Frozen chicken wings in air fryer recipe
Make delicious and crispy frozen chicken wings in the air fryer. No thawing required - a quick and easy meal idea!.
Servings: 3 servings
Ingredients
- Avocado oil spray for the air fryer basket
- 1 lb cut-up frozen chicken wings raw and uncooked
- ½ tsp coarse sea salt
- ¼ tsp garlic granules or powder
- ⅛ tsp ground black pepper plus more for garnish
- 1 tbsp olive oil
[Optional] Ranch yogurt dressing
- 3 tbsp Japanese Kewpie mayo
- 2.5 tbsp unsweetened Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- A touch ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add frozen wings to the basket: Spray the air fryer basket with a thin layer of avocado oil. Add the frozen chicken wings directly into the basket, ensuring some space between each piece. Do not overcrowd, or the wings won’t fry evenly and will be soggy.
- Air fry: Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 10 minutes to defrost the wings. This stage is to semi-defrost.
- Season the wings: Open the air fryer basket and transfer the wings to a large mixing bowl. Season with salt, garlic granules, black pepper, and olive oil. Toss to coat evenly.
- Remove excess liquid: If there's any liquid at the bottom of the air fryer basket from defrosting, discard it. Place the seasoned wings back in the basket.
- Second fry: Air fry again at 400°F (200°C) for 12 minutes.
- Temperature check: Use a digital thermometer to check the internal temperature of the wings. The thickest part (without touching the bone) should reach at least 165°F (74°C). If not, air fry for an additional 5 minutes.
- [Optional] Ranch yogurt sauce: In a small bowl, combine the mayo, Greek yogurt, milk, soy sauce, and a touch of black pepper. Stir until creamy and smooth.
- Plating and serving: Transfer the cooked wings to a serving plate. Sprinkle more black pepper on top for garnish. Serve hot, with the ranch yogurt sauce or your favorite dipping sauce on the side.
Video
Notes
- This recipe (time and temperature) also works for whole chicken wings.
- Air fry straight from frozen—no need to thaw.
- To reheat leftovers, air fry at 360°F (182°C) for 15 minutes.
- Key tips for air frying frozen proteins:
- No thawing needed—cook directly from frozen.
- Place the wings in a single layer with space between each piece. Avoid overcrowding.
- The first air fry cycle is to defrost the wings.
- Season after the first fry so the spices stick better to the wings.
- A second fry will crisp up the wings and ensure they reach a safe internal temperature.
- Always check the internal temperature with a digital thermometer before serving.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 265kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.2g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 447mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 0.04g | Sugar: 0.01g | Vitamin A: 120IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg