These Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Wings are pleasantly crispy with an incredible flavor cooked on them! Air fryer chicken wings are beautifully crispy without the use of excessive amounts of oil. Tossed in a buttery garlic parmesan coating during the last five minutes of cook time to keep the wings crisp and flavorful in each bite.
Chicken wings are amazing whichever way you choose to cook them so after trying it in the air fryer, check out our dry rub baked chicken wings and spicy orange chicken wings.
Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Cooking chicken wings in the air fryer guarantees two things, if done correctly. First off, the skin of the wings is crispy and flavorful. Secondly, the meat on the inside is always perfectly juicy and tender. When you have both of those delicious elements, that means you have a perfect chicken wing – with none of the oil that comes from traditionally frying them!
There are so many reasons to avoid cooking anything in oil. While it is pretty tasty to fry up some wings the old fashioned way, they’re not exactly the healthiest snack. When you air fry wings, you skip all of that excess oil, making this a much healthier alternative… Without sacrificing any of the signature crispiness you know and love! Plus, skipping the oil means a much easier clean up afterwards.
The flavor of these air fried wings is really what sends them over the top. Fresh garlic, garlic powder, parmesan cheese, butter, and more come together to create a seriously good sauce. My little no-so-secret way of really making the wings flavorful is to cook the wings by themselves for a bit, then toss them in sauce, turn up the heat, and cook them a bit longer. It solidifies the flavor and makes these wings pretty addictive!
How to Make Garlic Parmesan Wings in the Air Fryer
Ingredients You Need
For the Wings –
- Chicken Wings – I like to use a mix of both flats and drumettes.
- Olive Oil – Avocado oil also works if you need to substitute.
- Seasonings – You’ll need a mix of salt, fresh cracked black pepper, and garlic powder to season your wings.
Garlic Parmesan Sauce –
- Butter – To control the saltiness, use unsalted butter.
- Parmesan – For the BEST flavor, use freshly grated parmesan cheese. It makes a world of difference!
- Garlic – Use freshly pressed garlic.
- Garlic Powder – just a little since it’s paired with fresh garlic.
- Parsley – use dried parsley since it’s in the coating that will be cooked.
- Red Pepper Flakes – Just a pinch of these red pepper flakes, unless you want to kick up the spiciness level.
- Sugar – Use white granulated sugar to balance out the salty and garlic flavors with a whisper of sweetness.
- Salt
Cooking Directions:
Prepare the chicken wings:
Start off by patting the wings dry with a paper towel, then placing them into a mixing bowl.
Toss the wings with salt, pepper, and olive oil.
Place some of the wings in the basket of the air fryer. They should be in just one layer.
Air fry the wings:
Air fry the wings at 380°F for 25 minutes. Toss them every 7-10 minutes to make sure they cook evenly.
Coat with sauce:
Combine all of the ingredients for the sauce in a bowl and whisk well to combine.
Toss the air fried wings in some of the sauce before placing them back into the basket of your air fryer.
Cook the coated wings at 400°F for about 5-6 minutes.
Tips for the Best Air Fried Chicken Wings
- Pat the wings dry first, then lightly season and toss with some oil. This helps the wings to crisp up as they air fry, since you’re getting rid of excess moisture at the start of the recipe.
- Air fry the wings in two separate steps, and at two different temperatures. First, cook them at a lower temperature of 380°F to cook them through. Then, raise the temperature to 400°F for the last 5-7 minutes to crisp them up. It works like a charm!
- Spread the wings in 1 layer in the air fryer when you first start. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to cook the wings in 2-3 batches. Do NOT over crowd the basket.
- Remember to toss the wings while they’re cooking every 7-10 minutes to ensure they all cook evenly.
- To keep the wings warm in between the batches, preheat the oven to 200°F and keep the wings in the warm oven while waiting on the next batch.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature do I air fry chicken wings?
After testing out different temperatures and times, I find that cooking the wings at two different temperatures is the best way to achieve juicy wings on the inside and crispy skin on the outside. So, start at 380°F for about 20-25 minutes, then raise the temperature to 400°F for 5-6 minutes. Exact time will depend on the size of your chicken wings, but it will vary only by about 1-3 minutes.
What if my air fryer doesn’t have a setting for 380°F?
Unfortunately, some models don’t have a setting for that exact temperature. You will most likely have the settings 375°F and then a jump to 390°F. At that point, cook them at 390°F for a little less time, about 20-22 minutes, then raise the temperature to 400°F for 5-6 minutes.
What sauces should I serve with these chicken wings?
These chicken wings are already flavored with the amazing garlic parmesan coating! It’s buttery and oh, so flavorful. Personally, we don’t dip these wings. If you really want a dip though, there are some good options!
Ranch goes great with this flavor, as does blue cheese dressings. Also, try Caesar Dressing! It’s a little unconventional but SO good.
Storing and Reheating
If you happen to have any leftovers, you can store those wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also reheat them right in the air fryer at 380°F for 2-3 minutes for the best results.
Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Wings
Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Mixing bowl
- Garlic press, knife
Ingredients
Chicken Wings:
- 3 lbs chicken wings mix of flats and drumettes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2-1 tsp salt to taste
- 1/4-1/2 tsp black pepper to taste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Garlic Parmesan Sauce:
- 6 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
- 6 cloves of garlic pressed
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp dried minced parsley
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp white granulated sugar
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel and place them into a mixing bowl.
- Toss the wings with olive oil and some salt, pepper, and garlic powder until evenly coated.
- Place some chicken wings into the air-fryer basket, in one layer.
- Air-fry at 380° for about 25 minutes and make sure to toss them every 7-10 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- To make the garlic parmesan sauce, combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk well. NOTE: if you're making 2-3 batches of wings at a time, make sure to separate the sauce into batches as well. To be able to toss each batch in sauce.
- Toss the wings in some sauce and place them back into the fryer. Air-fry the coated wings at 400° for about 5-6 minutes, until nicely golden brown.
- To keep the wings warm in between cooking batches: preheat the oven to 200° and keep the wings in the warm oven while cooking another batch.
Nutrition
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