Go Back Email Link
+ servings
Air fryer BBQ chicken wings served with ranch dipping sauce, celery and carrots.
Print

Simply Irresistible Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings

https://fryit.co/air-fryer-bbq-chicken-wings-recipe/
No disrespect to your local pitmaster, but this Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings is to die for. Bonus: It’s super easy to make! 🤩 Fry it, to believe it!
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Makes 2

Ingredients

  • 1 pound chicken wings 10-12 pieces
  • 3 tablespoon barbecue sauce ready-made

Homemade Barbecue Sauce (Optional)

  • ½ cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  • teaspoon brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • teaspoon onion powder
  • teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  • Thaw your frozen chicken wings overnight or use fresh ones.
    Fresh chicken wings on a black plate, top view.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C).
    Preating Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer to 400°F (204°C).
  • While preheating, pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels. Then, lightly season them with salt. You can also add pepper if you want.
    Lightly seasoning chicken wings with salt
  • Once the air fryer is preheated, place the chicken wings inside and cook them for 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden and crispy. For even cooking, be sure to space the wings out and flip them halfway. If air frying from frozen, add 3-5 minutes.
    Cooking chicken wings in air fryer
  • Prepare honey barbecue sauce from scratch or use a ready-made one. To make fresh BBQ sauce: combine ketchup, honey, white vinegar, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
    Homemade barbecue sauce, mixing with small whisk.
  • After air frying the chicken wings, coat them with honey barbecue sauce. Toss until the wings are fully covered.
    Coating air fried chicken wings with BBQ sauce.
  • Serve with celery and carrots on the side, ranch dipping sauce, fries or onion rings. Enjoy your Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings!
    Air fried BBQ chicken wings

Video

Notes

  • For optimal results, it is recommended to use fresh chicken wings.
  • 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, it will have a dry texture and require a longer cooking time (additional 3-5 minutes).
  • If your air fryer doesn't have a preheating option, you can set the temperature to 400°F (204°C) and then let it cook for 5 minutes.
  • 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 as white meat and should be cooked to a temperature of 165°F (74°C) or higher.
  • Since the honey barbecue sauce is already flavorful, you can skip seasoning the chicken wings before air frying.
  • For a little extra crispness, toss with 1-2 tsp of high-heat cooking oil, such as canola or vegetable oil.
  • It's ideal to add the honey barbecue sauce after air frying. It can get burnt at high heat, and may even produce smoke.
  • I used a 6-quart Instant Pot Vortex Plus to test the air fryer barbecue chicken 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

Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 360mg | Potassium: 252mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 239IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1mg
Visit fryit.co for more easy & tasty air fryer recipes.