The best SUPER CRISPY chicken wings ever!!! Made in the air fryer (NO OIL NEEDED!) in 3 different ways (Buffalo, Honey BBQ, and
Air Frying has made eating healthy and fast possible without compromising flavor or texture. Chicken wings are one of my favorite things (other than fries) to make in the air fryer. Air-frying chicken wings make the most crispy wings with tender juicy meat, with NO OIL required. The result is SUPER crispy wings that are not only incredibly delicious but are so much healthier too! The only ingredients you will need are chicken wings, baking powder, and salt & pepper.
You can eat the wings as is without a sauce toss them in your favorite wing sauce. You can make these three easy wing sauces while the wings are cooking in the air fryer today.
Happy with these wings? Next, try my popular air fryer chicken tenders or my crispy air fryer fried chicken. You can also see all of my air fryer recipes here.
In the past few years, air fryers have become very popular as a quick and easy way to make foods like fried chicken crispy and tasty without all the oil. People often ask if they should use baking powder when they make chicken wings in an air fryer. Adding baking powder to air fryer wings can help make the skin very crispy, but is it really necessary? This article will talk about the pros and cons of adding baking powder and show you how to do it.
What Does Baking Powder Do?
Baking powder is a leavening agent that works when it comes in contact with water and heat. When baking powder is heated in an air fryer, a chemical reaction happens that releases carbon dioxide gas. This gas gets trapped in the cracks and crevices of the chicken skin, separating and lifting it to get the crispy texture you want. Baking powder also slightly raises the pH of the skin, which helps the proteins on the outside break down faster and brown more quickly.
- Releasing carbon dioxide gas to separate the skin from the meat
- Raising the pH to accelerate browning via the Maillard reaction
Without baking powder, air fryer wings will still get crispy from the hot circulating air, but they likely won’t reach that shatteringly crispy plateau quite as easily.
How Much Baking Powder to Use on Air Fryer Wings
Most recipes call for 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of baking powder per pound of chicken wings. Using too much can make the wings taste slightly bitter, so it’s best to stick to this recommended amount. I usually use 3/4 teaspoon per pound which provides a good lift without any unwanted flavors.
The baking powder gets sprinkled right on the wings along with spices and oil before air frying. Be sure to evenly distribute it so all the wings get nicely coated.
Air Fryer Chicken Wing Recipe with Baking Powder
That’s right, this simple recipe shows you how to use baking powder to make crazy-crisp air fryer wings:
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds chicken wings, tips removed, drumettes and flats separated
- 1 tablespoon neutral oil (avocado, canola, etc.)
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Additional spices like garlic powder, paprika, etc. (optional)
Instructions:
- Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels.
- In a large bowl, toss the wings with oil, baking powder, salt, pepper, and any other spices until fully coated.
- Arrange wings in a single layer in air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway, until skins are crispy.
- Remove wings from air fryer and toss with your favorite wing sauce if desired. Enjoy!
The baking powder works its magic to get the skin ultra crispy and browned, while the interior of the wings stays juicy and tender. Air frying instead of deep frying removes a ton of fat and calories too.
More Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Wings
- Make sure wings are completely dry before seasoning – moisture will inhibit crispiness.
- Don’t overcrowd wings in the basket – air flow is crucial for even cooking.
- Flip the wings midway through cooking to get both sides crispy.
- Brush wings with sauce only after air frying so they get maximum crispness.
- Toss sauced wings under the broiler for 1-2 minutes to caramelize the glaze.
Should You Always Use Baking Powder?
If you want the crispiest air fryer wings possible, you should definitely use baking powder. However it’s not 100% necessary. The hot air that is constantly moving through the air fryer will still make decently crispy food. But baking powder is the key to wings with skin that stays perfectly attached to the meat and is so crispy it breaks.
Tips for Extra Crispy Chicken Wings
Use baking powder. This is the best way I’ve found to get chicken wings’ skin crispy since I learned it years ago. This Magic Ingredient raises the PH level in the chicken wings and makes them SUPER crispy. Just be sure the baking powder you are using is aluminum-free.
Pat the chicken dry: Be sure the wings are completely dried through. This will help the baking powder stick to the skin and result in a super crispy texture.
No Oil Needed: This is my favorite part about air frying chicken wings. That’s right, no oil is needed. The oil from the chicken wings will break down and when combined with the salt and baking powder, will form a crunchy crust that is to die for.
Air-frying Method: The wings are first air-fried on medium heat to cook the interior and then the heat is turned up to 400F+ to crisp up the skin. This makes chicken wings that are really crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside.
Don’t over-lap: Spread the wings out so they don’t overlap. Giving the wings enough room will allow them to cook evenly and crispy all around. Using a large air fryer will allow you to achieve the best results in just 1 round. This is our favorite air fryer for large batches.
How to Make Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
Prep: To make chicken wings in the air fryer, get started by cutting and drying the chicken wings. Make sure the wings are completely dry so they yield a crispy texture. Next, toss the wings in baking powder along with a dash of salt and pepper. And that’s pretty much it! If you want to get fancy, you can season the chicken with your favorite mix of spices.
Air Fryer: Place in the air fryer (preferably on a rack) and air fryer until crispy (refer to the recipe box below for more details). As you can see, the wings are SUPER crispy and mouth-watering. At this point, you can simply serve the wings as is or toss them in a wing sauce.
Toss in Sauce: Now to the fun part, the sauces! The first is buffalo sauce, the 2nd option is a honey BBQ sauce and the 3rd is a garlic parmesan coating. if making things from scratch is not your thing, simply toss the wings in a store-bought wings sauce!
Best Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe With The Baking Powder Secret for a Crispy Skin.
FAQ
Do you need baking powder for air fried wings?
Tips and Tricks – Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings Use baking powder (baking soda) – this makes all the difference. Using baking powder, will make the wings extra and crispy and help keep the insides moist.
Does baking powder work in an air fryer?
I’ve been using baking powder on my oven-baked chicken wings for several years, and they have always turned out crispy and delicious, and they fall off the bone. However, since I started air-frying chicken wings, I have found both baking powder and all-purpose flour work well to create crispy skin and a juicy interior.
What is the secret to crispy air fryer?
Food needs oil to crisp in an air fryer. The best is oil in a sprayer that you can mist on. These are often available in supermarkets. You can also buy the sprayer, and then fill it with whatever oil you want. I often put my food (veggies, chicken, whatever) in a bowl and mist it with oil.
Is baking soda or baking powder better for crispy chicken wings?
For crispy baked chicken wings, baking powder is the key ingredient, not baking soda.