Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings made with just a handful of ingredients. Perfectly crispy on the outside, extra juicy on the inside and covered in classic hot buffalo sauce. They’re a crowd-favorite appetizer or entree that comes together in a snap! Perfect for game day!
The Best Homemade Hot Buffalo Wings
Did you know that chicken wings are actually more American than apple pie? Well, it’s true! While the first apple pie was made in England, chicken wings were invented in the Empire State.
New York is definitely known for its food – but unlike many dishes the state is famous for (i.e. pizza and bagels), chicken wings were truly born there. It all started in 1964 at a family-owned restaurant in the city of Buffalo.
It didn’t take long for chicken wings to explode in popularity, and these days you’ll find them pretty much everywhere. Although there are tons of different wing flavors today, the original ones were slathered in a delightfully spicy sauce named after the dish’s birthplace.
Now let’s talk about this amazing Air Fryer recipe for classic hot buffalo wings. These spicy chicken wings have the crispiness, juiciness and flavor that you know and love without the unhealthy deep-frying. It’s the best of both worlds!
They’re made with very little oil as opposed to their deep-fried counterparts, and the cooking process is much more hands-off. All you have to do is whip up the 2-ingredient buffalo sauce, toss your wings into the Air Fryer, flip them over, drench them in the sauce and go to town.
What You’ll Need
It’s time to get to business! Gather the following ingredients for both the buffalo sauce and the chicken wings.
For the Hot Buffalo Sauce
- Frank’s Red Hot Sauce: These wings really wouldn’t be the same with a different hot sauce, so I definitely suggest sticking with Frank’s.
- Butter: Unsalted.
For the Chicken Wings
- Chicken Wings: This recipe uses a full pound.
- Avocado Oil: A small amount of oil is necessary to get the wings nice and crispy and prevent them from sticking to the Air Fryer basket.
- Salt & Pepper: Added to taste.
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How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
Making buffalo wings in the Air Fryer is a walk in the park. Here’s the lowdown:
Prepare the Sauce
Heat Butter & Hot Sauce: Combine the butter and the hot sauce in a small saucepan over a medium-low heat burner on the stove.
Stir & Remove From Heat: Cook the mixture until the butter is melted, making sure to stir throughout the process. Once the butter has fully melted, remove the pan from the heat and set it aside.
Make the Wings
Season Wings: Pat the chicken wings dry and place them into a large bowl. Season them with avocado oil, salt & pepper. Toss to coat all of the wings, then set the bowl aside.
Heat Air Fryer: Preheat the Air Fryer basket to 400°F for 2 minutes.
Cook Wings: Place the chicken wings into the Air Fryer basket and space them out evenly so they aren’t crowded. Cook them for 8 minutes.
Flip & Finish Cooking: Flip the wings over, then cook them for an additional 8 minutes on the other side, or until they are crispy and golden.
Add Sauce: Once the chicken wings are done cooking, place them into a large bowl. Cover them with the prepared buffalo sauce and toss until each wing is well coated.
Enjoy! Serve the wings warm.
Can I Put Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer?
If you only have frozen chicken wings on hand, I recommend letting them thaw before you use them in this recipe. Frozen wings would freeze the oil before you even got a chance to season them. The best way to thaw chicken is in the fridge overnight.
Tips for Crispy and Juicy Buffalo Wings
Following the tips below is a surefire way to make yourself some flawless chicken wings.
- Control the Heat: If you want to make milder wings, simply use more butter and less hot sauce in the buffalo sauce. You can always drizzle on more hot sauce after they’re done if needed.
- Prep Your Air Fryer: Even if your Air Fryer doesn’t require preheating, you’ll still want to preheat it for a couple of minutes before you put in the chicken wings.
- Work in Batches: You don’t want the chicken wings to overcrowd your Air Fryer basket, which would prevent them from getting nice and crispy on the outside. It’s best to work in batches.
- Use Tongs to Flip the Wings: In order to avoid burning yourself, flip over the wings using tongs rather than your fingers. The tongs will also come in handy when you’re tossing the wings in the sauce.
- Add the Sauce Immediately: Be sure to coat your wings in the buffalo sauce as soon as they come out of the Air Fryer. Not only does this warm up the sauce, but it also helps it adhere to your chicken.
Serving Suggestions
To round out these buffalo chicken wings, pair them with a cool and creamy dip like ranch or blue cheese dressing. They also go great with raw veggies like celery and carrots, which lend a touch of freshness to the dish.
If you’re serving them as a main course, make it a complete meal by adding a side dish or two to the mix. This Superfood Broccolini Salad and these Crispy Avocado Fries are both standout options. But honestly, you can’t go wrong with anything!
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Once cooled, extra wings should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. They will stay fresh for 4-5 days. Warm them up in a 380°F Air Fryer until they’re heated through, flipping them over after about 5 minutes.
Can I Freeze These?
Yes, buffalo chicken wings can be frozen for up to 3 months. First, freeze them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, making sure that none of them are touching. Once they’re frozen solid, transfer them to a heavy-duty storage bag and freeze them. Thaw out frozen wings in the fridge overnight before reheating them.
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Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 23 minutes
- Yield: 20 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Description
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings made with just a handful of ingredients. Perfectly crispy on the outside, extra juicy on the inside and covered in classic hot buffalo sauce. They’re a crowd-favorite appetizer or entree that comes together in a snap! Perfect for game day!
Ingredients
For the Hot Buffalo Sauce
- 1/2 cup franks original red hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter, unsalted
For the Chicken Wings
- 1 lb. chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- salt & pepper, to season
Instructions
Prepare the Sauce
- To a small saucepan on medium-low heat, add hot sauce and butter. Cook until butter is melted, be sure to stir throughout. Once butter is melted, remove pan from heat and set aside.
Make the Wings
- Pat chicken wings dry and place in a large bowl. Season with avocado oil, salt & pepper. Toss to coat. Set aside.
- Preheat air fryer basket to 400°F for 2 minutes.
- Place chicken wings on air fryer basket, evenly spaced so they aren’t crowded. Cook for 8 minutes. Flip then cook an additional 8 minutes of the other side. (or until chicken wings are crispy and golden)
- Once chicken wings are done place in a large bowl. Cover with Buffalo Sauce and toss to coat.
- Serve with your favorite sauce.
Notes
- To Store & Reheat: Refrigerate cooled wings in an airtight container for 4-5 days. Warm them up in a 380°F Air Fryer until heated through, flipping them after about 5 minutes.
- To Freeze: Flash-freeze wings on a parchment-lined baking sheet until frozen solid, then transfer to a heavy-duty storage bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
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