Easy Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings (no thaw)

Air fryer frozen wings on a platter with carrots and celery and ranch dressing.

5 from 1 vote

Easy Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings (no thaw)

Smoky, spicy, and simple, this easy air-fried frozen chicken wings recipe is fiery and tasty. It's perfect for busy days when you forget to thaw your chicken before dinner.

Prep Time5

Cook Time30

Total Time35

Course: Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings: pieces

Calories: 110kcal

Author: Maureen Celestine

Equipment

air fryer
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.

Nutrition