix smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt. That’s it!

Air fryer chicken wings dry rub recipe bite shot, served on a cast iron skillet with ranch dipping sauce and vegetable sticks.

In case you’re not a fan of the Southern seasoning, I’ll provide you with nine more different dry rub flavors at the end of this post.

Combining the richly flavorful Cajun seasoning with crispy, fatty chicken wings creates a pairing unlike any other! Its sweet, earthy, with a beautiful hint of spiciness! In other words, it’s so tasty and delicious!

You can even make a Cajun dip by melting butter and mixing in your Cajun blend.

Let’s get started!

Cajun Air Fryer Dry Rub Wings Ingredients

Ingredients for Cajun dry rub wings

You can find the exact measurements of the recipe ingredients and customize the serving size in the recipe card after the detailed step-by-step instructions section.

All you’ll need for this super simple dry rub air fryer wings: 

  • Chicken wings 
  • Cajun seasoning blend
  • Neutral cooking oil (like vegetable or canola) 

You can make Cajun seasoning at home if you’d prefer not to buy it!

Simply combine the following ingredients in a small bowl: 

  • paprika 
  • kosher salt 
  • garlic powder 
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • onion powder
  • dried oregano
  • cayenne pepper 
  • dried thyme

A note about wings: Chicken wings come whole and pre-cut. We always prefer to buy the pre-cut option (sometimes labeled party wings) because then you can avoid the additional prep of having to cut them before cooking.

Recipe Video

YouTube video

How to Cook Cajun Dry Rub Wings in an Air Fryer?

This air fryer wings recipe couldn’t get easier! You’ll absolutely love making and eating these Cajun wings, and the whole recipe will only take you about 30 minutes!

Step 1: Get your chicken wings ready.

Fresh chicken wings

If your wings are frozen, defrost them before continuing with the recipe, because the wings cannot be cooked from frozen.

The best way to defrost wings is in the refrigerator overnight. Alternatively, you could submerge the package of wings in a bowl of cold water and change the water every 30 minutes until the wings are defrosted. 

Add the wings to a medium bowl and thoroughly pat them dry with a paper towel.

Step 2: Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C).

Preating Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer to 380°F (193°C).

If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheating option, you can set the temperature to 380°F (193°C) and then let it cook for 4-5 minutes.

Preheating is essential for ensuring that wings cook in the shortest time possible, resulting in juicier and more tender wings.

Step 3: Apply the Cajun dry rub.

Rubbing chicken wings with Cajun seasoning

Toss the wings with the neutral oil and the Cajun seasoning blend. Ensure all the wings are evenly coated.

Step 4: Air fry the chicken wings for 20-25 minutes.

Cooking chicken wings dry rub in air fryer

Add the wings in a single layer to the air fryer and cook, flipping halfway through, for 20-25 minutes total.

To test if your wings are fully cooked, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the largest wing: the internal temperature should be at least 165°F (74°C) or higher.

I used a 6-quart air fryer to test this recipe. Cooking time and temperature may vary depending on your air fryer and the number of servings you are making. For optimal results, begin with the lower end of the suggested cooking time.

Step 5: Serve and enjoy your Cajun dry rub air fryer chicken wings!

Air fried chicken wings dry rub

When the dry rub wings are fully cooked and crisped, transfer to a plate and serve immediately! Enjoy your delicious Cajun chicken wings! 

We think these wings would be awesome with some chopped parsley or cilantro sprinkled over the top.

Alternatively (or additionally) you could serve these wings with a mixture of honey and hot sauce (amounts to taste)! Either way, these wings are delicious, bold, and impossible to resist!

The Best Dry Rubs for Chicken Wings

Making dry rub air fryer wings is quite simple. All you need to do season the wingettes and drumettes with any dry rub flavor you prefer, then air fry them at 380°F (193°C) for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Here are 10 flavors to choose from:

Classic BBQ Rub – 1 tsp brown sugar, ½ tsp paprika, ½ tsp chili powder, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp black pepper, ¼ tsp salt.

Lemon Pepper Rub – 1 tsp lemon zest, 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder.

Jamaican Jerk Rub – 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp ground allspice, 1 tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

Cajun Rub – 1 tbsp paprika , 2 tsp kosher salt , 2 tsp garlic powder , 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp cayenne pepper , ½ tsp dried thyme

Garlic Parmesan Rub – 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried parsley, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, ⅛ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Asian Five-Spice Rub – 1 ½ tsp five-spice powder, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp paprika, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

Ranch Rub – 1 tsp dried dill weed, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp dried parsley, 1 tsp dried chives, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper

Buffalo Rub – 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, ⅛ tsp dried thyme, ⅛ tsp dried oregano

Jerk Chicken Rub -1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp brown sugar, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp ground allspice, ½ tsp dried parsley, ¼ tsp cayenne pepper, ¼ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper

Taco Rub – 1 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp dried oregano, ¼ tsp salt, ⅛ tsp black pepper

To speed things up, feel free to buy a ready-made seasoning at your favorite grocery store.

Freezing & Storage

Freezing: Once the air fryer dry rub wings have cooled completely, add to a freezer-style zip-top bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then follow the instructions below.

Fridge: Once the wings have cooled completely, add to a zip-top bag or airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Reheating: To reheat wings without sauce, add to an air fryer preheated to 350°F and air fry for 3-4 minutes or until heated through and crispy again.

Frequently Asked Questions

To make dry rub chicken wings in an air fryer, first preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C). Then apply your favorite dry rub to the wings. Next, cook the wings for 20-25 minutes until golden brown, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.

prep time5 minutes
cooking time25 minutes
total cooking time30 minutes

Air Fryer Chicken Wings Dry Rub, 10 Ways

courseMain Course
cuisineAmerican
Subtly spicy and loaded with deep flavors, this Air Fryer Chicken Wings Dry Rub recipe is one you won’t soon forget! Sooo tasty!!! 🥰 Fry it, to believe it!
Chicken wings Dry Rub in Air Fryer
5 from 2 votes
number of servings2

This ingredients checklist is interactive; you can use it as your grocery list.

Ingredients
 

  • 1 pound chicken wings (10-12 pieces)
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon neutral cooking oil

Homemade Cajun Seasoning (Optional)

  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
  • 1 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoons dried thyme

Instructions
 

  • Get your chicken wings ready. If you don’t have fresh ones, thaw them overnight. Then pat the wings dry with paper towels.
    Fresh chicken wings
  • Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C).
    Preating Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer to 380°F (193°C).
  • While preheating, season the wings with oil first, then add the Cajun dry rub. Toss and massage the wingettes and drumettes until fully coated.
    Rubbing chicken wings with Cajun seasoning
  • Air fry the seasoned chicken wings for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and crispy.Flip them halfway for even cooking. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) or higher.
    Cooking chicken wings dry rub in air fryer
  • Serve and enjoy your air fried Cajun dry rub chicken wings!
    Air fried chicken wings dry rub

Recipe Video

YouTube video

Notes

  • Fresh/properly thawed chicken wings will yield the best results.
  • The best way to thaw your chicken wings is to leave them in the refrigerator overnight. Another effective method for thawing wings is to place them in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes. It typically takes 2-4 hours for the wings to fully defrost.
  • We do not recommend defrosting them in the microwave as it may dry out the meat and potentially make it unsafe to eat.
  • If you air fry wings directly from frozen, they will have a dry texture and require a longer cooking time.
  • If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheating option, you can set the temperature to 380°F (193°C) and then let it cook for 4-5 minutes without food.
  • Preheating and thawing your chicken wings properly will yield juicier results. Based on our tests, the longer you cook your chicken wings, the drier they will become.
  • It’s not ideal to wash your chicken wings as it may contaminate your kitchen.
  • Chicken wings are considered white meat and should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) or higher.
  • Adding the oil first will help the Cajun dry rub stick to the drumettes and wingettes.
  • I used a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex Plus to test the air fryer chicken wings dry rub recipe. Cooking time and temperature may vary depending on your air fryer and the number of servings being prepared. For best results, start with the lower end of the suggested cooking time.
  • Please visit the post for other dry rub seasoning flavors.

Nutrition

Calories: 354kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 94mg | Potassium: 351mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 3628IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 3mg
Keywords: air fryer recipes, chicken wings recipes, dry rub wings in air fryer

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