Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

Let’s talk about this amazing air fryer recipe for classic hot buffalo wings! These easy air fryer Buffalo wings are spicy, saucy, and the chicken wings themselves crisp up super well in the air fryer, without the excess oil and mess of deep-frying. These wings are one of my favorite game day foods, and they taste even better and fresher than the ones you’ll find in sports bars.

Buffalo wings are slathered in a delightfully smoky, spicy sauce named after the dish’s birthplace: Buffalo, New York. This classic wing sauce is easy to make at home with Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, tamed slightly by melted butter. Two ingredients are all you need! I like to make a big batch to keep in the fridge to use for Buffalo chicken lettuce wraps and Buffalo cauliflower bites.

The Best Homemade Hot Buffalo Wings

• Crispy without deep-frying. These spicy chicken wings have the crispiness, juiciness, and flavor that you know and love, without the deep-frying. It’s the best of both worlds!
• Less oil, less mess. They’re made with very little oil as opposed to their deep-fried counterparts, and the cooking process is much more hands-off.
• Easy method. 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 dig in. This is a great alternative to my baked Buffalo wings when I don’t feel like heating the big oven.

You’ll Need These Ingredients

It’s time to get to business! Gather the following ingredients for both the buffalo sauce and the chicken wings. Scroll to the recipe card below the post for the full, printable recipe amounts.

For the Hot Buffalo Sauce

• Frank’s Red Hot Sauce – Buffalo wings really wouldn’t be the same with a different hot sauce, so I definitely suggest sticking with Frank’s for the most authentic flavor.
• Butter – I recommend unsalted butter.

For the Chicken Wings

• Chicken Wings – This recipe uses a full pound. I like a combination of drumettes and wings. You can use fresh or frozen chicken wings; if you’re using frozen, make sure to fully thaw them first.
• 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. You can use any cooking oil you prefer.
• Salt and Pepper – For seasoning, or you can amp up the flavor of these wings and use a homemade Buffalo chicken spice rub.

How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

Making buffalo wings in the air fryer is quick, easy, and hassle-free. I can whip these up on game day and have them ready when company arrives.

• Prepare the Buffalo wing sauce. First, combine the butter and the hot sauce in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat until the butter melts, stirring frequently. Once the butter has fully melted, remove the pan from the heat and set it aside.

• Season the wings. Next, pat the chicken wings dry and place them into a large bowl. Drizzle over the avocado oil and season the wings with salt and pepper. Toss to coat the wings, then set the bowl aside.
• Cook the wings. Preheat the air fryer basket to 400°F. After 2 minutes, 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 and finish cooking. Now, flip the wings over, then cook them for an additional 8 minutes on the other side, or until they are crispy and golden.

• Add the 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. Serve the wings warm.

Can I Put Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer?

No, I don’t recommend it. If you only have frozen chicken wings on hand, let 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 Air Fryer Wings

• Control the heat. If you want to make milder Buffalo wings, simply use more butter and less hot sauce in the Buffalo sauce. You can always drizzle more hot sauce over the finished wings if needed.
• Prep your air fryer. Even if your air fryer model doesn’t require preheating, you’ll still want to preheat it for a couple of minutes before you cook the chicken wings. This ensures that the skin crisps up right away.
• 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. Flip the wings using tongs rather than your fingers. The tongs will also come in handy when you’re tossing the wings in the sauce.
• Toss in the sauce right away. 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 for a touch of freshness.

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 broccolini salad and these crispy avocado fries are both standout options. But honestly, you can’t go wrong with most sides.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Refrigerate. Once cooled, extra wings should be stored in an airtight container and refrigerated. They will stay fresh for 4-5 days.
• Reheat. Warm up the wings in a 380°F Air Fryer until they’re heated through, flipping them over after about 5 minutes.
• Freeze. 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.

More Must-Make Chicken Wing Recipes

• Garlic Parmesan Wings
• Honey Mustard Chicken Wings
• Spicy Korean BBQ Chicken Wings
• Korean BBQ Baked Chicken Wings
• Crispy Honey Barbecue Wings
• Baked BBQ Honey Wings