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Supremely crispy, juicy air fryer buffalo chicken wings — no deep frying, no messy oil. A game-day win with bold buffalo sauce and zero guilt.

air fryer wing with buffalo sauce on a plate with ranch for dipping

Using the air fryer has completely changed the way I make chicken wings. I love how crispy air fryer wings get on the outside, while the buffalo sauce adds another layer of flavor and holds in all the delicious taste. This recipe is incredibly easy— and easy enough for your teens to make, too (it’s never too early to get them started in the kitchen!).

In the early years of our marriage, one of the first kitchen tools I bought was a deep fryer. I loved making chicken wings in it, and it quickly became one of our favorite family meals. However, that did not last very long once I realized how much oil we were going through (and how unhealthy it was!). When the air fryer came out, you guys don’t understand how my life was changed for the better! I fell in love with my air fryer, and I subsequently fell in love with these air fryer buffalo chicken wings as well.

Looking for a no-sauce alternative? If you’re a purist and want to keep it simple, try my simple crispy air fryer chicken wings!

How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

Making this air fryer buffalo wings recipe requires a handful of simple ingredients and a few steps. Grab your favorite blue cheese dressing, slice up carrots and celery sticks, and get ready to enjoy your wings!

  • Season the wings: Season the chicken wings liberally with salt and pepper.
  • Air fry the chicken wings: Coat the air fryer tray with cooking spray. Transfer the seasoned wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer — no stacking. Set the air fryer to 380°F and cook for 10 minutes. Then, flip the wings over and air fry them for 10 more minutes.
  • Turn up the heat: Increase the temperature to 400°F and cook the wings six more minutes for a final crisp and golden brown color.
  • Make the buffalo sauce: Whisk together the hot sauce (Redhot hot sauce is great), melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
  • Toss the wings: In a large bowl, toss the hot wings with the buffalo sauce until they’re evenly coated. Serve immediately.

Air Fryer Recommendation: Shopping for an air fryer? The COSORI Air Fryer has a huge basket (feeds four) and a ton of useful presets that I love!

Seasoned chicken wings in a bowl
Cooked chicken wings in an air fryer basket
Buffalo sauce ingredients in a bowl
wings with buffalo sauce in a bowl

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

A few simple tricks guarantee air fryer hot wings that are crispy on the outside and juicy inside.

  • Pat them dry: Blot the wings thoroughly with paper towels before seasoning. This helps them get ultra-crispy!
  • Avoid frozen wings: I recommend against air frying wings straight from frozen. They don’t crisp up as well and take way longer! Instead, thaw them overnight and make sure to pat them dry before cooking.
  • Place the wings in a single layer: Arrange the wings with space between them so the hot air circulates freely in the fryer. Cook in batches if needed.
  • Flip halfway through cooking: Flip each wing over after the first ten minutes for even cooking and crisping.
  • Increase the temperature for more crisp: Crank the heat to 400°F for the last six minutes to really increase the crispy crunch.
  • Add baking powder for more crisp: If you need even more crisp, toss the wings in a bit of baking powder before frying. It’s miraculous!
  • Toss in sauce at the very end: Toss the wings in warm buffalo sauce right before serving. The sauce causes steaming and sogginess in the air fryer, so it’s best to use it only after air frying.
  • Check internal temperature: Adjust the cook time depending on the wing size. Use a meat thermometer to confirm the meat reaches 165°F.
  • Save time with “party wings”: So you don’t have to trim your wings, buy pre-cut “party wings” (drumettes and flats/wingettes) to save time. No wing tips to worry about!

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

Buffalo wings are just the beginning. Switch up the sauce, adjust a few ingredients, or even substitute if you need. Here are some ideas!

  • Sauce swaps: Toss with barbecue, honey BBQ, garlic Parmesan, teriyaki, or sweet chili sauce instead of buffalo. Or, if you don’t like sauces, simply season the cooked wings with lemon pepper, paprika, black pepper, Cajun, or garlic Parmesan blends.
  • Increase/decrease the spice: For a milder wing, increase the butter-to-hot-sauce ratio. Add a drizzle of honey to balance spice.
  • Substitute the meat: For a vegetarian option, replace the chicken with cauliflower florets. Air fry at 380°F for 15–20 minutes, then coat with sauce.

No air fryer? I’ve got you covered with oven baked buffalo wings, too!

Serving Air Fried Hot Wings

Serve these wings with celery, carrots, and a bold blue cheese or ranch dip. They’re a hit at parties (I’m looking at you super bowl!), especially with jalapeño poppers or mozzarella sticks. For a main dish, pair with air fryer french fries, coleslaw, or a green salad.

air fryer wing with buffalo sauce on a plate with ranch for dipping

Storing Buffalo Chicken Wings

Keep leftovers just as crispy and delicious with proper storage.

  • Refrigerator: Place wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.
  • Freezer: Spread cooked, un-sauced wings in a single layer on a parchment lined sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to three months.
  • Reheating: For the best way to return the crispiness, reheat the wings in the air fryer at 380°F for 3–5 minutes, flipping halfway. Toss with warm sauce after reheating.

More Air Fryer Recipes

Recipe

air fryer wing with buffalo sauce with ranch

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

Print Pin
Servings
6 servings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
Supremely crispy, juicy air fryer buffalo chicken wings — no deep frying, no messy oil. A game-day win with bold buffalo sauce and zero guilt.

Ingredients

US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • Season the chicken wings with salt and pepper.
    Seasoned chicken wings in a bowl
  • Coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry them for 10 minutes at 380°F. Flip the wings over and air fry them for 10 more minutes. Turn up the heat to 400°F and cook the wings 6 more minutes.
    chicken wings in an air fryer basket
  • While the chicken is finishing cooking, whisk together the hot sauce, melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder.
    Buffalo sauce ingredients in a bowl
  • Remove the chicken wings from the air fryer basket and place them into a large mixing bowl. Pour sauce over the top and toss to coat.
    wings with buffalo sauce in a bowl
  • Serve alongside your favorite dipping sauces and enjoy!
    air fryer wing with buffalo sauce with ranch
Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 219 Calories from Fat 153
% Daily Value*
Fat 17g26%
Saturated Fat 6g30%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 73mg24%
Sodium 1037mg43%
Potassium 163mg5%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 261IU5%
Vitamin C 11mg13%
Calcium 15mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Updated September 15, 2026

About Author

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Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.