Jump to Recipe

These air fryer buffalo chicken wings are supremely juicy and crispy. No deep frying or splattering oil required!

If you’re a purist and want to keep it simple, try our simple crispy air fryer chicken wings!

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

Buffalo chicken wings in the air fryer are an absolute game-changer. Not only are they one of the most foolproof air fryer recipes, but they are also just as good as the deep-fried version. That’s a win-win in my book!

In addition, they only require a super tiny amount of cooking spray to turn insanely crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. For you health nuts out there, this means you get to enjoy wings with a fraction of the fat and zero-guilt. WHAT?!

Grab your favorite bottle of blue cheese dressing for dipping, slice up some carrot and celery sticks, and let’s get to it!

How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

Making buffalo chicken wings in an air fryer only requires a handful of simple ingredients and a few simple steps. The air fryer will do most of the work for you!

  • Season the Wings: Season the chicken wings liberally with salt and pepper.
  • Air Fryer the Chicken Wings: Next, coat the air fryer tray with a bit of cooking spray. Transfer the seasoned wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer (no stacking!). Turn the air fryer to 380°F and cook them for 10 minutes. Flip the wings over and air fry for 10 more minutes.
  • Turn Up the Heat to Crisp: Increase the temperature to 400°F and cook the wings for 6 more minutes to give the skin a final crisp.
  • Make the Buffalo Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients.
  • Toss the Wings: In a large bowl, toss the chicken wings with the buffalo sauce until evenly coated. Enjoy!

Air Fryer Recommendation: Shopping around for an air fryer? I have been singing the praises of my COSORI Air Fryer Max XL. It has a huge basket (feeds four) and a ton of useful presets.

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 Chicken Wings

Below, find a collection of tips and tricks to help you make the best air fried buffalo chicken wings.

  • Pat the wings down of any excess moisture. Before air frying your wings, blot them of any excess moisture with a paper towel. This will help them get ultra-crispy!
  • Air fry the wings in a single layer. Although tempting, avoid stacking and crowding the wings in the air fryer basket. The more the hot air can circulate around them, the better!
  • Flip the wings halfway through. To ensure all sides of the wings get enough hot air flip them halfway through the first round of cooking. Additionally, you can give the the basket a little shake here and there if you feel like your wings are crisping up as much as you’d like.
  • Hit the wings with high heat at the end. Cranking up the heat to 400°F at the very end will give the skin the perfect crisp.
  • Toss the wings immediately after air frying. Once you pull the wings out, transfer them to a mixing bowl and toss them in the buffalo sauce right away. This will warm the sauce up and ensure it sticks to the hot wings.
  • Increase or decrease the cooking time depending on the size of the wings. Wings can come in all shapes and sizes so adjust the cooking time in either direction when necessary.

Serving Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

Serve air fryer buffalo chicken wings with a side of air fryer french fries or a homemade caesar salad. You already have the air fryer out, so you might as well use it! Also, don’t forget to slice up some carrot and celery sticks and whip up some light ranch dressing for dipping.

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

Storing Buffalo Chicken Wings

  • Refrigerating: Store leftover air fryer buffalo chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator. When stored properly, they should stay fresh for 3-5 days.
  • Freezing: Freeze leftover air fryer buffalo chicken wings by placing them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Next, place the entire baking sheet in the freezer uncovered. Once the wings are fully frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.

Reheating Tip: Air fryer buffalo chicken wings are best reheated in – you guessed it – the air fryer! Reheat them in 3-5 minute intervals at 380°F. In between each round, give them a good flip. This should return them to their crispy, “fresh-out-of-the-fryer” state.

FAQ

Can you air fry wings with sauce on them?

You should not air fry wings with sauce on them. For the juiciest, most well-coated wings, always toss them in the dressing after air frying.

Should wings be thawed before air frying?

Yes, wings should ideally be thawed before air frying. Frozen wings don’t air fry quite as well as fresh. They also take a lot longer!

How long does it take to cook wings in an air fryer?

Air fry buffalo wings for 20 minutes at 380°F. Halfway through cooking time, flip them over. Next, turn the heat up to 400°F and cook the wings for 6 more minutes to crisp the skin up.

How long do you air fry frozen buffalo wings?

If you are using frozen buffalo wings, cook them for 30-35 minutes at 400°F. Every 8-10 minutes, shake the tray and flip them over.

Can I put foil in an air fryer?

You can put foil in an air fryer. However, it’s not always a smart idea. Foil can prevent the ultra-hot air from fully circulating, limiting the appliance’s ability to make the wings super crispy.

More of 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 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 40 mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
These air fryer buffalo wings are supremely juicy and crispy. No deep frying required!

Ingredients

US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • Season chicken wings with salt and pepper.
    Seasoned chicken wings in a bowl
  • Coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place 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 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 sauce 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.
Posted September 14, 2021

About Author

Avatar photo

Natalya Drozhzhin

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.