Air Fried Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
An Easy Game Day Delight
Air Fried Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings are a delicious and easy snack that take no time to cook and very little prep.
These Air Fried Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings are so simple to make that I am actually having a difficult time hitting my word limit for this recipe! I suppose I could paint you a mind picture…
Imagine that you’re sitting in front of the TV, watching your favorite team. It’s the last quarter and they’re up by enough for you to feel confident enough that they’ll probably win but not by so much the game will be boring.
Next to you is a plate of Air Fried Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings. You take a bite into the crispy skin and the juicy delicious chicken hits your mouth right while your team scores another touchdown, guaranteeing the win.
Or if you don’t like sports, you can imagine an amazing poolside cookout on a mellow summer evening. These wings are for anyone!
Now that we’ve set the stage and made you hungry, it’s time to get cooking.
The wings require very simple ingredients. You will need: chicken, kosher salt, pepper, white sugar, spray oil of your choice, and an air fryer.
They cook up nice and crispy in less than ten minutes and they are perfectly delicious, every single time.
The “Right” Wings
It is important to get the right wings for this recipe. I get the smaller sized wings which I have a hard time finding anywhere but Whole Foods Market.
A few years ago I heard wings described as Flats and Drums. I had never heard this term before.
Once I heard it, it made perfect sense. I prefer the flats and Mr. Tipsy prefers the drums. If I am cooking just for me, Whole Foods Market will just pick the flats for me from the mix of drums and flats.
If you get the larger wings and drums, the cook time will be different. Just to note that these are the small (two to three bite) wings.
The Importance Of Waiting
In the full/printable recipe below, there is a step where you season the wings with the salt, pepper, and sugar and then you let them sit out on the counter for twenty minutes.
This allows the skin to season and dry out and will create a much crispier skin that doesn’t require actual frying. The sugar in the seasoning also helps the skin caramelize and you will see a much better flavor and texture.
Do You Need to Buy an Air Fryer?
It seems like everyone has an air fryer these days because they’re always taking about the stuff they like to make in them!
That’s why it’s easy for me to forget that there are still people who haven’t entered the cult… I mean club of air fryer owners!
If you’re looking to buy an air fryer for a household of two, I’ve found this GoWise air fryer to be perfect. If you have a bigger family, consider this larger GoWise option.
*Both of those links are affiliate links, so if you use them I will receive a small commission but it doesn’t cost you anything extra.*
At the end of the day, it’s up to you but be aware you can even make sweet potatoes in the air fryer, if that helps you decide.
Plain Is Best
These wings have SO much flavor that I do not feel the need to add a sauce to them. One the other hand, the seasoning on this is simple enough, that if you want to add a sauce, it also comes out delicious.
You can either dunk your wings in the sauce of your choice or brush the sauce on during the last few minutes of cooking.
Full and Printable Recipe Below
Air Fried Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
These air fried wings come out perfectly crispy and perfectly seasoned every time. The beauty of this recipe is that it takes no time at all to prep and very little time to cook. We love them with the basic seasoning but these wings will pair well with any sauce you would like to add.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs of wings (both the flats and the drums)
- Kosher Salt
- Black Pepper
- 1.5 tablespoons of white sugar
- Spray Oil (we used avocado oil)
- 2 tablespoons of thinly sliced chives
- Dipping Sauce or Dressing Of Your Choice
Instructions
- Pat your wings with a paper towel until the are very dry on all sides.
- Season your wings on all sides generously with kosher salt and black pepper, the sprinkle the white sugar all over the side that has the skin.
- Let the wings sit out on a plate, on the counter for 20 minutes.
- Pre heat your air fryer for 12 minutes at 370 degrees.
- After your wings have rested on the counter, spray them lightly with the spray oil of your choice.
- Add them carefully to your air fryer and cook at 400 degrees for about 8 - 10 minutes. Every air fryer is different, so check your wings halfway through cooking. They may need more time or less time. You will know they are ready when the skin is golden brown and crispy.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, or eat them on their own.
*If you do not have an air fryer you can bake these on a sprayed baking sheet that’s been lined with foil. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.
**If you like a sauce baked on, you can brush your wings with your favorite sauce, 3 minutes before they are done cooking.
For Another Great Air Fryer Recipe, check out these Air Fried Avocado Tacos.
