Air Fryer Fried Chicken Wings (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free)

Crispy Air Fryer Fried Chicken with a golden crunchy, crispy crust and tender flavorful inside all made quickly and easily in the air fryer! Top with herbaceous Chimichurri sauce or Hot Honey Sauce to take your fried chicken to the next level! Read on to learn tips and tricks to make your fried chicken perfectly every single time!

The air fryer is a complete game-changer when it comes to making your favorite foods just a bit healthier AND quicker! No deep frying, excessive use of oil, and a MUCH easier clean-up! Try these air fryer recipes next! I guarantee you will love them! Air Fryer Cheese Stuffed Meatballs, Air Fryer BBQ Wings, Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings, or 3-ingredient Air Fryer Honey Garlic Salmon!

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These air fryer fried chicken wings will knock your socks off!  They are gluten-free and dairy-free but not a single person would know as they are munching on these extra crispy, crunchy, tasty wings!

With the first bite of these air fryer fried chicken wings, my partner almost fell out of his chair in excitement! After devouring 3 wings and finally coming up for a breath of air, his first words were, “This fried chicken is a 10/10!!”.

At that moment, I knew I had to share this recipe with you! My Gluten-Free Fried Chicken with Maple Bourbon Glaze is already super popular on my site, but I think this Gluten-Free Air Fryer Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Chimichurri Sauce will take the crown!

Best Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe

First, I will show you how to make THE BEST Air Fryer Fried Chicken Wings. Then, I will show you how to elevate them with homemade Chimichurri sauce! Trust me, you, your family, your friends, will not be able to stop eating these wings once you try them! If you want to make crispy gluten-free chicken wings without the breading, check out my Gluten-Free Chicken Wings Recipe.

These Crispy Air Fryer Fried Chicken Wings Are:

• Healthier than your typical deep-fried buttermilk chicken wings. The only oil used in this recipe is the oil needed to lightly coat the air fryer basket! 
• Gluten-Free by using Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour. You can easily use regular flour if you are not sensitive to gluten.
• Dairy-Free using homemade buttermilk made with Almond Milk and Vinegar. (Did you know that you can make your own buttermilk using any milk and adding a tablespoon or two of vinegar or lemon juice? Serious kitchen hack!)
• Super crunchy with a golden crust and tender, juicy meat. You’d never know they weren’t deep-fried as you still get the crispy outside you want in a fried chicken wing!
• Dripping with mouthwatering chimichurri sauce. You may want to skip the chimichurri sauce, but trust me, you shouldn’t. The herbaceous, rich sauce on top of these perfectly crispy wings is life-changing!

What Does Chimichurri Taste Like?

Chimichurri is a sauce similar to pesto but made with fresh herbs, garlic, peppers, oil, and vinegar. It is a robust, tangy, herby, garlicky, sauce often referred to as “Argentine barbecue sauce”. It is very popular in South American cuisine and has many uses! 

What You Need To Make This Gluten-Free Crispy Air Fryer Fried Chicken Wings Recipe

The Marinade

• Chicken, Bone-in, skin-on: I use flats and drums only, making sure the tail is removed.
• Buttermilk: Adds flavor, tenderizes the chicken, and helps the flour mixture stick to the chicken. You can use dairy or non-dairy buttermilk (see notes in recipe card*)

The Flour Coating

• Flour: I use King Arthur, Measure for Measure Certified Gluten-Free Flour. If you are not sensitive to gluten, you can use regular flour, like this one.
• Cornstarch: This helps make the wings extra crispy. This is the cornstarch I use. 
• Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, dried oregano 
• Oil in a spray bottle: To spray on the air fryer basket and coat the wings

The Chimichurri

• Fresh Herbs: Cilantro, Parsley, Oregano
• Liquids: Olive Oil & Red Wine Vinegar
• Aromatics: Shallot (or Onion), Jalapeno, Garlic
• Seasonings: Salt, Pepper, Dried Oregano, Red Crushed Pepper

How To Make Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free)

Making air fryer fried chicken wings is super simple and easy! Follow these instructions and your fried chicken will turn out perfect every time!

1. Place the chicken in a large bowl and cover with buttermilk. Make sure all the pieces are submerged in the buttermilk. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes, but the longer the better. (You can make your own buttermilk by combining 1.5 cup milk of choice with 2 tbsp Lemon Juice or Vinegar. Let it sit for 10 minutes to curdle, then use.)
2. In a small bowl (or large Ziploc bag), mix together the flour, cornstarch, and seasonings. 
3. Using tongs, coat each chicken wing in the flour mixture and transfer to a plate or wire rack.  
4. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (165°C) for 5 minutes.
5. 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. 
6. Cook at 380°F for 10 minutes. Open the basket and spray any parts of the chicken showing flour with cooking oil spray. Flip the chicken and cook for another 10-12 minutes, until no longer pink and an instant thermometer reads 165°F.
7. Serve and Enjoy! OR top with Chimichurri sauce

Making Chimichurri Fried Chicken

1. Combine all of the ingredients for the Chimichurri sauce in a food processor or blender. Blend until slightly pureed, leaving just a bit of texture
2. Once all the chicken is cooked. Add the chicken to a large bowl and coat with ⅓ cup of the chimichurri sauce.
3. Place all of the chicken back into the air fryer and heat for 4 minutes at 370°F. (It is okay if the air fryer is crowded. You are simply warming the chicken) 
4. Serve and Enjoy!

Tips To Make The Perfect Air Fryer Fried Chicken

1. Let the chicken marinate in the buttermilk for at least 30 minutes, the longer the better. If time permits, let the chicken marinate overnight in the refrigerator.
2. Season the flour mixture. Do not skimp on this step. Seasoning the flour is essential to making the best fried chicken.
3. Do not overcrowd the air fryer. The chicken should be in a single layer with a hint of space between each piece. Work in batches if you needed to avoid overcrowding the air fryer. 
4. When making your air fryer fried chicken, after you air fry for the first round and go to flip the chicken, spray oil on any parts of the chicken that still have flour on them. This will help the flour cook and develop a nice crust.
5. For easier clean-up, line your air fryer with parchment paper. 

Common Questions

How to Know When Your Air Fryer Fried Chicken Is Done?

Always use a meat thermometer to test for doneness. When placed into the thickest part of the chicken meat, the meat thermometer should read a minimum of 165 degrees F. You can also check by cutting into the meat. It should be white, with clear juices, and will appear darker around the chicken bone ends. 

Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Yes, this fried chicken recipe is both gluten-free and dairy-free, but trust me, no one would ever know the difference! However, if you are not sensitive to either gluten or dairy, simply substitute the flour with your favorite all-purpose flour and use regular buttermilk.

Can You Substitute The Chicken?

Want to Use Boneless Chicken? If you want to use boneless chicken, I recommend trying my Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe. You can use the same coating from this recipe if you like, but be sure to follow the instructions listed in the post so your boneless chicken turns out nice and juicy! 

Want To Use Bone-in Chicken Breasts or Chicken Thighs? When cooking larger pieces of chicken, the key is to cook chicken of the same size and thickness together so that all of the pieces are cooked evenly. Follow the same instructions in this post for cooking the chicken, making sure to cook skin side down first. Always use an instant thermometer to check the doneness of your chicken. It should read 165°F when done. Check out my Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs for a more detailed recipe.

Can You Fry Frozen Chicken Wings In An Air Fryer? 

No, I do not recommend frying chicken wings while they are frozen. Cooking frozen chicken can result in uneven and undercooked chicken. You can most certainly use frozen chicken, but be sure to thaw it first. 

Which Air Fryer Do I Use?

I use the Yedi Total Package Air Fryer, 4 Quart. There is also the Yedi Total Package Air Fryer Oven XL, 12.7 Quart that has two racks, making it perfect for making these wings even quicker! 

How to Store and Reheat Air Fryer Fried Chicken

Store the chicken in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator. To rewarm, place the chicken into the air fryer at 370°F for 5 minutes. 

These Air Fryer Fried Chicken Wings (Gluten-free) are perfect as an appetizer or as a full-on meal! Serve them with:

• Accordion Potatoes
• Mediterranean Pasta Salad
• Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Crispy Sweet Potato Fries
• Herb Crusted Eggplant
• Quinoa Veggie Salad

I Hope You Enjoy This Crispy Buttermilk Air Fryer Chicken Wings (Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free) Recipe!

If you try the recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments below! Take pictures, tag #goodfoodbaddie, and share them with me on Instagram! I love hearing from you! 

More GFB Wings Recipes!

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• Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings