Wings are a wonderful addition to any meal whether it's for a big party or for a late-night snack. However, they are not the healthiest dish considering the fact that they are deep-fried which can ultimately lead to risks of health concerns such as type 2 diabetes, heart diseases, and cancer. An air fryer cooks food by circulating hot air rapidly creating a convection effect that results in the browning and crunchiness of the food without it being drenched in oil. [1] X Research source With the use of an air fryer, you get to eat your delicious hot wings without feeling guilty and sick from all the oil consumed—a definite win for your health and your cravings.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 stick of unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 cup hot sauce
Steps
Wing Seasoning
Start preparing the wings at least 1-2 hours prior to cooking.
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Bend the wing tip until the joint is forced apart. Using a sharp knife, cut the tip of the wing off.
- If a wing piece is larger than the size of your palm, proceed to cut them into two pieces and thoroughly wash the meat. After washing the meat, place it onto a strainer or colander to let excess water out for about 3-5 minutes.
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Transfer the wings from the strainer/colander to a large bowl and begin marinating by adding 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of olive oil. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, black pepper, 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of paprika, 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder.Advertisement -
Mix together all the ingredients as evenly as possible. Every wing piece should seem like it is coated. Allow the meat to marinate for an hour or two.Advertisement
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Place parchment paper onto the air fryer basket. Parchment paper requires less cleaning because all the juice goes straight onto the paper instead of the basket. Set the air fryer to 360 degrees for 12 minutes. Place the marinated wings on the parchment paper and make sure the wings are not placed on top of one another. Laying it out as evenly as possible on one level will result in each piece being cooked evenly.
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Pull the basket out from the air fryer. After the 12 minutes is up, take the basket out of the air fryer and using a tong, flip each piece over. Place the basket into the air fryer and restart the timer for another 12 minutes.Advertisement
Making the Sauce Mixture
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Start on the sauce mixture while the wings are cooking. In a pan with medium to high heat, add in the stick of butter.
- After letting the butter melt for about 30-45 seconds, switch the heat to a low-medium power to make sure the butter does not burn.
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Mix together the seasoning for the sauce. In a separate bowl, add 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) of minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Mix well.
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Place the seasoning mix into the pan with the butter. Add in 1/2 cup of hot sauce and mix once again to make sure there are no chunks of butter.
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Switch back to medium to high heat and stir using a whisk. This will make sure the hot sauce and butter seasoning mix is combined. Add in a bit more of salt and pepper (optional). Transfer the sauce mixture onto a separate bowl.
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Pull the wings out and dip each one in the hot sauce mixture. Once the final 12 minutes have passed, you can take the wings out of the fryer and cover with sauce. Brushing the wings can work, however, to get that spicy flavor deep in the wings, dipping the wings into the mixture a couple of times is effective.
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Place the hot sauce covered wings back into the basket. Set the timer for another 3 minutes to just ensure that the wings are coated and covered in sauce that sticks.
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Transfer onto a plate & enjoy with a side of ranch or blue cheese.Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Video
Things You'll Need
- 5.3 quart Power Air Fryer
- 9 inch parchment paper
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Bowl
- Pan
- Whisk
- Strainer/Colander
Tips
- Marinating the wings longer than 2 hours is even better if it is possible. The longer it marinates the better it is because the wings will be much juicer.Thanks
- The butter for the sauce can always be adjusted. Using 1/2 stick of butter is okay if 1 whole stick is too much but the sauce will not stick onto the wings as much as 1 stick would.Thanks
- Add chopped celery and carrots as a side for the wings.Thanks
Warning
- When using the appliance, make sure it is kept away from the wall or from another appliance. Leave at least 5" of free space from the side and the back of the appliance.
- Keep hands away from the vent where the hot steam is released.
- When handling the appliance, use oven mitts to prevent burns.
About this article
Before putting chicken wings in the air fryer, trim them down so they’re no larger than the palm of your hand. Marinate the wings for about an hour in a mixture of olive oil, salt, black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Next, line the basket of your air fryer with parchment paper for easier cleanup. Place the wings in the basket in a single layer. Don’t let the wings overlap, since this will make them cook unevenly. Put the wings in the air fryer at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12 minutes. After the time is up, flip the wings with a pair of tongs and put them in for another 12 minutes. Take the wings out and coat them in your sauce of choice, then cook them in the fryer for 3 more minutes. Read on to learn how to make your own spicy wing sauce!
