Extra-crispy air fryer chicken wings

Air fryer chicken wings

The baking powder trick that gets wings genuinely shatter-crisp without a drop of frying oil.

A teaspoon of baking powder raises the skin’s pH and helps it dry out and blister. It sounds like nonsense until you try it side by side. Use baking powder, not baking soda, or they will taste metallic.

Total time29 min
DifficultyEasy

Ingredients

Serves 4 · tap to check off

  • 1kg chicken wings, split
  • 1 tsp baking powder (not soda)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Hot sauce or dry rub, to finish

Method

  1. Dry. Pat the wings bone dry, then toss with the baking powder, salt and garlic powder.
  2. Air fry low. Cook at 250°F for 12 minutes to render the fat out of the skin.
  3. Air fry high. Turn up to 400°F for 12 minutes more, shaking once, until blistered and deep gold.
  4. Toss. Toss in sauce straight from the basket and serve immediately.
Test-kitchen tip

The low-then-high two-stage cook is the whole recipe. The first stage renders the fat, the second crisps the skin.

Cosori 13 QT 11-in-1 Air Fryer Oven (CAF-R121)
MADE WITH
Cosori 13 QT 11-in-1 Air Fryer Oven (CAF-R121)
Our #15 rated oven · 8 / 10
5.0
★★★★★
2 ratings

Made it? Rate this recipe

Tap the stars and leave a note for other cooks.

★★★★★Better than the oven

Faster and crispier. Not sure why I would go back.

Tom H. · Jul 2026
★★★★★Worked first time

Followed it exactly and it came out spot on. Straight into the regular rotation.

Alison K. · Jul 2026

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