Let us show you how to cook Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings! Cooking frozen wings in the air fryer makes them perfectly juicy and tender inside, with a wonderfully crispy skin. They're ready in no time. Then, all you need to do is decide on a dipping sauce, and tuck in!
Yes, you can cook frozen chicken wings in your air fryer! And nope, you don't even need to thaw them first.
Frozen chicken wings are a great and convenient way to make a meal quickly.
I've included the recipe for a bit of light seasoning, but this recipe is totally adaptable, so you can add your favorite spices, seasonings, or sauces.
I always keep a big ol' bag of wings from Costco or Walmart in the freezer. Then, when I need dinner in a pinch, I can just cook up a pile and the family is very happy!
Air frying them is easier than deep frying or oven baking them. It's faster and less messy. Plus, they get sooooo juicy and tender inside and the outside is perfectly crispy.
Air frying frozen chicken wings (right from frozen!) also helps to minimize the amount of fat and calories that are consumed, since air fried food uses less oil than traditional frying methods. That's always a good thing.
I absolutely love using my air fryer for making chicken! It's healthy, easy, quick, and gets chicken so tender inside and crispy outside. Win-win!
I hope you're inspired to cook your frozen chicken wings in your air fryer! I love serving them up with a few sides, like Texas Roadhouse Seasoned Rice and KFC Macaroni Salad!
Be sure to check out these other great air fryer chicken recipes too, like Air Fryer Chicken Legs (Drumsticks) and Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This recipe gets wings juicy and tender inside, and crispy outside.
- You can adapt the seasonings to your preferences.
- It's super handy to cook chicken wings from frozen since you can just cook up as many as you need and leave the rest in the bag in the freezer.
- Air fryers cook frozen chicken wings quickly and evenly.
- This cooking method requires little oil, making it a healthier choice than deep-frying.
- You can easily adjust the temperature and time settings on an air fryer to get the perfect crispiness.
- Air fryers are much easier to clean than deep-frying pans.
- Cooking in the air fryer can be more economical than deep frying or oven baking.
- Air fryers can produce a crispy exterior and juicy interior on frozen chicken wings. We love it!
- They are safer to use than deep-frying, as there is less risk of burns or splattering hot oil.
Ingredients
You only need simple pantry ingredients for this recipe!
- Frozen Chicken Wings - no need to thaw them first. Below you'll find cooking times for full wings, flats, and drumettes.
- Oil - Use your regular cooking oil, such as olive or canola.
- Old Bay Seasoning - For loads of great taste. Alternatively, try Tajin chili lime seasoning for a different flavor. Cajun is great too.
- Garlic Powder - for a bold taste.
- Salt - to season the chicken. Feel free to add pepper too!
See the recipe card for quantities and method.
Instructions
Follow these step-by-step instructions, then scroll down for the full ingredients list and method.
Place frozen wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer, but don't overcrowd the basket. No need to add oil or seasonings yet.
Air fry at 350°F for 15 minutes, or until soft and defrosted.
NOTE: If you have larger full wings, they might be slightly frozen in the middle still, but that's fine, they will defrost fully and cook during the next cooking stages.
Remove the wings with tongs and place them into a bowl. If defrosting liquid has collected in the bottom of your air fryer basket, pour it out into the sink.
Add the oil and seasonings to the bowl of wings and stir to coat.
Increase the temperature of the air fryer to 380°F and cook for another 10 minutes.
Flip the wings over with tongs, and cook for a further 5-10 minutes* or until cooked through (the internal temperature at the thickest part reaches 165 °F)
*NOTE: The cooking time will depend on the size of your wings. Flats and drumettes might only need 5 minutes, but full wings may need 10 minutes.
Chicken safety: Wash hands, surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after handling raw chicken. Before serving, ensure the chicken is piping hot and thoroughly cooked, juices run clear and no pink color remains.
Air Fryer Tips
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. You may need to cook in batches.
- Air fryer brands and shapes (basket or rack) cook differently, so check your food during cooking and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- The size of your food can also affect cooking time, so check during cooking.
Scroll down for the full ingredients list and method.
Chicken Wing Dipping Sauces
- Wingstop Ranch (copycat)
- Chipotle Southwest Sauce (Subway Copycat)
- Arby's Horsey Sauce (Copycat)
- Taco Bell Chipotle Sauce
- Horseradish Aioli
- Bacon Aioli
- Dill Dip
- Blue Cheese Dip
- 35 Wing Sauce Recipes
More Chicken Recipes
- Baked Chicken Meatballs with Garlic Butter
- Tajin Chicken
- Crockpot Cheesy Chicken and Rice
- BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Thighs
- Mustard Mayonnaise Chicken Drumsticks
Top tip
This recipe is for chicken wings that are frozen raw. If your wings are pre-cooked, then you just need to thaw and warm them.
Add them to the air fryer at 380°F for 15 minutes, turning halfway. Check that they are hot all the way through and cook for longer if necessary. The time will depend on the size of your wings and the air fryer you are using.
Food Safety Tips
- Before cooking, wash your hands and countertops.
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food that has touched raw meat.
- Always wash your hands after touching raw meat.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Keep those pot/pan handles turned in away from the front of the stove.
- When cooking at high temperatures, use oils with a high smoking point, to avoid harmful compounds.
- Ensure you have good ventilation when cooking on gas.
- Put foods in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours of cooking. Reduce this to within 1 hour if it is 90 degrees or hotter outside.
- Safely thaw food in the fridge, under cold running water, or in the microwave.
- To ensure food is cooked through, it's best to use a food thermometer. Be aware that you can’t always tell by looking.
Cook to safe temperatures:
- Beef, Pork, Lamb: 145 °F
- Fish: 145 °F
- Ground Beef, Ground Pork, Ground Lamb: 160 °F
- Turkey, Chicken, Duck: 165 °F
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Bowl
- Tongs
- Meat Thermometer
Ingredients
- 2 pounds frozen chicken wings
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place frozen wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer, but don't overcrowd the basket. No need to add oil or seasonings yet.
- Air fry at 350°F for 15 minutes, or until soft and defrosted.
- NOTE: If you have larger full wings, they might be slightly frozen in the middle still, but that's fine, they will defrost fully and cook during the next cooking stages.
- Remove the wings with tongs and place them into a bowl. If defrosting liquid has collected in the bottom of your air fryer basket, pour it out into the sink.
- Add the oil and seasonings to the bowl of wings and stir to coat.
- Increase the temperature of the air fryer to 380°F, return the wings to the air fryer basket, and cook for another 10 minutes.
- Flip the wings over with tongs, and cook for a further 5-10 minutes* or until cooked through (the internal temperature at the thickest part reaches 165 °F) *NOTE: The cooking time will depend on the size of your wings. Flats and drumettes might only need 5 minutes, but full wings may need 10 minutes.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors, so is not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietician for special diet advice.
Maayke
I was looking for party appetizers and these air fryer chicken wings look amazing! Thank you for sharing.
Savita
It was a total hit in my family, so easy yet delicious. Great Recipe!!
Ned
I love chicken wings! These crisped up really nicely in the air fryer and had amazing flavor. Thank you!
Rachna
The frozen chicken wings came out so well in the air fryer. They are so convenient.
Tamara
My kids really loved this!! Thanks so much for the recipe - it was so easy to cook them without thawing first!