Tailgate Crispy Air Fryer Chicken (Printable Version)

Golden, crispy chicken wings seasoned with classic spices and cooked in an air fryer for juicy results.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 pounds chicken wings, split and tips removed

→ Spice Rub

02 - 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - ½ teaspoon onion powder
06 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
07 - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
08 - 1 tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder

→ Optional Sauce

09 - ¼ cup hot sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels to ensure maximum crispiness during cooking.
02 - Combine kosher salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and baking powder in a large bowl.
03 - Add the wings to the bowl and toss thoroughly to coat evenly with the spice mixture on all sides.
04 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes before adding the chicken.
05 - Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overcrowding, cooking in batches if necessary.
06 - Cook for 25 minutes total, flipping the wings halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
07 - While wings cook, whisk together hot sauce and melted butter. Toss cooked wings in sauce until evenly coated.
08 - Serve immediately with your choice of dipping sauce and fresh celery sticks.

# Tips from hearthlykitchen:

01 -
  • The baking powder trick creates the kind of crispy skin that usually requires a deep fryer and a gallon of oil
  • You can feed a hungry crowd without hovering over the stove or dealing with messy cleanup
02 -
  • Crowding the air fryer basket is the number one mistake people make, those wings need personal space to crisp up properly
  • Letting the seasoned wings rest in the fridge for 30 minutes before cooking makes a huge difference in the texture
03 -
  • Use aluminum free baking powder because some people can taste a metallic aftertaste with regular baking powder
  • If your air fryer has a smaller capacity, investing in a basket rack that lets you stack wings vertically is a total game changer

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