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Crispy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Wings

Get that perfect bar-style crunch without deep frying—these air fryer breaded chicken wings are golden, crispy outside and juicy inside. Simple seasoned flour coating, ready in under 30 minutes, and perfect tossed in your favorite sauce. Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 14-16 minutes Total Time: About 25 minutes Servings: 4 (as appetizer)
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Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound chicken wings drums and flats, about 10-12 pieces
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, adjust for heat
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Optional for Serving
  • Buffalo sauce ranch, blue cheese, BBQ, or honey mustard for dipping
  • Celery and carrot sticks

Method
 

  1. Pat chicken wings completely dry with paper towels.
  2. Place wings in a bowl, drizzle with oil, and toss to coat evenly.
  3. In a shallow dish, mix flour, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, cayenne, and black pepper.
  4. Dredge each wing in the flour mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Shake off excess.
  5. Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
  6. Arrange wings in a single layer in the basket (cook in batches if needed).
  7. Air fry 14-16 minutes, flipping halfway and lightly spraying any dry spots with oil.
  8. Check internal temperature reaches 165°F. Rest 1 minute, then serve with sauces.

Notes

Pat wings very dry for maximum crispiness and better breading adhesion.
Let breaded wings sit 5-10 minutes before cooking to help coating set.
Do not overcrowd basket—cook in batches for even crunch.
For extra crisp, spray lightly with oil halfway through.
Toss in sauce after cooking to keep breading crispy.