Have you ever craved chicken wings but didn’t want to go to a pub or restaurant, but could never make them at home? Want to make restaurant-style chicken wings at home, crispy chicken wings but not deep fried? Well, do I have the recipe for you! Here’s how to make crispy chicken wings in the air fryer! 

The specific style of chicken wings that became known as “Buffalo wings” is said to have been invented in 1964 at a restaurant called the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. As the story goes, Teressa and Frank Bellissimo created the dish one evening when their son and some of his friends came to the bar looking for a late-night snack. With only some chicken wings on hand, Teressa deep-fried them and then tossed them in a mixture of hot sauce and butter. The resulting dish was an instant hit, and Buffalo wings quickly became a staple of the city’s bar and restaurant scene.

Since then, chicken wings have become a popular food item around the world, with many different styles and flavors available. However, the original Buffalo-style wings, with their spicy, tangy sauce and blue cheese dipping sauce, remain a favorite of many.

Making chicken wings at home may seem messy (oil splatters) and unhealthy (deep-fried). No fear! There is a better way!

Making chicken wings at home CAN be easy BUT — you will need to have some extra time to prepare. A busy weeknight may not be the best time to make restaurant-style chicken wings in the air fryer. It’s all in the preparation of the wings that is the trick, and I’ve found this two-step method is the winner in my home.

I love cooking chicken wings in the Hamilton Beach Digital Air Fryer; this powerful kitchen must-have cooks the wings to a nice crisp, and clean-up is easy thanks to its non-stick basket.  

 Here’s how to make restaurant-style chicken wings in the air fryer.

How to Make Restaurant-Style Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer

Ingredients

4 pounds split chicken wings (about 40)

½ cup all-purpose flour

¼ corn starch

¼ Panko crumbs

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

Sauce of choice – BBQ, Frank’s Red Hot, etc.

Ranch or blue cheese sauce for dipping

Method

Add chicken wings to a large pot and fill with water until covered. On high heat, bring to a boil; reduce to medium heat and boil for about 15 minutes.

In a bowl, mix flour, corn starch, panko, and spices. Add half of the mixture to a plate.

Drain chicken wings. Using tongs, dip chicken wing into flour mixture to coat.

Spray the air fryer with some oil. I use grape-seed oil placed into a spray bottle. Place coated wings into fryer in one layer. Then, spray some oil on top. Add more of the coated wings. Fill the fryer only 3/4 of the way.

Using the Air Fryer settings, press the chicken button of the Hamilton Beach Air Fryer and cook for about 15 minutes. Depending on how crispy you like them, after the first 15 minutes, I spray them with some oil once again, and mix them up in the fryer and cook for another 10-15 minutes.

Transfer chicken wings to a bowl. Add sauce of choice and shake in bowl, or serve with sauce on the side.  

 

Yield: 4 pounds

How to Make Restaurant-Style Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer

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Want to make restaurant-style chicken wings at home, crispy chicken wings but not deep fried? Here's how to make crispy chicken wings in the air fryer!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

• 4 pounds split chicken wings (about 40)
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ corn starch
• ¼ Panko crumbs
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• Sauce of choice - BBQ, Frank's Red Hot, etc.
• Ranch or blue cheese sauce for dipping

Instructions

1. Add chicken wings to a large pot and fill with water until covered. On high heat, bring to a boil; reduce to medium heat and boil for about 15 minutes.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, corn starch, panko, and spices. Add half of the mixture to a plate.
3. Drain chicken wings. Using tongs, dip chicken wing into flour mixture to coat.
4. Spray the air fryer with some oil. I use grape-seed oil placed into a spray bottle. Place coated wings into fryer in one layer. Then, spray some oil on top. Add more of the coated wings. Fill the fryer only 3/4 of the way.
5. Using the Air Fryer settings, press the chicken button of the Hamilton Beach Air Fryer and cook for about 15 minutes. Depending on how crispy you like them, after the first 15 minutes, I spray them with some oil once again, and mix them up in the fryer and cook for another 10-15 minutes.
6. Transfer chicken wings to a bowl. Add sauce of choice and shake in bowl, or serve with sauce on the side.  

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1179Total Fat: 80gSaturated Fat: 28gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 45gCholesterol: 267mgSodium: 2087mgCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 3gSugar: 9gProtein: 59g