What size of chicken wings should I use?

This depends on how many batches of wings you want to make. If you use larger wings, you'll be able to fit less of them in a single layer in your air fryer basket. So, be prepared to cook in two batches.

Should I thaw chicken wings before air frying?

If you have time, sure. But, you don't need to thaw chicken wings before air frying them. You can cook from frozen, it will just take slightly more cooking time.

How do I air fry pre-cooked wings?

Some wings are fully cooked and then frozen. For these varieties, you're really using the air fryer to reheat the wings rather than cook them. Simply place the pre-cooked frozen wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook at 400°F for roughly 15 minutes.

Should I use fresh or dried herbs?

Pantry herbs and spices don’t really expire, but they do lose potency in their flavor over time. If you have them on hand, use fresh herbs and spices for the best flavor. If not, use fresher dried herbs.

Should I preheat an air fryer?

Yes, much like an oven, you need to preheat your air fryer. This will only take three minutes.

Should you use parchment paper in an air fryer?

You don't need to use parchment paper or silicone mats in the air fryer basket. In fact, they can even block the circulating air. If you decide to use one of these options anyway, be sure it's heat safe up to 425°F (or the maximum temperature of your air fryer).

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings (Made From Scratch)

Name: Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 lbs frozen chicken wings; spritz of avocado oil; 2 teaspoon garlic powder; 2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon black pepper

Description

Forget to defrost your chicken wings? No problem. You can pull them out of the freezer now and use this air fryer frozen chicken wings recipe to cook them in just 25 minutes. Get ready for delicious, crispy wings.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken Wings

2 lbs frozen chicken wings
spritz of avocado oil

Spice Rub

I recommend using my best dry rub for chicken wing recipe. But, if you don't have the spices on hand, an easy DIY spice mix can be made using the ingredients below.

2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 3 minutes.
Place the frozen mass of chicken wings in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 13 minutes.
Use tongs to remove the chicken wings from the air fryer basket and place in a large bowl.
Break up the slightly defrosted chicken wing mass. Use a paper towel to pat the wings dry. This is an important step in achieving the crispiest wings possible.
Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of my best chicken wing spice rub on the wings and toss to coat. Alternatively use the spice rub mix on this recipe card.
Drain any liquid from the bottom of your air fryer. This can sometimes collect when the chicken wings are defrosting.
Add the chicken wings back to the air fryer basket. For the crispiest wings, it's best to spread them in a single layer with no overlap.
Air fry for 13 more minutes at 400 degrees F.
When 5 minutes are remaining, open the air fryer basket and spray the wings with avocado oil spray or olive oil spray. Use tongs to flip the wings and lightly coat the other side with oil as well. This will help achieve the crispiest wings.
Cook for remaining time. Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken wings are cooked to 165 degrees F.
Place in a bowl and serve with your favourite dipping sauce.

Notes

Do not overfill your air fryer basket. Every air fryer has a different capacity, so I can't tell you how many wings is too many wings. Just ensure they're placed in a single layer after being broken up in step 4. If they are overlapping, the air can’t circulate, and the wings in the middle can't cook evenly or crisp up. If the wings can't fit in a single layer after being broken up, cook for the remaining time in two batches.
It’s important to flip the wings. You can toss the basket to flip the wings, or use tongs. This step ensures every wing is evenly cooked and your batch turns out extra crispy.
Not all frozen wings cook the same. Cooking time will change slightly based on your 1) air fryer model; 2) the size of the chicken wings; 3) whether the wings are raw, precooked, breaded or presauced; and 4) how many wings are in the air fryer. Use my recipe as a guide, but keep an eye on the wings the first time you follow it so you know what works best for you.

Keywords: air fryer recipes, chicken wings, air fryer