Air Fryer Chicken Wings Frozen

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Ingredient Notes And Substitutions

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings Recipe

This is an overview of the ingredients you will need to make this air fryer wings recipe. Important notes and substitutions for certain ingredients are discussed. The full printable recipe, with amounts and specific details, can be found at the bottom of the page.

Frozen Chicken Wings The brand of frozen wings doesnt matter, just make sure there is no ice sticking to the wings because that will create extra moisture, and prevent the wings from crisping up. Since the wings are frozen, do your best to separate any chicken wings that may have stuck together. Blot them dry with a paper towel to help minimize the ice and moisture, which can create soggy wings.

Oil Any cooking oil is fine, youll just need a little oil to coat the bottom of the air fryer basket. Cooking spray works, but it tends to build up in the air fryer, so avoid it if possible.

Butter Any kind of unsalted and melted butter is fine.

Franks Original Hot Sauce This recipe uses Franks Original Hot Sauce which is superior when it comes to wings, but feel free to use different brands, or your favorite buffalo wing sauce recipe.

Brown Sugar While this ingredient may seem strange in a savory recipe, the brown sugar really gives a gorgeous caramelized flavor to the buffalo chicken wings.

Baking Powder While this may seem like an odd ingredient, it helps create that delicious, crispy skin. Just make sure you use baking POWDER not baking soda.

How To Make Buffalo Wing Sauce

While your chicken is air frying, melt the butter in a small saucepan on the stovetop. Add the Franks RedHot sauce and stir until thoroughly combined.

When your chicken wings are done cooking, use tongs to dip each crispy chicken piece in the wing sauce mixture. Make sure each piece of chicken is entirely coated with the hot sauce.

I usually pour any leftover sauce directly on the dipped wings. Its messy but delicious!

What Type Of Air Fryer Is Best For Chicken Wings In 2022

If youre looking for an air fryer to cook your frozen chicken wings, there are a few different options available on the market. Some of the best air fryers for this type of cooking include the Ninja Foodi, the Cosori Air Fryer, the Gourmia Air Fryer, and the Instant Pot Vortex Oven. All of these options will produce great results, so it really comes down to personal preference.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • No thawing needed. There is absolutely no need to thaw the chicken wings before air frying. They cook up perfectly from frozen, saving you lots of time and hassle.
  • Cooked perfectly. In just 25 minutes, the wings will be seriously crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.
  • Crazy flavorful. You guys, the hot honey butter. I can’t tell you enough how good it is!! Just three simple ingredients mixed together create the most amazing flavor.

How To Know When Air Fryer Frozen Wings Are Done

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings

The best way to know your chicken wings are done is by using a meat thermometer. Stick into the thickest part of the chicken, making sure not to touch a bone. Then, if it reads 165 degrees, your wings are done.

Another way to tell is by cutting a wing open. There should be no pink and the juices should run clear from the chicken.

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Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings

Theres so many different brands and types of frozen chicken wings to air fry. First is identifying if the frozen chicken wings are raw or pre-cooked. Secondly, some are plain, breaded or sauced. Once you know which type youre cooking, youre halfway there to making an amazing batch of air fried wings. We were surprised at how well the wings cooked from frozen! Yes, straight from the freezer and rock hard, these frozen wings cooked wonderfully in the air fryer. We couldnt believe how easy they were and even the raw ones cooked all the way through. More info below in our write up and all recipe times and temperature details are in the recipe box below.

Can You Make Crispy Chicken Wings In The Oven

YES! You will definitely need to coat your chicken wings in baking powder and allow them to sit on a wire rack on a baking sheet in the fridge overnight. This will allow the skin to dry out and the proteins in the chicken skin to breakdown. I would also recommend cooking the wings on a wire rack to keep the juices form making the wings soggy as they cook.

Simply place in the oven at 400°F for 25 minutes, but be sure to flip the wings halfway through.

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How To Make A Bigger Batch

Frying the Wings in a single layer or separated by a double layer rack works best but you can make a bigger batch by taking some of the wings out before increasing the temperature and crisping them up in smaller batches. Just make sure not to overcrowd the basket so the air can still circulate. Watch the video below to see how I make a bigger batch in my smallest Air Fryer!

Why This Recipe Works

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
  • Air fryer chicken wings are super crispy!
  • You can use precooked frozen chicken wings or raw frozen chicken wings and then add delicious seasonings or sauces once they are done cooking. Check out my ultimate sweet and spicy Wing Sauce. It is hands down the BEST!
  • Cooking frozen chicken wings in the air fryer lets you toss directly from the freezer without having to worry about messy defrosting!

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Instructions: Precooked And Frozen

If you bought a bag of completely cooked frozen wings, you can skip the above steps. Simply dump the wings into the air fryer basket and air fry for 15-20 minutes at 400°F / 204°C. If they are stacked, toss half way through. Many chicken brands are adding air frying instructions to their precooked foods since it’s becoming such a popular cooking method. Check your package and use the air fryer instructions there instead of mine if they are included.

How To Make Frozen Air Fryer Chicken Wings

I prefer to use the Cosori Air Fryer its my favorite Air Fryer that Ive owned for a while now, and the reason why I love it is that it cooks the food so evenly and it comes with a large square basket that can fit a lot of food. But, of course, you can use any air fryer you have to make this recipe. Just follow the steps below:

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Is this recipe gluten free?

Yes! These air fryer frozen chicken wings are gluten free!

Can chicken wings be cooked from frozen?

Absolutely! Thatâs what this recipe is for. Check out all of the directions, cooking times and recipe amounts below in the recipe card.

What is the best way to reheat leftover chicken wings?

Reheat your leftover chicken wings in the air fryer! Heat it to 400 degrees and cook them for about 10 minutes and they will be hot and crispy again!

Can I save the extra baking powder mixture?

It can be used immediately for another batch of wings however it should not be saved beyond that. Raw chicken was placed in the mixture and keeping it can risk in foodborne illness.

Can I use this recipe with wings that are defrosted?

Yes! Go ahead and use the same baking powder mixture and cook them for a shorter amount of time. Be sure to temp them to make sure they are cooked to 165 degrees.

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What Oil & Oil Sprayer Is Best For The Air Fryer

Easy Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings

The biggest issue most air fryer lovers face is finding the right oil and oil sprayer to use on food cooked in the air fryer. A fine mist of oil will help the entire piece of food crisp evenly, so its very important.

My personal preference is to use canola oil, extra virgin olive oil, or avocado oil. I use both a refillable spray bottle like the Evo one pictured below and non-propellant extra virgin olive oil, which has not harmful aerosols or chemicals.

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Easy Frozen Chicken Wings

Like cooking Frozen Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer and also Frozen Chicken Nuggets In Air Fryer, you can make frozen chicken wings in air fryer fast, so youll have plenty of time to customize the flavors.

Simply cook wings and then toss in your favorite seasoning or sauces to please everyones tastes. Use spicy buffalo sauce for the adults, and a sweet BBQ sauce or garlic parmesan coating for the kids.

Want even more flavor ideas? Then check out my Korean Chicken Wings, these Instant Pot Coca-Cola Chicken wings, and this Honey Hot Wings recipe.

How Do You Cook Pre

Its very simple to do. Place the frozen chicken wings directly into the basket. Then, you must set the temperature and the cooking time. You can get more information on a specific model by checking the cooking chart. As soon as they have turned golden and crispy, retire them. Plate and serve with your favorite dressing or enjoy along with french fries.

Here are some frozen chicken wings you can find at the supermarket that are pre-cooked or fully cooked:

  • Tyson, anytizers hot wings bone-in wings .
  • Perdue, individually frozen chicken wings.
  • Trader Joes, organic chicken wing sections.
  • , pub style bbq chicken wings.
  • TGI fridays, frozen appetizers buffalo style chicken wings.
  • TGI fridays, frozen appetizers honey BBQ chicken wings.

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What Is The Best Hot Sauce For Buffalo Wings

The best wing sauce will depend on your tastes and what you are looking for! Since I dont know your taste buds, Im going to cover wing sauce nutrition here.

You need a vinegar-based cayenne pepper sauce for Buffalo wings. There are a lot of choices, many listed as 0 calories.

Franks RedHot Original lists zero calories per teaspoon and 190mg of sodium. Here is the ingredients list for this condiment:

  • Aged Cayenne Red Peppers
  • Natural Butter Type Flavor

Neither sauce actually has zero calories, but they are allowed to round down if they contain under five calories per serving. I often see sauces and seasonings with sugar and added oils that are listed as zero calories.

Of the two sauces listed above, Id consider Franks RedHot Original the better choice. It has no added oil, unlike the wing sauce, and no additives that push it into ultra-processed foods territory.

Canola oil is a whopping 120 calories per tablespoon. Im thinking the zero-calorie wing sauce with added oil must come extremely close to the under 5-calorie cut off. Indeed, Franks RedHot Hot Buffalo Wings saucehas an identical ingredients list and is labeled as five calories per serving.

One more option to look into is the Noble Made Buffalo Wing Sauce. Their medium sauce contains extra virgin olive oil and is 15 calories per tablespoon with 400mg sodium. We enjoyed this sauce too!

Tips And Techniques For Air Frying Frozen Chicken Wings

How to make Frozen Air Fryer Chicken Wings

I was a little dismayed that the wing portions were all stuck together when I pulled them out of the bag. They were a solid mass. I tried to separate them with a dinner knife, but they were definitely not cooperating. And frankly, it was a little dangerous as the ball slipped out of my hand a couple of times. I nixed that plan after 2 attempts.

There is no need to worry about your mass of frozen chicken wing portions. Just preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Oil and season the frozen wings and place them in the basket or on the crisper plate and cook for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the wingettes and drumettes will naturally separate. Reconfigure them into a single layer and continue to cook for another 8 minutes. Flip the wings over and cook for an additional 7 minutes or until the wings are crispy and 165°F when checked with a digital meat thermometer.

You can air fry the wings without any oil or seasoning. I find that a coating of oil helps to keep the skin from sticking to the fryer basket. A little extra virgin olive oil works quite well. I also like to lightly season the wings with salt and pepper. That is because I eat them straight out of the fryer. If you intend to toss your wings in a buffalo or teriyaki sauce, you can skip the salt and pepper.

The best part about air frying chicken wings is that most of the fat drips into the bottom of the bucket. The result is crispy and lean wings.

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Can I Baste The Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer

You can baste chicken wings with a sauce like one that was mentioned above in the air fryer, if you wish. You dont want to do it too early on in the cooking process or it might burn.

To baste the chicken wings with a sauce, wait until the last 5 minutes of cooking. So if youre cooking them for 30 minutes, youll flip them after 15 minutes, then baste them after 25 minutes. Baste one side of the wings, cook for another 3 minutes, then flip and baste again. Cook until they reach your desired crispiness.

Frozen Chicken Wings In Air Fryer Machines

Making frozen chicken wings in the air fryer is way easier than you think. Air fried frozen wings serve as a blank canvas for any dipping sauce youd love to toss them in.

Having a bag of frozen wings from Costco, Walmart or target will help you have these on hand to serve at small family gatherings and for game night with friends. The air fryer makes it so easy.

I used my Cosori air fryer for this recipe. However I have also made delicious wings in my Gourmia air fryer and Instant Pot Vortex Oven style air fryer. I bet it would cook perfectly in your Ninja foodi or Power XL air fryers if thats what youve got.

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What Size Wings Should I Use

Choosing the size of wings depends on how many batches you want to make. Chicken wings should be in a single layer in your basket. The bigger the wings, the less that will fit in each batch. I like to make jumbo wings if I am making it as a dinner option, and regular sized wings if I am making them as an appetizer.

Reasons Youll Love These Wings

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings

Wingin It This easy recipe is perfect for those times when you just need to whip up something fast for dinner, but dont want to disappoint.

Frozen to Fantastic Just stick your favorite brand of chicken wings in the air fryer, coat it in the delicious buffalo wing sauce and voila!

Super Simple It only takes 35 minutes to make, and most of that time is spent waiting for those wings to crisp up in the air fryer.

Fan Favorite This awesome wings recipe is the real deal and is bound to become a favorite recipe amongst everyone in your household!

Game Day Ready In need of some quick and easy hot wings for football season? Look no further than this air fryer chicken wings recipe.

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How To Cook Raw Frozen Chicken Wings

  • Holy cow, frozen RAW chicken wings cooked all the way through in the air fryer. We were initially doubtful during our first tests because the raw chicken wings were rock hard frozen. It was hard to believe that they would cook all the way through, but they sure did. They were crispy on the outside and cooked all the way through on the inside.
  • Its always better to check one wing first to make sure its cooked through before you pull the whole batch out of the air fryer and start eating. Pick the thickest drumette or wing and tear into it. If its still slightly raw, cook it for a few more minutes.

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Air Fryer Egg Rolls The easiest way to make frozen egg rolls is in the air fryer. It gives them the perfect amount of crunch on the outside.

Mini Corn Dogs in the Air Fryer These mini corn dogs are crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside and are such an easy snack or appetizer to whip up.

Pigs in a Blanket Everyones favorite appetizer, but made in the simplest and easiest way right in the air fryer.

Also, try these Air Fryer Cheese Pigs in a Blanket from Deliciously Seasoned that I think you will enjoy.

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You Can Cook Frozen Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer

I like easy recipes, especially when I am preparing for a large get-together. For this recipe, I simply buy a large bag of frozen chicken wings from my favorite big bulk store. Then, I can simply dump them in the air fryer and work on other snacks while they cook.

My Favorite Air Fryer for Crispy Chicken Wings

I am a University of Washington Huskies fan and yesterday was the Apple Cup, the big rivalry football game between the state schools. I had a large group of people coming over to help cheer on the Huskies, so I needed a lot of chicken wings, and fast! These air fryer buffalo chicken wings made it easy to cook them up, and since they came out in batches, we were able to snack on fresh, hot wings throughout the game.

  • Weigh out about 1-1.5 pounds of frozen wings
  • Toss the wings in olive oil
  • Toss the wings in garlic, salt, and pepper spice blend
  • Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick
  • Place the wings in the basket
  • Cook at 360°F for 10 minutes or until thawed, shake and flip the wings
  • Cook at 400°F until crispy
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