Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings are crispy chicken wings glazed with a homemade barbecue sauce for a finger-licking good entree. No air fryer, no problem! This delicious wings recipe can also be oven-baked! (Gluten-free, super easy recipe!)
If you love Air Fryer Chicken Wings as much as I do, then you’ll definitely want to check out my Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings and Air Fryer Fried Chicken Wings next! Or you can take this recipe up a notch and make Barbecue Lollipop Chicken!
These are the best Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken Wings because they are so versatile. Whether you are serving guests or making a weekday dinner for the family, this easy recipe is a crowd-pleaser. The wings are seasoned to perfection and then cooked until nice and crispy in the air fryer. Now imagine how satisfying that crunch is under a spicy, smokey layer of flavorful homemade barbecue sauce!
You’ll Love These Crispy Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings Because They Are:
- Perfect for a game-day snack
- Great as an appetizer for a party or gathering
- Quick and easy to make
- Naturally Gluten-Free (The sauce is gluten-free too!)
- A convenient alternative to deep-fried or grilled chicken
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings
Homemade Barbecue Sauce
You can coat this yummy finger food with your favorite store-bought sauce but I prefer to use my own homemade barbecue sauce. Why not skip the additives and opt for a healthier alternative instead!? My recipe takes less than 15 minutes to prepare and you’ll know exactly what’s in your sauce. Simply make the sauce while the wings are cooking and when the wings are ready, drench them in the sauce! If you have any sauce left, you can use it to make Grilled Barbecue Chicken!
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings
- Chicken wings: You’ll need about 2 lbs of wings for this recipe. Split them into flats and drummettes prior to cooking.
- Seasonings: In order to make flavorful wings, coat them with a delicious blend of smoked paprika, Herbs De Provence (or Italian Seasoning), garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, pepper, and salt (optional).
- Baking Powder: Not to be mistaken for baking soda, baking powder dries out the skin of the chicken wings which results in an extra crispy coating.
- BBQ sauce: Use your preferred barbecue sauce but I highly recommend my homemade bbq sauce! 🙂
How To Make BBQ Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer
- Before cooking, clean and pat your chicken wings dry with a paper towel. Ensure the wings are dry because dry wings will absorb the seasonings better. Add the chicken to a large bowl with the seasonings and baking powder. Make sure all the wings are coated in the seasoning.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 3 minutes.
- Then lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil. Place the chicken in a single layer into the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket or place chicken on top of each other because that can result in the chicken not cooking evenly or crisply.
- Cook at 380°F for 10 minutes. Then, flip the chicken and cook for another 7-10 minutes, until no longer pink and an instant thermometer reads 165°F. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches so that the wings are not overcrowded.
- After that, transfer the chicken wings to a {clean} large bowl. Then, pour ⅔ cups of barbecue sauce onto the wings and mix until all the wings are coated.
- Next place the chicken coated in barbecue sauce back into the air fryer and heat for an additional 3-5 minutes at 350°F.
- Serve immediately. OR, if you want extra saucy wings, place the wings back into the bowl and top with 1/4 cup of barbecue sauce.
- Finally, enjoy!
No Air Fryer? No Problem! You Can Make These Crispy Barbecue Wings In The Oven.
How To Make Crispy Oven Baked Barbecue Chicken Wings
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Season the wings with the dry rub mixture and 1 tbsp baking powder. Place the seasoned wings on an oven-safe wire rack in a single layer. Bake for 45 minutes, flipping halfway through. Then toss the wings in the barbecue sauce and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the wings are fully cooked and reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Serve the wings with more barbecue sauce and enjoy!
Common Questions About Air Fryer Wings:
It takes approximately 20 minutes to cook chicken wings in the air fryer. Be sure to always check for doneness using a thermometer. Inserted into the thickest part of the chicken, it should read 165°F if it is fully cooked.
You can cook frozen uncooked chicken wings in the air fryer for 22-25 minutes at 400°F. If the wings are precooked, cook them in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes at 400°F.
Most certainly! You want your wings to be perfectly crispy so it is best to flip at least once during the cooking process so the wings become crispy on both sides.
Can you put barbecue sauce in the air fryer?
Yes, once the chicken wings have cooked and are nice and crispy, you can slather the wings in your favorite barbecue sauce and put them back in the air fryer to seal in the flavor.
Good luck having any of these tasty wings left! In case you do, you can store them in an airtight container for up to 5 days. They are perfect to pack for lunch or dinner!
To rewarm, place the chicken into the air fryer at 370°F for 3-5 minutes.
Tips To Make The Perfect Wings:
- Pat The Wings Dry Before Seasoning and Add A Bit Of Baking Powder To The Seasoned Wings: This helps to achieve extra crispy, flavorful chicken wings.
- Do Not Overcrowd The Air Fryer: Place the wings in a single layer with space in between each so the wings cook properly.
- Air Fry The Wings With The Sauce: This keeps the wings crispy and gives them the best sticky wing, finger-licking flavor.
- Make Them Extra Saucy If You Like: After air frying the wings with the sauce, toss them in a bit more sauce if you like extra saucy wings!
- Make It Spicy or Sweet: Want a bit of heat? Add your favorite hot sauce to the barbecue sauce. Want them a bit sweet? Add honey to your barbecue sauce for honey bbq chicken wings. If you’re craving spicy wings, try my Mango Habanero Wings!
What To Serve With Your Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings?
Serve these wings on their own as an appetizer for your next gathering or party. OR serve them with your favorite side dish and enjoy a full meal for lunch or dinner! Here are a few ideas:
- Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- 4-Cheese Macaroni with Butternut Squash
- Sweet Honey Cornbread
- Fluffy Gluten-Free Buttermilk Biscuits
- Mediterranean Pasta Salad
- Crispy Sweet Potato Fries
- Crispy Air Fryer Okra
I Hope You Enjoy This Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe!
If you try the recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments. Leave a quick review & star rating ★ below! Take pictures, tag #goodfoodbaddie, and share them with me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest! I love seeing my recipes come to life in your kitchen.
More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Tuna Steak
- Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp
- 3-Ingredient Honey Garlic Air Fryer Salmon
- Air Fryer Cheese Stuffed Meatballs
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Crispy & Juicy!)
- Air Fryer Turkey Legs
- Best Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Honey Lemon Pepper Wings
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 2 lbs Chicken Wings (drums and flats) (defrosted if frozen)
- 2 tsp Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Dried Thyme
- 2 tsp Herbs De Provence or Italian Seasoning
- 2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Sea Salt or to taste
- 1/4 tsp Freshly Ground Pepper or to taste
- 4 tsp Baking Powder not baking soda
- 1 cup Homemade BBQ sauce, or your favorite store-bought sauce plus more if needed
Instructions
How To Make Crispy Air Fryer BBQ Wings
- Clean and pat dry your chicken wings with a paper towel. Add the chicken to a large bowl with the seasonings and baking powder. Make sure all the wings are coated in the seasoning.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F for 3 minutes.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil. Place the chicken in a single layer into the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket or place chicken on top of each other.
- Cook at 380°F for 10 minutes. Then, flip the chicken and cook for another 7-10 minutes, until no longer pink and an instant thermometer reads 165°F. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches so that the wings are not overcrowded.
- Transfer the chicken wings to a {clean} large bowl. Then, pour ⅔ cups of barbecue sauce onto the wings and mix until all the wings are coated.
- Place the chicken coated in barbecue sauce back into the air fryer and heat for 3-5 minutes at 350°F.
- Serve immediately. OR If you want extra saucy wings, place the wings back into the bowl and top with 1/4 cup of barbecue sauce.
- Enjoy!
How To Make Crispy Oven Baked Wings
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Season the wings with the seasonings and baking powder.
- Place the seasoned wings on an oven-safe wire rack in a single layer. Bake for 45 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Then toss the wings in barbecue sauce and bake for another 10 minutes, or until the wings are fully cooked and reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Toss the wings in more barbecue sauce and enjoy!
So tasty. I cooked them in the oven and I think next time I will cook them on a lower heat for 45 minutes. I didn’t have onion powder but they were still so tasty without it. A family favourite. We were fighting over the last wing. I will definitely make these again
Hi Louise! I am happy to hear you and your family enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for leaving a comment 🙂