Nothing beats pulling a basket of Air Fryer BBQ Wings out and watching that BBQ sauce glisten against that perfectly crunchy crust. It’s one of my favorite moments in the kitchen. The spiced flour coating crisps up beautifully, and brushing BBQ sauce over the top caramelizes into something sticky, smoky, and rich. Juicy inside, crispy outside, the wings I make on repeat.
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I make these for game day, Super Bowl Sunday, and any Friday night when the family wants wings without the mess and wait of ordering out. The air fryer does all the work and the whole batch comes together so much faster than the oven. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheat in the air fryer.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.
How to Make Air Fryer BBQ Wings with Step-By-Step Instructions
Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.
These air fryer BBQ chicken wings come out perfectly crispy every time, thanks to the spiced flour coating and the air fryer’s high heat. Let me walk you through exactly how to make these from start to finish, because a few key steps make all the difference.
Season and Coat the Wings
In a large bowl, combine the flour, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Give everything a good stir so the spices are evenly distributed throughout the flour. Toss in the chicken wings until every piece is fully coated.
If you want to switch things up, smoked paprika makes a great substitute for regular paprika and adds a deeper, smokier flavor to the seasoning blend. You can also swap in Italian seasoning or add a pinch of cayenne if you prefer spicy wings.
Arrange in the Air Fryer
Before you coat the wings, make sure they are completely dry. Pat dry with paper towels so the coating sticks properly and the wings get super crispy in the air fryer. You can also line the basket with parchment paper for easier cleanup.
Place the coated wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Don’t stack or crowd them, since good air circulation is what gives you that crispy coating. If you have more wings than fit comfortably, cook them in batches.
I use a basket-style air fryer so I can fit more wings in a single batch without compromising the crispiness. A light spray of cooking spray or a drizzle of olive oil over the wings before air frying helps the coating crisp up even more.
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
Includes ad-free recipes like:
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
Air Fry Until Crispy
Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 18 to 20 minutes. Flip the wings, then continue cooking for another 10 to 15 minutes until they’re deeply golden and crispy all the way through. In the final minutes of cooking, keep a close eye on them so they brown evenly without over-crisping. A good pair of silicone-tipped tongs makes flipping the wings easy without scratching your basket.
For extra crispy wings, you can add a teaspoon of aluminum-free baking powder to the flour mixture before coating, which draws out moisture and gives you an even crunchier exterior.
Sauce and Finish
Once the wings are cooked, brush them generously with barbecue sauce for a sticky, tangy glaze. I like to use a pastry brush with heat-resistant silicone bristles for even sauce coverage.
If you have time, homemade barbecue sauce takes these to another level, but your favorite BBQ sauce or store-bought barbecue sauce works perfectly too. Feel free to add more barbecue sauce if you like your wings extra saucy, or toss the wings in a bowl with the sauce for a more fully coated result.
Serve and Enjoy
Serve the wings hot straight from the air fryer for maximum crispiness. Enjoy!
If you’re bringing these to a party or potluck, pack them in a foil pan with a tight-fitting lid, or in a covered baking dish, to keep them contained and saucy. Wrap the pan in a thick kitchen towel or slide it into an insulated casserole carrier to hold the heat during transport.
Air Fryer BBQ Wings
Add Preferred SourceEquipment
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds chicken wings (around 20 pieces)
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup barbecue sauce optional
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix the flour, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Toss the chicken wings in the flour mixture until evenly coated.2.5 pounds chicken wings, 1 cup flour, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Place the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding; cook in batches if needed.
- Air fry at 390°F (200°C) for 18–20 minutes. Flip the wings and cook for another 10–15 minutes, until crispy and well browned. Brush with barbecue sauce if desired.½ cup barbecue sauce
Notes
- Pat the wings dry first: Use paper towels to pat them dry before tossing them into the flour mixture. Removing surface moisture helps the coating stick better and crisp up faster.
- Don’t skip the batch cooking: Crowding the air fryer basket traps steam and prevents the coating from crisping properly. Cook in batches if needed so every wing gets proper hot-air circulation.
- Flip on time: Flipping the wings after 18 to 20 minutes is key to even browning on both sides. Don’t skip this step.
- Check for doneness: Wings should reach an internal temperature of 165°F before serving. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the thickest part without touching the bone.
- Sauce at the very end: Brush the barbecue sauce on only after the wings are fully cooked and off the heat. Adding sauce too early can burn and prevent the coating from getting crispy.
- Freeze: Flash-freeze leftover wings on a baking sheet for 1 hour before transferring to a freezer bag so they don’t clump together, and you can grab exactly how many you need.
Nutrition
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
Includes ad-free recipes like:
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
How to Store Leftovers
Let the wings cool completely before transferring to an airtight container and refrigerating for up to 4 days.
When you’re ready to reheat, pop them back into the air fryer at 375°F for about 5 to 7 minutes to revive that crispy coating.
For longer storage, freeze the wings in a single layer on a baking sheet for about an hour, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. They keep well for up to 3 months and reheat beautifully straight from frozen in the air fryer at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
What to Serve With Air Fryer BBQ Wings
These work well as an appetizer for game-day spreads or as the main event at a dinner. They pair well with all the classic sides you’d expect, like creamy coleslaw, corn on the cob, and crispy fries, which balance out the bold, smoky flavor of the wings beautifully. A simple green salad or roasted vegetables also works well if you want something a little lighter on the side.
For dipping, ranch and blue cheese are the obvious crowd favorites, but a honey mustard or garlic aioli takes things in a slightly different direction that’s worth trying. Set out a few options and let everyone choose their favorite.
More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home
Looking for more easy air fryer recipes to try next? Here are some of my favorites.
