When you want a delicious buffalo wing but don’t want it to take forever, the air fryer comes to the rescue! For this Air Fryer Buffalo Wings recipe, we start with frozen wings and end up with perfectly crispy, juicy wings tossed in a homemade buffalo sauce we whip up while the wings are busy cooking in our air fryer. They’re great for a snack or a meal! Do you have more forethought than me and are using thawed wings? We’ve got directions for that too!
Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
Don’t let anyone tell you that good buffalo wings have to be complicated to make. They really don’t. Go pick up a big bag of frozen wings from your favorite grocer (we love to grab them from Costco) and you’re 3/4 of the way there already.
Spoiler alert, I didn’t even THAW these before I cooked them.
It doesn’t get much easier than that!
Our brand-new Everything Rub would be perfect for the seasoning blend on these wings.
The trick to seasoning your wings if you’re cooking them from frozen though is to WAIT until they’ve cooked for 5-7 minutes and thawed. Then you toss the wings in the bacon fat and sprinkle liberally with the rub.
If you are using thawed wings, toss them in the bacon fat and season on all sides before placing in the air fryer.
Why you’ll love this dish…
- Easy to Prepare: No fuss, quick and easy cooking method for fast snacks or new cooks!
- Big Flavor: The homemade buffalo sauce is better than anything you can get in a bottle, and so easy to make!
- No Thaw Method: This is the easiest thing, ever. No prep required. Just dump frozen wings in the air fryer basket, cook for a few minutes, then toss with bacon fat or beef tallow, season, and continue cooking until crisp!
Get all of my Air Fryer Recipes here!
Buffalo Wings shopping list
Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Chicken wings
- Bacon fat
- OWYD Everything Rub
- Salted butter
- White vinegar
- Hot sauce
Try our Old Bay Buffalo Sauce too!
How to make Buffalo Wings in the Air Fryer
Wondering what you’re getting yourself into when you make this dish? Here’s a quick overview of the process! Make sure you follow the instructions at the recipe card at the bottom of the post while you’re cooking.
If frozen:
- Cook the wings at 400°F for 5-6 minutes.
- Toss in bacon fat, season, and then return to the air fryer.
- Continue cooking, flipping midway, until your desired level of crispy is reached.
If thawed:
- Toss the wings in bacon fat. Season liberally with the rub.
- Place in the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes at 400°F.
- Flip, and cook another 10-15 minutes.
Try our Cholula Buffalo Sauce!
Air Fryer Buffalo Wings FAQ
Can this recipe be made in advance?
Wings are best cooked right before they will be eaten, but you can precook them if you have to.
What’s the best way to reheat leftover wings?
I like to reheat my wings right back in the air fryer.
Are there any suggested substitutions or additions?
Sure! You can use any type of rub you have on hand if you haven’t picked up a jar of our Everything Rub yet. You can also use pre-made Buffalo Sauce (we like the Frank’s brand), and really any type of fat to sub in for the bacon fat. We’ve used beef tallow (delicious) successfully, but in a pinch I’ve also just brushed lightly with avocado oil.
Don’t like buffalo? Try our Sweet Chili Sauce!
Serve this with…
- Homemade Bleu Cheese
- Smoked Mac and Cheese
- Green Salad with Greek Freak Dressing
More great chicken recipes to love!
More Chicken Wings To Try…
Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
Ingredients
Wings
- 2 pounds chicken wings
- 2 tablespoons bacon fat
- 4 tablespoons OWYD Everything Rub
Buffalo Sauce
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- 1/3 cup hot sauce
Instructions
If Thawed
- Carefully melt the bacon fat and toss the uncooked chicken wings in the fat.
- Sprinkle with the Everything Rub on both sides and place into the air fryer in a single layer. You will likely have to work in batches, depending on the size on the air fryer.
- Cook on 400°F for 10 minutes. Flip the wings over and cook for another 10-15 minutes, or until the skin reaches your desired level of crispness.
If Frozen
- Place the frozen wings in the air fryer.
- Cook at 400°F for 5-6 minutes.
- Carefully remove from the air fryer and toss in the melted bacon fat and season liberally with the rub.
- Return to the air fryer and continue cooking at 400°F for another 15-20 minutes, or until they have reached your desired level of "crisp".
- While the wings are cooking, prepare the buffalo sauce.
Make Sauce
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat and whisk in the vinegar and hot sauce.
- Simmer for 5-10 minutes and then remove from heat.
- Toss the cooked wings with the fresh buffalo sauce and serve hot with carrot and celery sticks.
Tools & Equipment
Nutrition
Nicole Johnson
Nicole Johnson, a self-taught expert in grilling and outdoor cooking, launched Or Whatever You Do in 2010. Her blog, renowned for its comprehensive and creative outdoor cooking recipes, has garnered a vast audience of millions. Nicole's hands-on experience and passion for grilling shine through her work. Her husband, Jeremiah Johnson, also plays a pivotal role in recipe development, adding his culinary flair to the mix. Together, they form a dynamic duo, offering a rich and varied outdoor cooking experience to their followers.