Frozen Chicken Wings In Air Fryer

By making frozen chicken wings in air fryer, you will get soft and juicy wings with crispy skin on the outside. These wings are made in minutes with no thawing needed., making them the perfect appetizer for game days!

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This air fryer chicken wings recipe is suitable for low-carb, keto, paleo, and gluten-free diets. A healthier version of classic comfort food that the whole family will love!

This is also a great recipe to make for quick weeknight dinners. Simply toss these frozen wings in an air fryer* and voilà, you have an exceptionally wonderful dish in your hands. And by using an air fryer, you can get all of that flavorful crunchiness without the deep fryer.

Read on for a foolproof way to crispy chicken wings every single time using the air fryer.

Air Fryer Chicken Wings

If you are new to the air fryer*, I promise you this is gonna be your new favorite way of cooking! The air fryer is a definite game-changer.

Making chicken wings in an air fryer takes less time than making it in the convection oven. At the same time, you get the crispy crunchy perfection without deep frying the wings with a large amount of oil.The best part for me is that cleaning the air fryer after cooking is a breeze!

If you are looking for more appetizers for your Super Bowl party, check out my easy air fryer recipes to make Hash Browns and Pizza Rolls!

Choosing Chicken Wings to Air Fry

The air fryer instructions you follow would depend on the type of chicken wings you have. The air fryer temperature and time to cook chicken wings would vary if they are frozen, or fresh, raw, or pre-cooked. The cooking process can also vary if the wings are breaded.

In this recipe, I will be providing instructions to make frozen pre-cooked chicken wings as well as frozen raw chicken wings.

Flavor Variations of Air Fryer Chicken Wings

I used sauced frozen chicken wings (for both raw and pre-cooked versions). If you are using plain frozen chicken wings, I highly recommend adding some seasoning, sauce, or your favorite dry rub as the wings will be very bland without it.

However, don’t add any seasoning while the chicken wings are frozen, as the spices will drip off as the wings defrost in the air fryer oven.

Add the dry spices halfway through cooking, as you’re flipping the chicken wings.

If you want to add a sauce, I recommend adding it to the wings about 3-5 minutes before they are fully cooked to prevent the sauce from burning. My top three personal favorite sauce choices are – buffalo wing sauce*, BBQ sauce*, and teriyaki sauce*.

Can you layer frozen chicken wings in the air fryer?

I would recommend adding the frozen chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer instead of overlapping them. This will allow the hot air in the air fryer to fully circulate around the wings and you will get crispy chicken wings.

You can cook the wings in layers. The wings will take longer to be cooked thoroughly and you would need to toss and turn them multiple times. Chicken wings cooked in layers are also going to be less crispy.

That’s why I always recommend cooking your wings in smaller batches if necessary instead of trying to cram too many into the air fryer.

How to make the best pre-cooked, frozen chicken wings in air fryer

Start with a light spray of cooking oil on the rack in the air-fryer*, though this is an optional step. Sometimes the chicken skin can get stuck on the rack while cooking and tear off. So a light spray of oil would take care of this.

Now spread out the chicken wings on the rack. The chicken will shrink while cooking so you don’t need to leave a lot of space between individual pieces.

However, its best not to stack them on top of each other since it can lead to some soggy parts of the chicken while remaining are crispy.

Close the air fryer. Set the temperature to 380 and timer to 8 minutes.

After 8 minutes, flip the pieces. Set timer to 5 minutes and run the fryer again.

After 3 minutes, check the chicken to see if its crispy enough based on your preference. I personally like it to be on the crispier side so around 4-5minutes is when I stop cooking.

Depending on the size of the fryer and the number of chicken pieces, the timing may vary so I would advise checking the fryer every 2 minutes to make sure it doesn’t burn.

How to make the best raw, frozen chicken wings in air fryer

The procedure for raw frozen chicken wings is very similar to that of pre-cooked. The main difference is the cooking time.

After the initial 8 minutes frying at 380 F, flip and cooking for another almost 8 to 10 minutes or until the internal temperature reads 165 F.

You can continue to cook for few more minutes depending on how crispy you want the wings to be.

How to Know When the Chicken Wings in air fryer Are Done?

The surest way to know is by using a meat thermometer*. Stick the thermometer to the thickest part of the chicken (without touching the bone). When it reads 165 F, your wings are done. You also won’t see any pink in the meat if it is cut open.

Sauces and Sides to Serve with Air fryer Frozen Chicken wings

Serve these air fryer wings with your favorite dipping sauce. I love these wings dipped in my eggless ranch dressing. Blue cheese dip, chipotle sauce or this chipotle bitchin sauce will also go well with these air-fried wings.

If you prefer sauces with a little heat, dip your wings in hot sauce such as Buffalo sauce, mango habanero*, sweet chili*, or honey sriracha sauce*. You can also serve baby carrots and celery sticks on the side to balance the heat of these hot wings.

Chicken wings are a classic appetizer that also goes well with coleslaw, fries, onion rings, chips, and fried mozzarella sticks. Perfect for a football game day party! You can also serve these crispy wings as a full course meal with rosemary roasted potatoes, rice, and salad.

Storing and Reheating leftover chicken wings

Store your leftover chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

You can reheat the leftover wings in the air fryer itself. Reheat at 400 degrees for 5-7 minutes or until heated thoroughly and crispy. You can also heat the wings in the microwave, but they might end up softer.

Meat from the leftover wings can also be shredded and used in other dishes like salads or casseroles. This is a great way to use your leftovers if you don’t like eating the same meal several times in a row.

Tips to make the best chicken wings in air fryer

• I highly recommend spraying the rack in the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking oil* as the wings may stick to it without any oil.
• There is no need to thaw or defrost the chicken wings before placing them in the air fryer.
• Don’t overcrowd the basket. For best results, place your frozen chicken wings in a single layer. Cook in batches if needed.
• Remember to turn your wings mid-cooking to ensure they are evenly cooked. I use tongs to turn my wings but you can toss them as well.
• Cooking time may vary based on size and brand of air fryer and size of chicken wings. It will also depend on the type of frozen wings – pre-cooked or raw, breaded or un-breaded. Use your judgment to adjust cooking time based on these factors.
• Always check the chicken’s internal temperature to ensure that these frozen wings in air fryer are cooked to perfection and not left raw. The safe minimum internal temperature should measure around 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Commonly Asked questions

Do chicken wings have to be thawed for the air fryer?

The benefit of using an air fryer is that frozen foods don’t need to be thawed/defrosted before cooking. 

Do Chicken Wings Shrink in the Air Fryer?

Yes, chicken wings will shrink in both the oven and air fryer to some degree.

Do I Have To Dry My Wings Before Air Frying?

No, there is no reason to dry the wings before air frying unless they are extremely wet.

Are air-fried chicken wings healthy?

Yes, air-fried chicken wings are healthier than deep-fried chicken wings. The air fryer allows air to circulate around the chicken wings while cooking and produces delicious wings with crispy skin without the need for excess oil or calories!

LOOKING FOR MORE CHICKEN RECIPES??

Here are some of my favorite ones, that I am sure you would love –

• Crispy Chicken Costoletta Cheesecake Factory Recipe
• Texas Roadhouse Herb Crusted Chicken
• Chicken Salan
• Cuban Chicken Fricassee

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