Smoky, spicy, and simple are the right words to describe this easy air fryer frozen chicken wings recipe. It's fiery, tasty, and will have you going for seconds, just like my chicken peri peri, hot honey chicken wings, and hot honey sauce.
If you've ever forgotten to thaw your chicken before dinner, this recipe will come in handy for those busy days. Did I mention it's ready in under 35 minutes?
Let's get into it!
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Why We Love This Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings Recipe
- Easy to make: busy nights call for easy dinners. This recipe is as easy as dumping the wings in the airfryer, seasoning, and baking more; that's it! I see you smiling; I've got you.
- Great for large gatherings: triple the recipe and feed a crowd. My favorite sauces to smear over these crispy wings are mango habanero hot sauce, honey soy sauce, or this fall favorite cranberry BBQ sauce. They are worth a try.
- Make ahead: hosting game night or movie night? Make the mango sauce ahead of time, season the wings, and toss them into a ziplock bag to marinate overnight on the day of your hosting. Pop the wings in the oven or airfryer, heat the sauce, and give them both a little wiggle; there you are! Now, watch your guest go "ooh ahh."
- Easily Customizable: I will share more seasoning choices with you at the end of this post, but rest assured, you only need a few ingredients. Better yet, an already-made sauce can elevate these air-fried wings effortlessly. Think BBQ sauce, mango habanero sauce, or Cajun seasoning.
📃Ingredient Description
- Chicken: You can use frozen chicken wings with or without drumettes. If the chicken is stuck together, place it in a colander and run it under running water to separate it. Pat dry before transferring it to the air fryer basket.
- Olive oil: Any oil with a high smoke point works as well.
- Seasonings: Although you could use a different combination of spices or a pre-made sauce, like my chicken taco seasoning. These are my go-tos: smoked paprika, ground garlic, oregano, onion powder, and sometimes cumin.
- Baking powder: This acts as a coating to crisp the wings for that restaurant-style crisp we all love.
It's important to note that when making substitutions in recipes, the texture and flavor may be slightly different. However, these substitutes are the best options for changing the original recipe.
💭Variations and Substitutions
With these substitutes or variations, you can achieve various flavor profiles, from spicy and bold to fragrant and earthy.
- Cajun Seasoning: Replace individual spices with a Cajun blend, which includes paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, and herbs, for a bold, zesty kick.
- Lemon Pepper: Use lemon pepper seasoning for a tangy, citrusy flavor that pairs well with chicken wings.
- Chili Powder: Replace smoked paprika with chili powder for a more robust heat.
- Herbs de Provence: For a fragrant, aromatic flavor, substitute dried thyme with Herbs de Provence, which includes thyme, rosemary, and lavender flowers.
- Chipotle Powder: Use chipotle powder instead of pepper flakes for a smokier, slightly sweeter heat.
- Five-Spice Powder: For a dash of sweetness, use Chinese Five-Spice with notes of anise, cloves, and cinnamon.
Click the "JUMP TO RECIPE" button at the top of this page, or scroll down to find the printable recipe with all the ingredients and instructions.
📝Step-by-Step Instructions
Detailed instructions are outlined in the recipe card below, but here are a few steps with visuals to guide you:
Step 1: Preheat the air fryer. Once it's hot, spray the bottom with cooking spray. This will prevent the chicken from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Dump the frozen wings in the air fryer basket.
Step 2: heat for a few minutes to release the frost. Depending on your air fryer, there will be water in the tray. Discard it once you've removed the chicken. Wipe and preheat again.
Step 3: Combine the dry seasoning in a small bowl and set aside.
Step 4: Use kitchen tongs to transfer the defrosted wings into a wide bowl, season, and coat the chicken thoroughly, ensuring all parts are evenly covered.
Step 5: Spray the air fryer basket, add the wings in a single layer, and continue to bake.
Step 6: Shake the chicken at intervals for a crisp and golden hue. Check for doneness and remove from the heat. Serve with your favorite sauce, such as blue cheese or ranch dressing.
👩🏽🍳Maur's Tips
- If the chicken is stuck together, place it in a colander and run it under running water to separate it. Pat dry before transferring it to the air fryer basket.
- Don't skip drizzling the olive oil over the chicken before adding the seasoning. This helps the chicken take in all the seasoning.
- The baking powder acts as a coating to crisp the wings. Let the chicken release water in the airfryer, then pat it dry before adding the spices and baking soda for the perfect texture.
- Although I used a drumette and wings, you can use either one or even a drumstick. If using drumsticks, be sure to adjust the cooking time.
- While the chicken is air frying, turn it occasionally to ensure crisp sides.
- Although most airfryer baskets are non-stick, I'd still advise spraying the basket with cooking spray for a quick release.
- For a crispier finish, spray more cooking oil over the wings for 5 minutes before removing them from the heat. You'll be glad you did!
📝Recipe FAQS
Cook frozen wings at 360°F-400°F for 25-30 minutes, flipping at intervals to ensure even cooking. The internal temperature of the wings should be around 170-175℉ (77-79℃).
Yes, preheating the air fryer for 3-5 minutes ensures consistent cooking and helps the wings crisp better. Preheating creates an optimal cooking environment from the start.
There is no need to thaw! Frozen wings can be placed directly into the air fryer. Just be sure to separate any stuck-together pieces before cooking. Place them in a colander and put them under running water.
Love Chicken? Here are Some Chicken Related Recipes to Try
Have you given this recipe or any other from my website a try? Please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and sharing your experience in the 📝 comments section. Your feedback means the world to me, and I'm excited to hear from you!
PEACE & LOVE
Maureen
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📖 Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings (no thaw)
Equipment
- Bowls
Ingredients
- 2.5 lb frozen chicken wings abt 1,094 g
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt to taste I used 1 ½ teaspoons
- 2 tablespoons baking powder
Instructions
- Combine the dry seasoning in a small bowl and set it aside.¾ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ¾ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Once it's hot, spray the bottom with cooking spray. This will prevent the chicken from sticking to the pan's bottom.
- Dump the frozen wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, and bake for 10 minutes to release the frost.2.5 lb frozen chicken wings
- Using kitchen tongs, transfer the defrosted wings into a large bowl. If possible, pat them dry. Depending on your air fryer, there will be water in the tray. Discard it once you've removed the chicken. Wipe the tray and preheat again.
- Meanwhile, drizzle in the olive oil and season with kosher salt. Sprinkle over the dry season rub from earlier and give it a nice toss, ensuring all parts are thoroughly seasoned.2 tablespoons olive oil, Kosher salt to taste, 2 tablespoons baking powder
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, then transfer the wings back into the airfryer basket in a single layer; spray with cooking spray, and continue to bake at 400°F for 25-30 minutes while shaking every 10 minutes until the wings are crisp and golden on the outside. Check for doneness and remove from heat.The internal temperature of the wings should be around 170-175℉ (77-79℃).
- If using sauce, transfer the cooked wings to a bowl and pour over the sauce, or enjoy with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Video
Notes
- I used individually frozen wings for this recipe, but If your chicken is stuck together, place it in a colander and run it under running water to separate it. Pat dry before transferring it to the air fryer basket.
- Don't skip drizzling the olive oil over the chicken before adding the seasoning. This helps the chicken take in all the seasoning.
Gaby Perala says
I made this yesterday, omg! I had forgotten to defrost wings, and I had people over. This was so good. We used your hot honey sauce for it. Everyboody loved it 10 out of 10. thank you
Maureen Celestine says
Thanks for the kind comment, Gaby. I am happy it turned out well for you!