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    Popular » Recipes » Air Fryer

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Jun 13, 2022 by Dee

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings seasoned with dry rub and topped with barbecue sauce are delicious crispy wings that are better than deep fried. This easy air fryer chicken wing recipe is perfect for family dinner or a game day appetizer! via @meamel

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings seasoned with dry rub and topped with barbecue sauce are delicious crispy wings that are better than deep fried. This easy air fryer chicken wing recipe is perfect for family dinner or a game day appetizer!

    Jump to Recipe -
    crispy air fryer bbq chicken wings with dry rub and bbq sauce on platter

    These crispy air fryer wings are super easy to make and so much healthier than the deep fried kind. Season them with a simple dry rub, cook them in the air fryer and brush with your favorite BBQ sauce. So good!

    I've been having the best time testing new air fryer recipes! Honestly, though, I've probably made wings more often than anything because they are super easy and so good this way.

    My family loves noshing on these crispy BBQ wings for a light dinner or a weekend snack. And game day? Oh, these savory barbecue wings make delicious game day appetizers!

    If you love chicken wings, try our Air Fryer Garlic Herb Chicken Wings or Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings or Sticky Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Wings or Grilled Honey Lime Chipotle Wings.

    Ingredients

    You only need a few simple ingredients for this air fryer BBQ wings recipe. what you don't already have at home should be easy to find online or at your local grocery store.

    • Chicken wings
    • Brown sugar
    • Sea salt
    • Garlic powder
    • Smoked paprika
    • Ground black pepper
    • Baking powder
    • Olive oil spray
    • Barbecue sauce -- we like Sweet Baby Rays

    How to Make BBQ Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer

    First, you need make the dry rub. I use this same basic dry rub recipe whenever I make my Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs or just about any recipe with BBQ sauce.

    Using a dry rub adds more flavor, and it helps make the skin crispy. I also add a pinch of baking powder to help make the wings even crispier.

    Next, be sure to pat the wings dry with a paper towel. You want to get rid of as much moisture as possible.

    Then, season the wings all over with the dry rub, and place them on the air fryer cooking racks or in the air fryer basket. Spritz wings with olive oil spray for extra crispy skin.

    chicken wings seasoned with bbq dry rub on air fryer cooking rack

    Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees, and add the chicken. I made these chicken wings in the Instant Vortex air fryer, and I placed one rack on the top and the other on the bottom.

    If you're using a similar oven-style air fryer, switch the trays about halfway through the cooking time.

    If you are using a basket-styler air fryer like the Ninja Foodi, shake the wings during the cooking time or do them in batches in a single layer for best results.

    dry rubbed air fried crispy chicken wings on cooking rackay

    Cook Time

    These air fryer wings were baked to a crispy goodness in just 25 minutes! As you can see, they've got a lot of meat on them.

    If your wings are smaller, air fry the wings for 15 to 20 minutes. the cook time might be shorter.

    You could even go for 30 minutes if your wings are large.

    Forgot to thaw frozen chicken wings? No problem! Cook frozen chicken wings for 20 to 25 minutes or until internal temperature is 165 degrees f on a meat thermometer. If wings are precooked, air fry them for 10 to 15 minutes or until heated through.

    All air fryers are different, and cooking time may vary with different brands and models.

    brush air fried chicken wing with bbq sauce

    Finish these crispy air fryer chicken wings off with a generous coat of your favorite BBQ sauce or homemade bbq sauce and watch them disappear!

    Pro tip -- Definitely keep a stash of napkins handy -- BBQ wings are messy, but worth it!

    air frier chicken wings with bbq sauce

    How to Store and Reheat

    Store leftover BBQ air fryer wings in an airtight container or zip top bag. They will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

    Reheat leftover wings in the air fryer for best results. You can reheat in the microwave, although they won't be crispy. Or, enjoy them cold!

    air fryer bbq chicken wing in hands

    Variations

    There are a few ways to customize these air fried crispy chicken wings to your liking.

    Use your favorite sauce. Stick with your favorite barbecue sauce, or try a spicy barbecue sauce, Sriracha sauce, ranch dressing, blue cheese, or honey BBQ sauce.

    Season wings however you like. Red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, chili powder, and onion powder go great in dry seasonings. If you want, ditch the bbq sauce completely and make some air fryer lemon pepper wings!

    The great things about these super easy wings is that there are so many different flavors to choose from. The only thing you'll have a hard time doing is picking between all the different options!

    Air Frying Tips

    Be sure to pat wings dry before seasoning and don't skip the baking powder! This helps keep the skin extra crispy.

    Spritz with olive oil spray for extra crispy skin.

    Place wings in a single layer for best results. If using an oven style air fryer, switch trays half way through cooking time.

    Slather on your favorite barbecue sauce after cooking the wings!

    May contain affiliate links. See disclosure for more info.

    air fryer bbq chicken wings with barbecue sauce on platter

    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings

    Published by Dee
    Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings seasoned with dry rub and topped with barbecue sauce are delicious crispy wings that are better than deep fried. This easy air fryer chicken wing recipe is perfect for family dinner or a game day appetizer!
     
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Appetizer
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 192 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot Vortex Plus Air Fryer

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 pounds chicken wings
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
    • olive oil spray
    • Barbecue sauce

    Instructions
     

    • Mix the spices and baking powder together in a small bowl
    • Pat chicken wings dry with a paper towel
    • Rub mixture over wings until well coated, and place wings on air fryer cooking racks
    • Spritz wings with olive oil spray
    • Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees, add wings to air fryer, and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, rotating trays about half way through cooking. Internal temperature should be at least 165 degrees according to meat thermometer
    • Remove from air fryer, brush with your favorite BBQ sauce, and enjoy!

    Notes

    Recipe was made in the Instant Pot Vortex air fryer, but can be made in any air fryer with racks. For smaller air fryers, cook wings in batches or according to manufacturer's instructions.
    Cook time may vary depending upon size and thickness of wings.
    For frozen wings, cook for 20 to 25 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Precooked wings take about 10 to 15 minutes.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 192kcalCarbohydrates: 3gProtein: 15gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 448mgPotassium: 158mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 284IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    Easy air fryer BBQ chicken wings are one of my favorite things to make for a quick meal. My kids say these are the best air fryer chicken wings they've tasted!

    These crispy air frier chicken wings make a great appetizer and the perfect game day snack!

    For more easy recipe ideas, classic appetizers, and new air fryer recipes, subscribe to the newsletter and follow me on social media!

    Recipe published in 2019 and updated in 2022.

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Jordan says

      February 15, 2023 at 6:14 pm

      These are the BEST wings I have ever had! I will be making them again and again. Thank you for this recipe. 10 out of 5 stars.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        February 16, 2023 at 12:30 pm

        So glad you liked the wings. Thanks for the wonderful review!

    2. Risa says

      April 26, 2021 at 7:54 am

      These wings were undeniably some of the best we've had! My husband, who's a wing connoisseur, thought they were finger-licking, lip-smacking delicious! I seasoned the wings with everything except the olive oil and baking powder and let them marinade overnight. Instead of 1t of sea salt, I put 1/2 t of each: Lawry's, Tony Sachere's, and Old Bay. We ate half plain and half dipped in honey BBQ sauce. They were both DELCIOUS! We had them today, and my husband has already asked when we were going to have them again. QUICK! EASY! DELICIOUS! A recipe trifecta! THANKS!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        April 26, 2021 at 12:17 pm

        Thank you so much, Risa. I'm glad you liked the wings!

    3. Risa says

      April 26, 2021 at 5:57 am

      Perfectly Delicious!5 stars

      Reply
    4. Nicole Petty says

      July 23, 2020 at 8:22 pm

      Absolutely Delicious5 stars

      Reply
    5. Demeter says

      August 12, 2019 at 10:45 am

      This will be a sure hit at parties!!5 stars

      Reply
    6. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says

      August 02, 2019 at 9:19 pm

      These are on my must-make list!5 stars

      Reply
    7. Melanie Bauer says

      August 02, 2019 at 7:27 pm

      Looks so delish! This will quickly disappear on our table, so tasty and flavorful!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 03, 2019 at 3:52 pm

        Thanks! They go super fast here. 🙂

    8. Sara Welch says

      August 02, 2019 at 9:53 am

      Loved how easy and flavorful these turned out! Perfect for any occasion!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 03, 2019 at 3:51 pm

        Thanks so much, Sara! Glad you like them!

    9. Catalina says

      August 02, 2019 at 5:12 am

      These wings are so inviting! The perfect movie night dinner appetizer!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 03, 2019 at 3:51 pm

        I hadn't thought about movie night, but that would be perfect!

    10. Stephanie says

      August 01, 2019 at 5:18 pm

      These were so easy and the taste was phenomenal! Thanks!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 01, 2019 at 8:33 pm

        Yay! So happy you liked them, Steph. Thanks!

    11. Beth Pierce says

      August 01, 2019 at 4:25 pm

      What an amazing recipe! So flavorful and easy; this has quickly become a new family favorite recipe in our home!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 01, 2019 at 8:35 pm

        I am sooo glad to hear this! Thanks so much, Beth!

    12. James says

      August 01, 2019 at 8:03 am

      Another awesome Air Fryer recipe. Thanks Dee. Made two batches last night.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        August 01, 2019 at 2:11 pm

        So happy to hear this, James. Thanks!

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    I’m the blogger, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

    More about me →

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