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Air fryer chicken wings with a crispy seasoned coating, ready in about 20 minutes. This small batch recipe makes just enough for one serving.
Featured Comment
Love this recipe!…The wings came out so crispy and delicious! New dinner favourite.”
– LB
Quick Look
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 18-20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Equipment: Air fryer
- Cook Method: Air fry
- Servings: 1
- Difficulty: Easy
- Flavor Profile: Savory and well-seasoned with crispy, golden skin and tender, juicy meat underneath.
A single serving air fryer chicken wings recipe with a simple spice rub, ready in about 25 minutes with almost no cleanup.
Why I Love These Air Fryer Chicken Wings
I make these air fryer chicken wings at least twice a month. All you need is six wings, one bowl of seasoning, and 20 minutes in the air fryer.
The baking powder in the spice rub is what makes them work. It draws moisture out of the skin so it crisps up and turns golden brown in the air fryer.
We tested the ratio of baking powder to seasoning until the skin came out crunchy and golden without any chalky aftertaste. A half teaspoon of baking powder for 6 wings is the number.
The spice blend gives you a warm, savory flavor that holds up on its own or tossed in your favorite wing sauce. And the air fryer circulates heat around each wing so you get that deep-fried crunch without heating up a pot of oil.
This recipe makes a single serving of wings. Everything fits in one air fryer basket with room to spare. If you’re feeding two, double the recipe and cook in two batches.
Toss them with my homemade barbecue sauce, dip them in a small batch of ranch dressing or a small batch of blue cheese dressing, or eat them straight out of the basket.
If you like how fast the air fryer makes these, try my air fryer chicken thighs for one, air fryer pork chop, or air fryer shrimp for one.
Ingredient Notes
Here’s what you need for this single serve air fryer chicken wings recipe and how each ingredient works. If you have ingredients leftover, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
Chicken wings: About 6 wing sections, split into drumettes and flats (sometimes sold as “party wings”). Pat them completely dry with paper towels before seasoning. Moisture on the skin is the biggest enemy of a crispy wing.
Baking powder: A half teaspoon mixed into the spice rub raises the pH of the chicken skin, which helps it brown faster and crisp up in the air fryer. Use aluminum-free baking powder. Regular baking powder can leave a metallic aftertaste on the wings.
Avocado oil spray: A light spray on the air fryer basket keeps the wings from sticking. You can use canola or olive oil spray instead. You only need enough to coat the basket, not the wings themselves.
Garlic powder: Adds a savory base to the rub without the moisture that fresh garlic would bring. Fresh garlic can burn at air fryer temperatures.
Onion powder: Works with the garlic powder to build a deeper savory flavor.
Paprika: Gives the wings their warm color and a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Swap in smoked paprika if you want a smokier wing.
Cumin: Adds an earthy, slightly smoky warmth that rounds out the garlic and paprika.
Oregano: Brings a subtle herby note that balances the garlic and cumin. Dried oregano works best here since it distributes evenly in a dry rub.
Salt and black pepper: These are the backbone of the rub. Use fine ground black pepper so the peppercorns don’t burn at air fryer temperatures.
Recipe Variations
These air fried wings are easy to customize with a sauce after cooking or a different seasoning before air frying.
Buffalo wings: Toss in buffalo sauce from our single serving buffalo chicken tenders recipe after cooking.
BBQ wings: Brush cooked wings with 2 tablespoons of your favorite store brand or homemade barbecue sauce.
Garlic Parmesan: Toss cooked wings in 1 tablespoon melted butter, 1 clove minced garlic, and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese.
Creole wings: Skip the spice rub and season with 1 teaspoon of our small batch Creole seasoning before air frying.
Honey Sriracha: Mix 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon Sriracha, ½ teaspoon soy sauce, and a squeeze of lime juice. Toss cooked wings in the sauce.
Lemon pepper: Season with 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning and a pinch of salt before air frying.
How To Air Fry Chicken Wings For One
Cooking chicken wings in an air fryer takes about 20 minutes at 390°F. Here’s how to get crispy air fryer chicken wings every time. Scroll down for the full recipe card with exact measurements.
- Pat the wings dry. Remove the chicken wings from the packaging and pat them completely dry with paper towels. Place them in a medium bowl.
- Mix the seasoning. In a small bowl, stir together the baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
- Season the wings. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the wings and toss until every piece is evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer. Set it to 390°F and preheat for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Prep the basket. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil spray. Arrange the wings in a single layer with space between each piece so air can circulate.
- Air fry the chicken wings. Cook at 390°F for 10 minutes. Flip each wing, then cook for another 8 to 10 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crunchy and the juices run clear when you cut into the thickest part of a drumette.
- Rest and serve. Let the wings rest for 2 to 3 minutes before serving. Toss in your favorite sauce or enjoy them with the dry rub.
No air fryer? Bake at 425°F on a wire rack set over a baking sheet for 40 to 45 minutes, flipping halfway.
Expert Tips
Pat the wings completely dry. This is the single most important step for crispy skin. Use paper towels and press firmly to remove as much surface moisture as possible.
Use baking powder, not baking soda. They look the same but baking soda will leave a bitter, soapy taste on the wings. A half teaspoon of baking powder for 6 wings is all you need.
Don’t crowd the basket. Leave space between each wing so hot air can circulate around every piece. Overcrowding causes the wings to steam instead of crisp.
Flip halfway through. Flipping each wing at the 10 minute mark gives you even browning on both sides.
Wing size matters. Smaller wings (flats especially) can be done in as little as 16 minutes total, while larger drumettes may need up to 22 minutes. Flip at the halfway mark and start checking for doneness after the flip.
Add a touch of sweetness. Mix ⅛ teaspoon of brown sugar into the dry rub before coating the wings. It helps with browning and adds a subtle caramelized flavor without making the wings taste sweet.
Troubleshooting
If your air fryer chicken wings aren’t turning out quite right, here is how to fix common issues like soggy skin, uneven cooking, or dry meat.
Why are my air fryer chicken wings not crispy?
The most common cause is excess moisture on the skin. Pat the wings completely dry with paper towels before seasoning. Make sure you’re using baking powder in the rub and leaving space between each wing in the basket so hot air can circulate.
Why are my chicken wings sticking to the air fryer basket?
Spray the basket with oil before adding the wings. A light coat of avocado oil spray on the basket (not the wings) prevents sticking. Arrange the wings in a single layer without overlapping.
Why are my air fried chicken wings cooked unevenly?
The wings are too close together or different sizes. Flats cook faster than drumettes because they’re thinner. Pull the flats out early if they’re getting dark and give the drumettes a few extra minutes.
What do I do if my chicken wings are done outside but still pink near the bone?
Lower the temperature to 360°F and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes. Pink near the bone is common with drumettes because the meat is thicker there. The juices should run clear and the meat should pull away from the bone easily.
Can I fix rubbery chicken wing skin?
The wings didn’t get hot enough. Make sure your air fryer is preheated to 390°F before adding the wings. If the skin is still rubbery after the full cook time, increase to 400°F for the last 2 to 3 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these crispy air fryer wings as a snack, appetizer, or full meal. Try them with:
- Small Batch Loaded Deviled Eggs
- Small Batch Hot Spinach Dip
- Mac and Cheese For One
- Small Batch Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts
- Air Fryer Baked Potato
Frequently Asked Questions
Cook chicken wings at 390°F for 18 to 20 minutes total, flipping halfway through. Smaller wings (flats) may be done in 16 minutes. Larger drumettes can take up to 22 minutes. The wings are done when the skin is golden brown and the juices run clear. The USDA safe internal temperature for chicken wings is 165°F.
390°F is the best temperature for crispy air fryer chicken wings. Preheat the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes before adding the wings.
For the best results, thaw chicken wings completely before air frying. Frozen wings hold extra moisture that prevents the skin from crisping and causes uneven cooking. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then pat dry before seasoning.
Pat the wings completely dry, add baking powder to the seasoning, and cook in a single layer with space between each wing. Baking powder raises the pH of the skin so it browns and crisps faster. Overcrowding the basket traps steam and makes the skin soft instead of crunchy.
Yes. Double the seasoning and cook the wings in two batches. Keep the wings in a single layer for each batch so they crisp evenly. The cook time stays the same per batch.
Store cooled wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes until crispy again. Skip the microwave. It makes the skin soft.
Yes. Flip the wings halfway through cooking for even browning on both sides. Without flipping, the side touching the basket stays pale and soft while the top over-browns.
More Air Fryer Recipes For One
If you like how quick the air fryer makes these wings, try a few more of our single serving air fryer recipes.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this air fryer chicken wings recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen, let us know how you liked it by rating the recipe and leaving a comment below.
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Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 chicken wings split into flats and drumettes
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon cumin
- ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- avocado oil spray
Instructions
- Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels and place them in a medium bowl.
- In a small bowl, mix together the baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
- Sprinkle the seasoning over the wings and toss until every piece is evenly coated.
- Preheat the air fryer to 390°F for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil spray.
- Arrange the wings in a single layer with space between each piece.
- Air fry at 390°F for 10 minutes.
- Flip each wing and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crunchy and the juices run clear.
- Let the wings rest for 2 to 3 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Love this recipe! I didn’t add cumin and substituted paprika with smoked paprika. The wings came out so crispy and delicious! New dinner favourite
I’m so excited you made an air fryer recipe! I use my air fryer all the time, especially in summer when it’s too hot to heat up the house with my oven.
I’m so glad you’re excited—we are too! I’ve heard from so many readers who love using their air fryers, especially during the warmer months, so we’re definitely planning to add more air fryer recipes to the site soon. Stay tuned!
Do you add the baking powder to the seasonings?
Yes, mix the baking powder with the seasonings.
Sounds good! Can I make these in the oven?
Yes. Bake them at 425ºF for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway.
Happy to see you are using the air fryer 👍for some of your recipes
Yes! Watch for more coming soon.
Good recipe.
Thank you!