Frozen Chicken Wings in Air Fryer

Name: Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: Chicken wings:; 2 lbs frozen chicken wings (900 g); 1 ½ tablespoon baking powder (Note); 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika powder; 1 teaspoon fine sea salt; Sauce:; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 pinch of fine sea salt; 1 tablespoon ketchup; 2 tablespoons honey; 1-2 tablespoons sriracha (or another hot sauce, to taste); 1 teaspoon rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)

Cooking frozen chicken wings in the fryer couldn't be easier. Crispy skin, tender meat, delicious wings on your plate in just about 30 minutes.

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close up wingette sprinkled with parsley

Did you ever forget to take the meat out of the freezer in time? It happens quite often to me... So, I looked for ways of cooking meat, especially chicken, from frozen. Not only these amazing air fryer frozen chicken wings, but frozen chicken breast as well.

And if you would like to bake chicken wings, have a look at these Baked Whole Chicken Wings, the Korean Chicken Wings, Spicy Baked Chicken Wings, or these Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wings.

Table of Contents

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Recipe ingredients

frozen chicken wings in a bowl and two small bowls with seasoning and sauce

The frozen wings, some spices, baking powder, and the air fryer.
The sauce is totally optional but really worth it! Plain, crispy chicken pieces only spiced with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder are really good, but add some sauce at the end and you will take this meal to a whole new level.
Our favorite sauce is a spicy-sweet one made with soy sauce, ketchup, honey, sriracha, vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Why use baking powder?

It is a famous trick that helps make chicken wings really nice and crispy. Usually, really crispy wings need to be deep-fried. By adding just a small amount of baking powder, you can achieve that crispiness without deep frying in the oven or in the air fryer.

The baking powder helps dry out the skin making it crunchy. The powder raises the pH level in the chicken, breaking down the peptide bonds and making the chicken skin brown and crisp faster.

It is preferable to use aluminum-free baking powder. Apparently, some people react negatively to the aluminum in the powder, thus noticing a bitter taste, which most people will not notice. In this case, try using another brand of baking powder, one without aluminum.

Step-by-step instructions

This is actually so easy; you will not even need a lot of extra time compared to air frying defrosted chicken wings.

Preheat the fryer if necessary; some need it; some don't. Make sure you read the instruction manual. My machine needs 3 minutes of preheating.
In the meantime, combine the baking powder, garlic powder, salt, and paprika in a large bowl.
Add the frozen wings and toss well to coat.
Place the wings into the basket in a single layer.
Cook for 10 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius/ 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
Check the basket; if there is any liquid in it (coming from the now-defrosted wings), discard it. There was no liquid in my basket, but depending on the machine you have, it might happen.
Shake the basket well or flip the wings on the other side using tongs.
Increase the temperature to 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit and continue cooking the wings for another 18 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes.
Check if the wings are cooked through by taking the thickest one you can spot and tearing it. If the meat is completely white, then it's done; if it's still slightly pink, give it a few more minutes.
Toss with about ¾ of the sauce and cook for 2 more minutes.
Remove the wings from the basket, place them in a clean bowl, and toss them with the remaining sauce.

all the stages of cooking frozen chicken wings in an air fryer

Pre-cooked frozen chicken wings

They are very common as well, and they are usually already spiced or coated with sauce.
Although pre-cooked, they will need more or less the same amount of time to be heated through in the air fryer.
You will not have to worry about them not being cooked through anymore, but still, you will have to check if they are hot to the bone.
After about 15-18 minutes of cooking time, pick the thickest one, tear it, and check if it is heated through. If not, give it a few more minutes.
The same goes for pre-breaded frozen wings.

Expert Tips

Use baking powder for extra crispiness, preferably aluminum-free, to avoid any bitter aftertaste.
There is no need for spraying with oil. Their own fat will render, and that will help them crisp up.
Place the pieces in the basket in a single layer. They can touch each other, though, and it is fine if they only slightly overlap. Just don't stack them on top of each other. After the initial defrosting time, they will lose some of their volume and won't be so crowded anymore.
Check if there is any water in the basket after the first 10 minutes of the cooking time. If so, discard it. Too much water in the machine will prevent the skin from getting crispy.
Shake the basket regularly to ensure that they are evenly cooked.

Recipe FAQ

Is the baking powder mandatory?

No, they will still be crispy enough and delicious without it.

How to store?

Refrigerate as soon as cool in an airtight container. They will keep for 3-4 days.
Freeze in an airtight container or freezer bag for 3 to 6 months. Defrost in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.

Can you reheat them?

Air fryer: For about 5-6 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Oven: Place on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and reheat in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius/ 360 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 minutes or until heated through.

spicy and crispy chicken wings on a plate

More air fryer recipes

Air Fried Zucchini
Carrots – sweet and savory
Eggplants – cubed or glazed
Pork Ribs
Chicken Legs

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Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings