Air Fryer Buffalo Wings are extra crispy, juicy, and tossed in a flavorful sauce you can customize from mild to spicy. Served with your favorite dipping sauce, this recipe has everything you need to make the best hot wings. For added versatility, we even include an easy oven-baked option!
Buffalo Wings In The Air Fryer Made Easy!
Wings are totally my thing, and whenever I make them, my family DEVOURS them! I like to make this hot wing recipe for game nights or whenever I have a gathering at my home and want something quick and easy for everyone to enjoy.
There’s always a debate about which wings I should make. Whether it’s these mouthwatering buffalo wings, my Honey Lemon Pepper Wings, Mango Habanero Wings, or Air Fryer Barbecue Wings, everyone loves them all!
Ingredients Needed To Make These Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
- Chicken Wings: Butcher Box is my favorite! It is quality free-range organic chicken delivered straight to your door! (how amazing is that!?)
- Seasonings: Make a quick dry rub by mixing together a few spices.
- Buffalo Sauce: I use Sweet Baby Ray’s Buffalo Sauce, it’s gluten-free! Frank’s RedHot® Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce is also a good option and is dairy-free, vegetarian, kosher, free from high fructose corn syrup and gluten-containing ingredients.
- Butter: Use vegan butter (for dairy-free wings) or regular butter.
The key to flavorful buffalo wings is seasoning the chicken before cooking! I use a simple dry rub with pantry staples like smoked paprika, thyme, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You can stick to just salt and pepper or mix in other spices like onion powder, chili powder, mustard powder, or cayenne.
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer
Start by cleaning your wings and pat them dry. Making sure your wings are dry is key so that the spices stick to the wings. Add your wings to a large bowl and coat them in the spices.
Place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer and cook for 20 minutes, flipping the chicken wings halfway through. Keeping space between the wings helps the chicken cook evenly and ensures you get crispy wings. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding the air fryer.
While the wings are cooking, prepare the buffalo sauce by mixing the butter and buffalo sauce together in a saucepan over medium-low heat for about 2-3 minutes. When the chicken wings are done, transfer them to a large clean bowl and pour the sauce on the wings, making sure to reserve about 1/4 (one-fourth) cup of the sauce to serve with the finished wings.
Place the wings back into the air fryer and cook at 350°F for 2-3 minutes to seal in the flavor. Transfer the wings to a plate and serve with celery, the remaining buffalo sauce, and your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!
No Air Fryer? No Problem! You Can Make These Buffalo Wings In The Oven.
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Season the wings with the dry rub mixture (add 1 tbsp baking powder for extra crispy wings). Place the seasoned wings on an oven-safe wire rack in a single layer. Bake for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Then toss the wings in the buffalo sauce and bake for another 7-10 minutes, or until the wings are fully cooked and reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Toss the wings in more buffalo sauce and enjoy!
Follow my Buffalo Old Bay Wings Recipe for more details on how to make crispy oven-baked buffalo chicken wings.
Recipe Tips
- Season generously before cooking. The dry rub gives the wings incredible flavor, so don’t skip this step or rely solely on buffalo sauce. Without proper seasoning, the wings may taste bland.
- Coat the wings with aluminum-free baking powder for extra crispiness. Just 2 teaspoons before seasoning helps achieve that perfect crunch without needing excessive oil.
- Toss the wings in buffalo sauce and air fry again to seal in the flavor. This step is the real secret to making wings extra saucy and flavorful. Add more buffalo sauce before serving if you like your wings dripping with heat and flavor.
- Adjust the spiciness to your liking. For milder wings, mix the buffalo sauce with butter or honey. For more heat, add cayenne or use a spicier hot sauce.
- Make sure your chicken is fully thawed before cooking. Thawed wings cook evenly and produce the best results.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer for the crispiest wings. Cook the wings in batches if necessary, leaving space between each one for proper air circulation. Keep the cooked wings warm in a 170°F oven while finishing the rest.
- Cut whole chicken wings into drumettes and flats for easier handling. Use a sharp knife to cut between the joints. Discard the tips or save them to make homemade chicken stock.
What To Serve With Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
- WINGS AND FRIES: Make Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries or Garlicky Accordion Potatoes.
- WINGS AND PIZZA: Have a movie night with wings and pizza. Try our Pesto Pizza or Spinach Dip Pizza Recipe!
- WINGS AND SALAD: Try Our Caesar salad or tasty Superfood Salad for a healthy option.
- WINGS AND BREAD: Eat your crispy chicken wings with a biscuit. Our Vegan Buttermilk Biscuits and Jalapeno Cheddar Biscuits are DELISH or get creative and serve your wings with our Sweet Potato Cornbread.
- DIPPING SAUCE: Balance the heat with my homemade ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing.
Storing
I have a feeling you won’t have any wings left! BUT, if you do, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. To reheat buffalo wings in the air fryer, warm them up at 370°F for 3-5 minutes.
Common Questions
How long does it take to cook chicken wings in the air fryer?
It generally takes about 20 minutes to cook chicken wings in the air fryer, but greatly depends on the air fryer you use. 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. For extra crispy wings cook the wings for 25 minutes.
Can I use frozen chicken wings?
Yes, but thaw them first for even cooking and crispiness. You may need to adjust the cooking time slightly.
Do you put sauce on wings before or after air frying?
The sauce should be added after air frying the wings. First, season the wings with spices and cook them until crispy. Once cooked, toss the wings in buffalo sauce and return them to the air fryer for a few minutes to lock in the flavor.
Why are my wings not crispy?
Your buffalo wings may not be crispy if they’re overcrowded in the air fryer. Proper air circulation is key to achieving crispiness. Make sure to arrange them in a single layer with space between each wing and cook in batches if necessary. Also, pat the wings completely dry before seasoning, and consider adding a light coating of baking powder for extra crunch.
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings (Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
Dry Rub Mixture
- 2 tsp Smoked Paprika or regular paprika
- 1 tsp Dried Thyme
- 1 tsp Herbs De Provence (or Italian Seasoning)
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Sea Salt, optional or to taste
- 1/2 tsp Freshly Ground Pepper or to taste
Buffalo Sauce Mixture
- 1/4 cup Butter (vegan or regular)
- 1/2 cup Buffalo Sauce, plus more if desired
Instructions
- Clean and pat dry your chicken wings with a paper towel. Add the chicken to a large bowl and season with the dry rub mixture (and baking powder if using). 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. Make sure there is space between each wing.
- Cook at 380°F for 10 minutes. Then, flip the chicken and cook for another 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.
- While the wings are cooking, prepare the buffalo sauce. In a small saucepan, over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Then, add the buffalo sauce and mix well. Warm over medium-low heat for about 2-3 minutes. Pour 1/4 cup into a small bowl to reserve for later.
- Transfer the chicken wings to a {clean} large bowl. Then, pour the remaining buffalo sauce onto the wings and mix until all the wings are coated.
- Place the chicken coated in buffalo sauce back into the air fryer and heat for 2-3 minutes at 350°F.
- Place the wings back into the bowl and top with the 1/4 cup of buffalo sauce that was set aside.
- Serve with celery and your favorite dipping sauce! Enjoy!
Notes
No Air Fryer? No Problem! You Can Make These Buffalo Wings In The Oven.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Season the wings with the dry rub mixture (add 1 tbsp baking powder for extra crispy wings).
- Place the seasoned wings on an oven-safe wire rack in a single layer. Bake for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Then toss the wings in the buffalo sauce and bake for another 7-10 minutes, or until the wings are fully cooked and reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Toss the wings in more buffalo sauce and enjoy!
Nutrition
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 Air Fryer Recipes To Try
- Honey Garlic Salmon Bites (Air Fryer)
- Air Fryer Crispy Prosciutto
- Easy Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- Best Chicken Lollipops Recipe + Video
- Air Fryer Turkey Legs
- Air Fryer Lobster Tail with Lemon Garlic Butter
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Breast (Gluten-Free)
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Crispy & Juicy!)
These buffalo chicken wings look absolutely delicious! I love that they are made in the air fryer for a healthier twist. Can’t wait to try this recipe and impress my friends at the next game day. Thanks for sharing!
I consider myself a wing aficionado, and these exceeded my wildest expectations! The dry rub (salt included), were perfect. Thank you!
I love to hear it!! Thank you for leaving a review, Calvin. I am glad you like the recipe, esp as a wing aficionado 🙂