Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

There are several different claims about the origins of buffalo wings. One belief is that they were created in 1964 at Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York.

Another story says that buffalo wings were invented by John Young at his restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri. Whoever created these delicious chicken wings, we are all thankful for them!

These days, buffalo wings are a popular appetizer or main dish at many restaurants and bars. And, they have become a staple food at many game day parties. If you like game day appetizers, you should try Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings.

Why I Love This Recipe

The most amazing, respected food in all of the land is at your fingertips. Air Fryer Buffalo Wings are crispy and juicy with just enough spice to make them unforgettable!

Ready in under 30 minutes
Easy to make
Always a hit at parties
Perfect for picky eaters

Do you love easy game day food recipes? Next time you may want to give this air fryer chicken taquitos recipe a try.

Air Fryer Buffalo Wings in a large bowl next to celery stalks, garlic clove, and sauce

Ingredients

You only need a handful of ingredients to help you make this appetizer recipe. After one quick trip to the grocery store, you will be ready to enjoy this tasty meal or snack.

whole chicken wings
cornstarch
salt
pepper
garlic powder
Buffalo sauce

Substitutions

Make your own Buffalo sauce: If you are feeling adventurous, you can make your own Buffalo sauce. It’s simple with a mix of hot sauce, butter, garlic powder, and onion powder.

Use frozen wings: you can use frozen chicken wings. Just be sure to thaw them out before you begin cooking.

Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

You only need a few kitchen tools to help you make this easy and delicious recipe. Gather these tools and great ready to share these wings with your family.

How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

Making these air fryer buffalo wings is simple. Follow the instructions below and you will have a tasty meal or snack in no time at all.

Step 1: Clean the wings

Clean and prepare the chicken wings. Cut the wings at the joint. Toss the wing tip in a freezer bag for chicken broth or discard. Remove any remaining feathers.

Step 2: Toss the wings in cornstarch and seasonings

Place wings in a bowl with spices and cornstarch and toss until wings are coated.

Chicken wings in a large bowl seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Step 3: Air fry the wings for 15 minutes

Spray the air fryer basket with oil and place the wings inside. Cook for 15 minutes at 400°.

Step 4: Toss the wings in buffalo sauce

Once cooked completely, toss in a bowl with 1/4 cup of Buffalo sauce to fully coat the wings.

Cooked chicken wings in a mixing bowl with Buffalo sauce.

Step 5: Return to the air fryer and cook for five additional minutes

Place back in the air fryer basket and cook for 5 more minutes.

Step 6: Toss the wings in the remaining sauce

Remove and toss in the remaining sauce.

Cooked chicken wings in a mixing bowl tossed with remaining Buffalo sauce.

Step 7: Serve and enjoy

Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing.

closeup of Air Fryer Buffalo Wings in a large bowl next to celery stalks

Variations / Options / Add-Ins

The beauty of this easy recipe is that it is so versatile. You can make it as spicy or mild as you like. And, you can even add in some extra ingredients to give it a little something extra. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Spice: For a little extra heat, add some cayenne pepper to the cornstarch mixture.

Sauce: Instead of buffalo sauce, you could use BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or any other favorite sauce.

Breading: If you are not a fan of breading on your wings you can skip the cornstarch and just use seasonings instead.

Serving Suggestions

These air fryer buffalo chicken wings are delicious on their own. However, if you are looking for some other ideas of what to serve with them, here are a few suggestions.

Veggies: Serve with a side of celery sticks and carrot sticks.

Sides: Try serving these wings with baked potatoes or french fries.

Dipping Sauce: Serve with a bowl of your favorite dipping sauce like ranch, or blue cheese.

Tips

Want to make sure that your wings turn out perfectly? Here are some of my favorite tips for this recipe.

Be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket. If you do, the wings will not cook evenly. Make sure they are in a single layer in your air fryer basket with some room in between.
If you are making a large number of wings, you may need to cook them in batches.
For extra crispy wings cook them for a few minutes longer. Just be sure to keep an eye on them so they do not burn.
Add some extra cayenne pepper to the sauce if you love spicy buffalo wings.
Test the chicken wings with a meat thermometer to make sure that they reach the internal temperature of 165 degrees.
There is no need to flip these wings, they will still be perfectly crisp on the outside without being flipped.

FAQs

Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this air fryer chicken wings recipe.

How to store

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How to reheat

Reheat in the air fryer at 400° for 5-7 minutes or until heated through. You could also reheat it in the oven at 375° for 10-12 minutes.

Can I freeze?

Yes, these wings can be frozen for up to two months.

a closeup of Air Fryer Buffalo Wings in a large bowl next to celery stalks

More Buffalo Recipes

If you like buffalo recipes, give these recipes a try:

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📋 Recipe

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Air Fryer Buffalo Wings