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A pile of buffalo chicken wings served with celery and carrot sticks.
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Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

Crispy air fryer buffalo chicken wings with a crackly skin and classic butter hot sauce. Seven ingredients, no deep frying, ready in about 30 minutes.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 410kcal
Author Ana Frias

Equipment

  • air fryer
  • 2 mixing bowls, tongs, instant-read thermometer, paper towels

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds (900 g) chicken wings,
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
  • ½ cup buffalo sauce
  • ¼ cup (4 tablespoons) butter, melted

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray the basket with oil.
  • Pat the wings very dry with paper towels. Add to a large bowl with the paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and baking powder and toss until evenly coated.
  • Arrange the wings in a single layer in the basket, working in batches as needed.
  • Air fry for 10 minutes. Flip and air fry another 10 to 14 minutes, until golden and crisp and the thickest wing reads at least 165°F (74°C).
  • Whisk the buffalo sauce and melted butter in a large bowl. Add the hot wings, toss to coat, and serve right away.

Notes

  • Use baking powder, not baking soda. Baking soda tastes metallic. Aluminum-free baking powder is best.
  • Go past 165°F (74°C). Wings are safe at 165°F, but they’re juicier and more tender closer to 175 to 185°F (79 to 85°C), which is where the connective tissue breaks down.
  • Skip parchment during preheat. It can blow up into the heating element. A light spray of oil on the basket works.
  • Make it milder or hotter. Add more butter to tame the heat, or a few dashes of cayenne to the sauce to turn it up.

  • Storing and Reheating

    Fridge: Keep leftovers in a covered container for up to 3 days.
    Freezer: Freeze cooked wings in a zip-top bag for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
    Reheat: Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 5 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway, until hot and crisp again. The oven at the same temperature works too, it just takes a few minutes longer.

Nutrition

Serving: 5wings | Calories: 410kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1000mg | Potassium: 218mg | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg