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Crispy Air Fryer Tailgate Chicken Wings 3 Ways

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These crispy air fryer tailgate chicken wings are the kind of recipe you’ll come back to again and again. Whether you’re hosting a game day party, feeding a hungry crowd, or just craving something indulgent on a Tuesday night, these wings deliver with no deep frying, no mess, and no complicated steps.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds (about 900g) chicken wings, separated into drumettes and flats
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder (aluminum-free)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or ¾ teaspoon table salt)
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • Olive oil spray (or avocado oil spray)
  • For Classic Buffalo Sauce:
  • ⅓ cup (80ml) Frank’s RedHot Sauce
  • 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
  • For Garlic Parmesan Sauce:
  • 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ cup (25g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • For Sweet & Smoky BBQ Sauce:
  • ½ cup (120ml) BBQ sauce (e.g., Sweet Baby Ray’s)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar (optional)
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the wings: Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels. For extra crispiness, let them sit uncovered in the fridge for 30 minutes to air-dry.
  2. Dry brine the wings: In a large bowl, combine baking powder, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Add the dried wings and toss until evenly coated. Let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes while the air fryer preheats.
  3. Preheat the air fryer: Set air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and preheat for 3-5 minutes.
  4. Arrange the wings: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray. Place wings in a single layer without touching. Work in batches if needed.
  5. Air fry the wings: Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 12 minutes. Flip wings with tongs, then cook for another 10-12 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
  6. Prepare your sauce: While wings cook, make your chosen sauce. For Buffalo: melt butter, whisk in hot sauce, Worcestershire, and honey. For Garlic Parmesan: melt butter, stir in garlic, Parmesan, and parsley. For Sweet & Smoky BBQ: combine all ingredients and warm gently.
  7. Toss the wings: Transfer cooked wings to a large bowl. Pour warm sauce over and toss gently with tongs until evenly coated.
  8. Serve immediately: Transfer to a serving platter. Garnish as desired and serve hot with dipping sauces and celery sticks.

Notes

For extra crispy wings, after initial 12 minutes, increase temperature to 420°F (215°C) for final 5 minutes. Don’t skip drying the wings or the baking powder. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding. Sauce wings just before serving to maintain crispiness.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken wings, crispy wings, tailgate food, game day recipe, buffalo wings, garlic parmesan wings, bbq wings

Find it online: https://cravemila.com/crispy-air-fryer-tailgate-chicken-wings-3-ways/