Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings: Easy and Delicious

Air fryer BBQ chicken wings are the best way to enjoy wings. This easy recipe only needs a few basic ingredients, requires very little prep, and cooks in under 20 minutes. It makes a great appetizer, delicious game day snack, or easy dinner that the whole family will love.

Do you and your family love chicken wings as much as mine does? If so, you have just GOT to try this BBQ air fryer wings recipe. It’s a simple recipe that only needs a few ingredients, less than 20 minutes, and is so flavorful and juicy that the entire family will eat it with no questions asked.

These are seasoned with a simple dry rub, cooked to perfection, then coated in your favorite BBQ sauce to give you mouthwatering, delicious, sticky wings. Juicy inside, crispy skin, sweet BBQ sauce, this recipe is a winner. Serve these with sweet potato fries, cucumber salad, and delicious lemonade for a meal that embodies the feeling of a summer BBQ.

If you want chicken wings, but aren’t into BBQ, be sure to check out these jerk seasoned ones!

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• Quick and easy
• Less than a 20 minute cook time
• Incredible flavor
• Crispy chicken wings
• Healthy family dinner option

INGREDIENTS FOR AIR FRYER BBQ CHICKEN WINGS

• Chicken wings: I suggest buying a bulk pack when they’re on sale, dividing them up, and freezing some for another time. Bulk is usually cheaper than buying little packages
• Avocado oil: I used this instead of olive oil because of it’s higher smoking point
• Spices: salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder
• Baking powder: This helps get super crispy chicken skin
• BBQ sauce: I love Primal Kitchen’s , but use your favorite BBQ sauce

HOW TO MAKE BBQ WINGS IN THE AIR FRYER

1. Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F for 3-4 minutes
2. While the air fryer is preheating, lay the raw chicken wings out on a baking sheet. Use a paper towel to blot them until they’re completely dry
3. Put dry wings into a large bowl and season with all of the spices and baking powder. Toss them with tongs or your hands to get them all evenly coated
4. Place the seasoned wings in a single layer into your hot air fryer basket and cook at 390 degrees f for 10 minutes
5. After they’ve cooked for 10 minutes, use tongs to carefully flip them over and cook for another 8-9 minutes
6. Next, use the same tongs to place the cooked wings into a clean, large bowl, pour over the barbecue sauce, and toss to coat
7. Serve immediately and enjoy!

HOW DO I GET CRISPY WINGS IN THE AIR FRYER?

Here’s a few tips to get the crispiest wings:

1. Dry the skin with a paper towel
2. Baking powder! This is added with the spices and helps get that super crispy skin because is raises the PH level which makes the proteins in the skin break down easier, thus resulting in a crisp texture
3. Don’t let the chicken touch in the air fryer, you want space around each piece so the hot air can circulate

WHAT’S THE BEST BBQ SAUCE TO USE?

The best one to use is your favorite barbecue sauce! However, if you’re looking for suggestions here’s a few of my favorites:

• Primal Kitchen
• Sweet Baby Rays
• Kinder’s Organic
• Stubb’s

INGREDIENT SUBSTUTIONS AND VARIATIONS

Substitutions:

• Avocado oil: Olive oil will also work
• Baking powder: This is entirely optional, but helps get a crispy skin

Variations:

• Add 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar to the spice mixture
• Season with 1 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning instead
• Add 1-2 tablespoons of honey to the BBQ sauce for honey BBQ wings
• Use homemade BBQ sauce
• Toss in buffalo sauce instead

BEST SIDES FOR AIR FRYER BBQ CHICKEN WINGS

Sauces:

• Blue cheese
• Ranch
• Avocado ranch
• Extra BBQ sauce

Sides:

• French fries
• Sweet potato fries
• Crispy zucchini
• Kale salad
• Cajun potato salad
• Air fryer zucchini and squash

STORING AND REHEATING

You can store any leftover air fryer BBQ chicken wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. When you’re ready to eat them again, let the container come to room temperature. Cook leftover wings in the air fryer at 340 degrees F for 3-5 minutes and enjoy.

EXPERT TIPS

• Don’t skip preheating the air fryer
• Be sure to pat the chicken dry
• Only cook in a single layer and don’t crowd the basket
• The internal temperature needs to reach 165 degrees F
• Wings should be done when exterior is golden brown
• Toss in your favorite sauce
• Store leftover in airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days

FAQs

What’s the best air fryer to use?

I really like my Cososi 5.8, but Philip’s Cuisinart, and Ninja all have good ones as well.

How long should I cook them in the air fryer?

It will vary based on different air friers, but generally it takes 17-19 minutes to cook them at 390 degrees F.

Can I cook frozen wings?

You can! See this post for directions

Do I need to flip them?

Technically you can shake the basket, but I prefer to flip because it’s less messy and there is less risk of grease splattering.

What do I do with leftovers?

You can either reheat them and enjoy, or pull the chicken off the bone and make sandwiches, wraps, or place on top of a salad.

Can I put BBQ sauce in the air fryer?

Yes, but not for too long or else the sugars may start to burn.

Did you make these flavorful air fryer BBQ chicken wings? If so, I would greatly appreciate you leaving a comment and star rating down below. Additionally, you can follow me on Instagram and tag me if you make this or any other of my easy air fryer chicken recipes.

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