Sound the alarm! Call your friends! Text your siblings! We’ve done it. We’ve created the BEST chicken wing recipe in the history of chicken wing recipes!
If you follow us, you know that we’ve made a variety of air fryer chicken wing recipes in the last few months.
Some of our favorites include Mongolian Wings and Honey Garlic Wings, both of which are saucy and oh-so-good.
We figured we had conquered the chicken wing game until we came up with this, wholly delicious, one-of-a-kind air fryer garlic parmesan wings recipe. Be prepared to have your minds blown with how truly perfect these wings are.
This recipe has a few steps but the work is totally worth the results! And, each step is really simple, so don’t stress.
With that said, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Garlic Parmesan Wings Air Fryer Recipe Ingredients
✦ 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.
Don’t be scared by the number of ingredients on this list!! You probably have everything in your pantry, with the exception of maybe 2-3 items.
Here are all the things you need to make those amazingly delicious garlic parmesan air fryer wings.
- Chicken wings
- High heat cooking oil spray
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Parmesan cheese
- Dried parsley
- Egg
- Cornstarch
- Baking powder
- Cayenne pepper
- Paprika
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Parsley (optional)
We really prefer to use panko (Japanese-style) breadcrumbs in just about every recipe that requires breadcrumbs. Unlike traditional breadcrumbs, panko has a light and airy texture that gets extra crisp when fried or air-fried, making it the perfect coating for the wings in this recipe.
✦ Pro Tip: Cooking sprays often contain propellants that are harmful to the baskets and trays of air fryers. Be sure to use a cooking spray that only contains the cooking oil when possible.
✦ Time Saver: 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
How to Make Garlic Parmesan Wings in the Air Fryer?
Making these top-notch wings is going to be a piece of cake!
We make 3 different mixtures: a dry batter, a panko mixture, and beaten egg. Then, it’s as simple as tossing the wings with the dry batter before dipping each wing into egg and finally the breadcrumbs.
Off to the air fryer they go and in 20-25 minutes, the perfect amount of time to clean up and get ready to eat, they’re done!
Step 1: Get your chicken wings ready.
If working with frozen chicken wings, defrost them in the refrigerator overnight or (in the package) in a bowl of cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes until the wings are defrosted.
Add the wings to a container that has a lid (this is a key step for getting this recipe made faster). Pat the wings dry thoroughly with paper towels.
Step 2: Dredge the chicken wings in dry batter.
Make the dry batter by combining cornstarch, baking powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, salt and garlic powder. Whisk to evenly combine and then add the mix to the container with the wings.
Put the top on the wing container and shake to evenly coat all the wings in the cornstarch mixture.
💡 Pro Tip: If you have a large container with a lid, you could add the dry mixture (only the dry mixture, not the egg or breading mix) to the wings and shake to evenly coat all the wings in the mixture, rather than dipping each one!
Step 3: Prepare the egg wash and bread crumbs.
In a shallow, wide bowl, beat the egg with 1 tbsp water until smooth. In another shallow, wide bowl, combine the panko, dried parsley and grated cheese.
Step 4: Preheat the 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 without food.
Don’t skip preheating your air fryer for juicier and more tender chicken wings. The longer you cook your wings, the drier they will become.
Step 5: Coat the chicken wings with parmesan-Panko breading mix.
While the air fryer is preheating, finish breading each wing. Shake off any excess dry batter before transferring a wing into the egg wash.
Toss to coat the wing evenly in egg, allow the excess to drip off and then transfer it to the breadcrumbs. Roll and press the wing to coat in breadcrumbs and then set the wing on a clean dish. Repeat with remaining wings.
Step 6: Air fry the chicken wings for 20-25 minutes or until golden and crispy.
When the air fryer is preheated, add the wings in a single layer, being sure not to overcrowd the basket. If necessary, cook the wings in batches rather than squishing them in to cook them all at once, as the batter can easily fall off if the wings are rubbing against each other.
Lightly spray the wings with high-heat cooking spray, preferably one without any propellant. Air fry the wings, flipping halfway through, until the wings are golden and crisp, about 20-25 minutes.
To test the doneness of the wings, insert a meat thermometer into the largest chicken 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 7: Serve and enjoy your air fried garlic parmesan chicken wings!
When the air fryer garlic parmesan chicken wings are fully cooked, transfer them to a serving dish and sprinkle with chopped, fresh parsley!
Enjoy your delicious, BEST-EVER wings!
These wings don’t really need anything; they’re that good on their own!
If you want to dip them, we think warm marinara sauce would be a great option, or you could make this easy recipe for a simple caesar dip!
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, pressed
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine! Now you have a creamy, caesar-inspired dip to complement your garlicky, crunchy wings! Enjoy!
Freezing & Storage
Freezing: Once the air fryer garlic parmesan wings have cooled completely, add them to an airtight container or freezer-safe zip-top bag. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To reheat, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then follow the reheat instructions below.
Fridge: Once the wings have cooled completely, add to a zip-top bag or airtight container and store for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Reheating: To reheat the wings, preheat the air fryer to 370°F and then add the wings. Air fry until reheated through and crispy again, about 4-5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
To air fry garlic parmesan chicken wings, start by setting up your breading station. Then, dredge the chicken wings in the mixture of garlic powder and cornstarch, followed by dipping them in the egg wash and coating them in the mixture of breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. Air fry the coated chicken wings for 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Cook until they are golden and crispy. Finally, serve the wings with garlic butter sauce and enjoy!
This ingredients checklist is interactive; you can use it as your grocery list.
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken wings 10-12 pieces
- High heat cooking oil spray with no propellant
Dry Batter
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
Egg Wash
- 1 egg large
Bread Crumb Mix
- ⅔ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoon dried parsley
Instructions
- Get your chicken wings ready. If you don’t have fresh ones, thaw them overnight. Then, pat the wings dry with paper towels.
- Dredge the chicken wings in dry batter. Grab a large container, ideally one with a lid, and mix together cornstarch, baking powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and salt in it. Next, add the chicken wings to the container, cover it with the lid, and shake it until all the wingettes and drumettes are fully coated with the dry batter.
- Prepare the egg wash and bread crumbs mix. In a medium bowl whisk an egg until smooth. In a separate shallow dish mix the breadcrumbs, dried parsley and grated parmesan cheese.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (193°C).
- Next, dip the dredged chicken wings in the beaten eggs and coat them in the Panko-parmesan cheese mixture, pressing gently to help the crumbs adhere. Repeat the process until all the chicken wings have been breaded.
- Carefully transfer the breaded chicken wings into the preheated air fryer. Spray them with high heat cooking oil and cook for 20-25 minutes until the crust becomes golden and crispy. Flip halfway for even cooking. Make sure that the internal temperature of the thickest chicken wing reaches 165°F (74°C) or higher.
- Serve the air fryer parmesan chicken wings with butter garlic sauce and perhaps a side of fries. Enjoy! 😋
Recipe Video
Notes
- Fresh or properly thawed chicken wings will yield the juiciest and most tender results.
- 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 your air fryer 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.
- 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. Add 2-3 more minutes when cooking from frozen.
- It’s not ideal to wash your chicken wings as it may contaminate your kitchen.
- Chicken wings are considered as white meat and should be cooked to a temperature of 165°F or 74°C or higher.
- It is necessary to spray the bread crumbs with high heat cooking oil; without it, the crumbs will look pale and uncooked.
- A flat container, such as a dish or tray, will work best for breading chicken.
- Avoid using oil sprays that contain propellant as they may damage your air fryer basket.
- I used a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex Plus to test the air fryer garlic parmesan wings 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.
Nutrition
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