Crispy Dry Rub Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe

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This crispy air fryer chicken wings recipe is so easy to make! It is made with a flavorful dry rub that has simple ingredients and then the wings are cooked in the air fryer which gives a super crispy result. It is perfect for an easy meal or appetizer for a party or game day!

This recipe makes the crispiest wings that are healthier than traditional deep-fried wings, but do not skimp out on flavor. My husband is obsessed with this recipe…I’m not exaggerating when I say he seriously will not stop talking about them. Wings are his favorite food right now, and I am grateful because they are so easy to make. They are perfect for a weeknight meal because you can pop them in the air fryer and walk away!

Are wings in the air fryer healthy?

Cooking chicken wings in the air fryer instead of deep frying significantly decreases the amount of oil used. Traditional wings are deep-fried, and typically in oils such as soybean or canola oil, which are inflammatory and unhealthy. This recipe uses less oil and uses avocado oil, which is a healthy oil! This is a healthier way for you to enjoy your favorite appetizer. This recipe is also dairy-free, gluten-free, and a great low carb option! 

The best air fryer for this recipe

I love using an air fryer, especially for this recipe, because it will yield a really crispy result in a fraction of the time compared to the oven. You’ll have crispy chicken wings in 30 minutes or less! The size of your air fryer matters though. If you have a smaller air fryer it is best to make this recipe in batches. For best results, you do not want to overcrowd the air fryer because then the wings will not get crispy. You will want to add them in a single layer. 

My favorite air fryer is this Ninja Air Fryer. It comes with a really large basket that has enough space to cook this recipe in one batch! It also doubles as an oven and toaster oven (among other features). I use this kitchen appliance almost daily to easily reheat food, toast bread, or bake something simple in it without having to wait for my oven to reheat. One of my favorite things to make it in is my Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli recipe! 

How many people will this recipe serve?

If you are serving the wings as an appetizer or as a party dish, it will serve 4-6 people. If you are using it as your main course, which is how we usually eat it, it will serve about 2 people. So it just depends on if it is the main dish, or if you are just having a few per person. 

My favorite homemade dry rub

This recipe includes my homemade dry rub, it is made with 8 spices that you likely already have in your kitchen. This recipe will make a whole batch of dry rub, but you only need to use 2 tablespoons for the wings. That means you will have leftover dry rub to use next time you make wings, or use it on chicken, pork beef, or whatever else you’d like to add some seasoning to. This rub has a BBQ flavor to it. It’s a little sweet and has a little heat too. You can adjust the cayenne pepper to your spice preference! 

This is the same dry rub that I use on my Baked Pork Ribs recipe, and if you haven’t tried it yet, it’s a must! 

If you have a different seasoning blend you want to use, just simply swap it out for the dry rub in the recipe.

Can you make wings in the air fryer with sauce instead of dry rub?

Absolutely! If you want to use sauce instead of dry rub, leave the dry rub off when cooking and just toss the wings with the avocado oil and 1 tsp of salt. Then after the wings are done cooking you can toss them in a sauce such as buffalo sauce or BBQ sauce, or you can serve the sauce on the side and dip the wings in it. 

Ingredients for Crispy Air Fryer Wings

Dry rub seasoning ingredients:

• Brown Sugar – You could also sub for coconut sugar
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Smoked Paprika – this adds smokiness to the rub that is so delicious! If you don’t have smoked paprika you can sub for regular. 
• Chili Powder
• Kosher Salt
• Black Pepper
• Cayenne Pepper – this can be adjusted to your spice preference.

Ingredients for the wings

• Chicken wings – I think it is best to use fresh chicken wings, or if they are frozen thaw them before cooking. 
• Avocado oil – I like to use avocado oil because it is safe to use at a higher temperature. 

How to make Crispy Dry Rub Air Fryer Wings

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees f.

Make the dry rub by adding all the ingredients together in a small bowl and stir to combine. For this recipe, you will only need 2 tablespoons of the rub, so store the rest for later! 

Add the wings to a large bowl. Then, add the avocado oil and dry rub and toss to combine.

Add the wings to the air fryer basket in a single layer. My air fryer basket is large, so I can do all the wings in 1 batch, but if yours is small, you may want to cook in separate batches. You don’t want to overcrowd the wings because they will not get crispy. 

Add to the preheated air fryer and cook for 25-30 minutes. Flip the wings about halfway through to ensure even cooking and that both sides are getting crispy. 

Check your wings at about 20 minutes to see if they are done. The cooking time can vary between different air fryers. If they don’t look crispy, continue to cook until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature is 165 degrees. Sometimes I have to flip and rotate the wings around to get it crispy all over and prevent burning.

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and carrot and celery sticks and enjoy!

How to store air fryer wings

To store leftover wings, add them to an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, add back to your air fryer for 5-8 minutes or until the skin is crispy again and the chicken is heated through.