Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings cook up amazingly crispy and juicy without deep frying. Then they’re tossed with a spicy buffalo wing sauce that can be made mild to hot, depending on your taste preference.
Want more ways to get your buffalo wing fix? Be sure to try my Buffalo Potatoes, Buffalo Chicken Chili and Buffalo Cauliflower Bites!
I grew up just about an hour South of Buffalo, New York and I have definitely consumed my fair share of Buffalo Wings.
We would eat them every Friday night…
Everyone in town had their opinion on who made the best hot wings in town. In our house, the wings almost always came from The Cherry Lounge. But, I’ve never actually been there… Being that it was a “lounge” and I was in high school, I was never actually allowed in. So, my mom would just get a to-go order and bring them home for us.
I love them super spicy, and they have to be served with icy cold celery sticks and blue cheese (not ranch dressing).
PS – Never order boneless wings in the vicinity of Buffalo, New York. It’s just not a thing.
The traditional wings are always served on the bone, and it’s up to you whether you prefer the drumettes or the wingettes. I tend to grab the drumettes because they’re easier to eat, but the wingettes seem to have a lot more flavor.
You can also make whole wings, which will have the drum and wing attached together. The cook time will remain the same.
Even though our wings came from The Cherry Lounge in Jamestown, New York, the best chicken wings, in my opinion, are from Guppy’s in Bemus Point, NY. Guppy’s was owned by my Aunt Sally and Uncle Mike and theirs were always the best. Crispy and spicy, with just the perfect kiss of butter. They’ve since sold the restaurant, but I was back a few summers ago and I have to say that the wings are still amazing.
My favorite wing sauce is simple, and it’s always been the authentic way to make buffalo wings – using Frank’s Red Hot Sauce and butter. I also add in a dash of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco.
As you probably guessed, the authentic way to make buffalo wings has always been to deep fry them, but I’ve discovered that you can make chicken wings just as crispy in the Air Fryer, plus it saves some calories, meaning that you’ll feel a little less guilty about the aforementioned butter/Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. You can also make baked buffalo wings.
This easy recipe results in extra crispy wings that are the perfect appetizer for game day entertaining. But they’re so good, that you’re going to want them at least once a week!
Favorite tips for making crispy air fryer buffalo wings
- Pat your wings dry with paper towels before adding them to the air fryer. This helps get them extra crisp.
- Spray the Air Fryer basket with olive oil spray before adding the chicken. It helps prevent sticking and the tiny bit of oil makes the wings extra crisp.
- There’s no need to preheat your Air Fryer. Just turn it on and go!
- It helps to cook your wings in a single layer if you have room. If not, you can work in batches. You can also overlap the wings, they just won’t be as crispy.
- Start the wings at a lower temperature and then increase the temperature for the last 5-15 minutes to get them extra crispy. The total time will vary depending on how big your wings are.
- Shake the basket throughout the cooking process to help the chicken wings brown more evenly.
Customize your homemade buffalo sauce
Have fun creating your own buffalo sauce to suit your tastes. Here are some starter basics:
How to make mild buffalo wing sauce
- Use 8-ounces Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, 8 tablespoons butter, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco.
How to make medium buffalo wing sauce
- Use 12-ounces Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, 6 tablespoons butter, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco.
How to make spicy buffalo sauce
- Use 14-ounces Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, 4 tablespoons butter, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco (or cayenne pepper).
Not a buffalo sauce fan? You can also toss your wings in this homemade bbq sauce. Or, make lemon pepper wings by tossing your wings in lemon pepper seasoning before adding them to the air fryer. You can also oil your wings and apply a dry rub mixture like this cajun seasoning or Italian seasoning.
Or, here are 25+ more wing sauce recipes to try!
FAQ
Yes! You’ll honestly never believe these wings weren’t fried in the deep fryer. They are some of the most crispy chicken wings I’ve ever tried! The hot air circulating around the wings is what makes them so crisp. This is the type of Air Fryer I have.
The cooking time for chicken wings in the air fryer is 30-40 minutes.
Yes! The air fryer is great for cooking wings. They become deliciously crispy in about 30 minutes.
Yes! To make air fryer chicken wings from frozen, begin cooking the wings for 10 minutes at 350 degrees, to help them thaw. Then, give them a toss then increase the temperature to 380 degrees and follow the recipe below.
Spray the air fryer basket with a little oil and cook at 400-degrees for 5-10 minutes, until heated through and crispy.
You don’t need to thaw chicken wings before air frying. To cook chicken wings from frozen, begin cooking the wings at a lower heat (350-degrees) for 10 minutes. Then increase the heat and continue cooking.
It’s best to sauce your wings after air frying so that the sauce doesn’t burn. Plus, your air fryer will stay cleaner this way. When the wings finish cooking, add them to a bowl and toss them with the sauce.
Air fried chicken wings are much healthier than deep fried wings. Because they are not cooked in oil, they have less fat and calories.
Tools used for making air fryer buffalo wings
- Air Fryer
- Paper Towels – Used to blot the wings dry before adding them to the air fryer basket.
- Tongs – I use these when tossing the wings with the buffalo sauce.
- Large Bowl – Perfect for making your buffalo sauce and big enough to toss those wings in.
Wine pairings for buffalo wings
- To tame the heat of these buffalo wings, look for a wine with a hint of sweetness. Riesling and Gewurztraminer make great options.
- Even though I usually give wine pairings, I’d also suggest pairing a light beer, like a pilsner with these buffalo wings.
More Air Fryer recipes:
- Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts
- Air Fryer Chinese Chicken Wings
- Green Bean Fries
- Air Fryer Pork Belly
- Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
- Air Fryer Falafel
- Air Fryer Shrimp
- Air Fryer Zucchini Fries with Dipping Sauce
More Buffalo wing recipes:
- Buffalo Chicken Chili
- Buffalo Tofu Bites
- Buffalo Wing Sauce
- Crispy Baked Buffalo Wings
- Buffalo Smashed Potatoes
Did you try this Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe?
If you thought these were tasty wings I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.
For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.
What to serve with them
- Vinegar Slaw
- Fried Ravioli
- Instant Pot Mac & Cheese
- Potato Salad
- MORE —> 35+ BEST sides for wings
Buffalo wing dipping sauce recipes
Want a yummy dipping sauce for your wings? Try one of these:
- Blue Cheese Dressing – my favorite dipping sauce for wings, hands down!
- Homemade Ranch Dressing
- Chipotle Crema
- Cilantro Lime Crema
Air Fryer Buffalo Wings Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings (about 20 separated wings & drumettes, or 10 whole chicken wings)
- Cooking spray
Medium Buffalo Wing Sauce:
- 12 ounces Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
- 6 Tablespoons butter (melted)
- Few dashes Worcestershire sauce
- Few dashes Tabasco
Instructions
- Pat wings dry with paper towels.
- Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Place chicken wings in basket and cook at 380 degrees for 25 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes. After 25 minutes, increase the temperature to 400 degrees and cook for 5-15 minutes longer. Shake every 5 minutes and begin checking for doneness at 5 minutes. Remove when the wings are crisped to your liking.
- While the wings are cooking, combine the Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, butter, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
- When the wings are finished, dump them into the mixing bowl with the sauce and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
More appetizer recipes:
- Baked Goat Cheese Appetizer
- Filet Mignon Bites with Creamy Horseradish Sauce
- Pimento Cheese Arancini
- Vietnamese Chicken Wings
This recipe was originally published in 2018. It was updated in 2022 to add new content. The original recipe remains the same. Enjoy!
I didn’t know you grew up on the east coast!! That’s so cool 🙂 I also love a good buffalo wing! I’ve been reading all about these air fryers lately- I’m trying to convince Drew to purchase one. Maybe with your code it will sway his choice! Those wings look amazing!!
Thanks Rachel! Yes, I’m an East Coast girl, but definitely a West Coast girl at heart (minus the lack of Buffalo wings!).
Hey Erin! I was looking for a good air fryer recipe for Buffalo wings and came across this one. I will be trying it out tonight. I am originally from an hour south of Buffalo also – Sardinia. I haven’t found anywhere I’ve traveled that has wings as back home!
I agree Scott!!!
My Great Grandfather was Justice of the Peace in Sinclairville in the ’60s.
Been to Jamestown & Bemus Point (swimming) several times growing up.
Great wing recipe !! Thankfully an Anchor Bar franchise opened up here in Kennesaw, GA last fall. Go Bills !!!
Loving our air fryer lately and chicken wings are amazing in them!! My kids aren’t keen on buffalo sauce but we have a good friend who grew up in Buffalo and is a total stickler for buffalo sauce, so I will have to make this for him and surprise him! 🙂
Awesome! What are some of your favorite air fryer recipes Marlynn?
I don’t even have an air fryer, but this post is making me SOOO hungry for some wings. Wings have a soft spot in my heart.
Me too Ben – Totally!
I love buffalo sauce but I have never made my own! I really should as these look amazing.
You definitely should! It’s so easy and delicious too!
I’ve never heard of an air fryer before, and it sounds too good to be true!
I’m still testing it out Catherine, but it worked absolutely perfectly for these wings!
These wings looks so amazing! You would never know that they weren’t fried!
Yes!!! They are absolutely so crispy with the air fryer, plus less fat!
This recipe for Air Fryer wings came out perfectly for me! They were so crispy and flavorful!
So happy to hear that! I’m in love with this recipe!
This recipe does look amazing! I’ve used my air-fryer to cook steaks and it’s almost too easy. It sears them on the outside and perfectly cooked on the inside, dependent upon the timing. Thank you for this great recipe!
Thanks Marv – I attempted steaks in the air fryer once but didn’t love the way they turned out. Any tips?
When I was younger(don’t want to mention ages here), we use to go to BJ’s in Fredonia, NY, about 45 miles south of Buffalo. Those were the best wings ever! They offered $.10 wings and $.50 Molsons beer on Wednesday. I would always order 100 wings, play foosball while waiting and my share of beer. We would eat half the wings and take the rest home to enjoy later. The difference in their wings was they baked them after applying the sauce. Oh so good! Not the dripping wet wings you see everywhere now.
I love that tip Jerry! I grew up about a half hour from Fredonia but never made it to BJ’s. I may have to check it out on our next trip out there!
Wow this looks great. I want to try the vietnamese style ones you have as well. Using the air fryer to “fry” chicken is probably one of my favorite uses of the one we have at home.
I’m with you on trying the Vietnamese ones in the air fryer Joe! I’ve been wanting to give that a try for some time now!
These were so yummy. My husband, brother in law, sister and I all agreed these were better than Buffalo Wild Wings and my brother in law was ready to head back to the store for more chicken so I could make more, haha. Phenomenal
Yay! I’m so glad you liked them!
Hello Erin! Santa brought me my 1st air fryer. My very first recipe? Your buffalo wings. OMG so good my wife and kids loved them! So good my wife said theres no need for me to go to Hooters for wings ever again! 🤣☹ Keep up the great work!
I’m so happy to hear that you and the family liked them. Happy Holidays!
I would love the recipe for the Vietnamese ones please
Here you go. Vietnamese Chicken Wings
Do you have a recommendation on a particular wing sauce to use?
I purchased an air fryer this past weekend…My first dish was buffalo wings…AMAZING!! My second dish was country style spare ribs and they were delicious as well. My highlight of the day is figuring out what to experiment with next….I love my new gadget!
I’m so happy you’re loving your Air Fryer Tracy!
Try French fries!
Recipe is wonderfull – to kick them up a notch, after cooking and coating, I put back in the fryer for five minutes, followed by a second dousing of sauce – sometimes I add timari and spice wjen flipping.
Just got a new air fryer and chicken wings are definitely on the list to make! One thing I’ve heard but never tried is to mix cornstarch into the sauce. The idea is that the residual heat in the wings causes the cornstarch to thicken the sauce so it sticks better.
I love the Jamestown nod! Miley’s rivaled the Cherry for a little bit though. Using this today in my new air fryer.
Hi,
Did you use the Franks orgingal or the buffalo wing sauce? Not sure if there is much of a difference. Looking for a mild flavor.
Hi Helen – I use the Franks original. Hope that helps!
Thank you for this post! We are trying ours out tomorrow. Should the vent be open or closed?
I relocated fron New York to Atlanta. Wings are not great down here. Either the sauce has a funny taste or the wings are fatty and under cooked. The wings come out so crispy with your directions. The mild Buffalo sauce is a medium heat, perfect with a nice flavor. My only complaint is that the Buffalo sauce is too salty. Could it be from me putting in too much tobasco or Worcestershire sauce? It would have been a 5 star recipe for me if it wasn’t too salty.
I am making these today for the CHIEFS game! Will post Instagram pics when done. I am loving the air fryer my wife got me for Christmas. This will be my first crack at wings, thanks for the recipe; I am looking forward to them!
The BreakTime on Buffalo Street had the best wings. I live in Virginia now and if I don’t make them myself I have to go home to get them! Thanks for the tips on the air fryer. I was given one but, haven’t tried it out yet.
Very nice recipe I love airfryer chicken wings but with your recipe I am going to cook them by myself this time thanks for sharing it.
What wings do you buy?
Loved reading your story! I am from Buffalo so it was nice to hear your story. Can’t wait to try these tonight!!!
I hope you love them Michele!
Amazing! Best at home wings ever!
I’m so glad you liked them Lori!
Amazing! Best at home wings ever!!! Crispy and delicious- my kids gave them excellent reviews! Wish I had made more!
I’m so happy to hear that Lori – Thanks for the feedback!
Thank you for this buffalo wing air fryer recipe! I am here in buffalo ny and you are so right about everyone having thier favorite place! Pizza and wings is and always has been a favorite in our home. I have been following a low caeb diet and was looking to still get my wings without all the fat and grease. These are amazing and my house smells like a pizza parlor! Thank you!~ jenn
You are so welcome Jenn!
What size air fryer basket do you use for 2 lbs wings? Can’t wait to try 😋
Hi Marie – My air fryer was large capacity.
Perfect Wings!! I have the air fryer with trays so I had two trays going. Not sure how much meat there was. I cooked for 12 minutes and then switched tray levels. Cooked for 12 more, then flipped the wings over. Turned up to 400, baked for 5, switched rows and then for another 5. I did flip them one more time at and put in for additional 3. Perfecto!!
I’m so glad you liked them Melissa!
Am I missing something or is the serving size missing? The nutritional information is useless without a serving size.
There are 4 servings in this recipe and each serving is about 5 wings. Hope that helps.
Hey neighbor! Frewsburg girl here! Thanks for the recipe! Just getting the hang of my new air fryer!
Hi Kim – Thanks so much for stopping by!
Can’t wait to try this with our pasture-raised chicken wings! I would ONLY trust a recipe from someone from SW New York. No one here in Florida knows how wings are supposed to be! 🙂 Never had Guppy’s, but French Creek Tavern wings were my standard, being from the Jamestown area myself. Thanks!
You are welcome Alyson – Enjoy!
I’m from Jamestown! And the French Creek Tavern wings are extraordinary!
This is so awesome!! I’m from Jamestown!!! I was so excited to see this! I was just looking for a recipe for chicken wings for my new air fryer and when I saw Cherry Lounge mentioned I was super excited!!! They are cooking right now! Go Jamestown! (I live in Denver now.)
Cheers Mark! I hope you loved them!
I just got an air fryer 2 days ago and have been cooking EVERYTHING in it and I can’t wait to try these wings out! You can’t EVER have to many wings!
I agree Carl – I hope you enjoy!
Have these in the air fryer. Wish me luck
Good luck Payge!
These wings are a family favorite. We have them at least once a week. I wish I had a bigger air fryer though. Thank you for such a fantastic recipe
I’m so happy that you liked them!
Love the Air frying recipe and the Frank’s Red hot….have used the Frank’s recipe since 1985 when I cooked for”Never on Sunday’s” in PA. I also make my wings with my homemade peach mango habernaro sauce
That habanero sauce recipe sounds amazing Bear!
Is the calorie count for the entire two pounds of wings and the sauce?
I was very encouraged to find this site. I wanted to thank you for this special read. I definitely savored every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post.
Unbelievably easy, incredibly tasty, and easy clean up. These are literally as good as our favorite local wing place.
I’m so glad you liked them Robert!
Trying them today for the first time. They’re pretty good. I added garlic powder to the sauce. DELICIOUS !!!
I’m so glad you liked them Jose!
Looks like a great recipe, going to try tonight. Just a minor correction, we never call chicken wings a “Buffalo Wing” or the sauce Buffalo sauce. Nor sure how that ever came to be but definitely didn’t come from a Buffalonian. They are just chicken wings and if you want them traditionally prepared, its just called hot, medium or mild.
I agree Craig. That’s what we called them as well. But you see, for SEO purposes (so my recipe will show up on Google) I have to call them “Buffalo Wings” since that’s what people search for when looking for a recipe. 🙂 🙂
I am from buffalo ny and recently moved to the west coast. The wings out here are atrocious. I decided to give your recipe a try and I was amazed! So delicious! I’ll just make my own wings from now on!
I’m so glad you liked them Kelly!
Hello, I’m hoping to make these tomorrow, they look great. I’m just curious, do you have to thaw the wings or can you cook them frozen? Didn’t see that referenced anywhere. On the bag it says they can be cooked frozen but I didn’t know if that was across all cooking methods. Please let me know, if you could!
Haha, I’m an idiot, I glanced right over the “frozen” section of your post. So sorry about that.
Amazing hot wing recipe! My family and I had for dinner tonight and it was perfect!! Thank you!
I’m so glad you liked it!
Making these for the Super Bowl today! Thanks so much. Making Blue Cheese dressing as well.
Going to pair them with a local IPA. Will have to try a Pilsner next time. Salud!
This recipe is enuf for me to get rid of the air fryer quick before i use it. An oven is faster and easier.
First thing I tried in my air fryer. Perfection! Thanks
I’m so glad you liked them Cheryl!
I live in Buffalo also and I have had some really good wings from everywhere. That doesn’t stop me wanting to make them myself without deep fat frying. I used a Mealthy Air Fryer with my Instant Pot. This recipe is amazing and made the best wings I have ever made at home. What makes this recipe different is the temperature change mid-recipe and I think that makes it a game-changer in terms of results. The sauce is convention and what most restaurants follow..We will be having these again. At home. For sure. Thank you!
I’m so happy you liked them Annie! I made them again this week too! And we have more wings stashed in the freezer for next week. My favorite comfort food!
My husband loves chicken wings, I cannot eat ANY chicken on the bone so I have no experience in making it ever or know how it should taste. Just made the wings and they were “crispy and phenomenal” so says my husband. He loved them. So easy to make that I thought this isn’t going to go well. I literally texted everyone I know and shared your recipe!! 10 STARS!! I can hear him on the phone telling his friends as I type this.
I’m so happy they were a hit Jazz!
I’m from Gowanda, so it was super awesome to see another “grew up just about an hour South of Buffalo, New York” post! My wife and I got an air fryer for our wedding and these are happening tonight. I definitely chose your recipe because of all of your spot-on WNY rules (always blue cheese, never boneless wings). That, and now my wife can’t wait to try your blue cheese. Thanks for bringing a little Buffalo to us in the New Mexico desert!
You’re welcome Delaney! I hope you love them!
Getting my first air fryer ASAP,…living in Raleigh for decades and even with all the transplants here still struggle with the wing situation. Grew up in Jamestown as well,…Aardvarks on 2nd St in Falconer was the place for them when I was a teen.
I hope you love it Matt!
I really like my air fryer, it’s easier and healthier than deep-frying and this recipe is perfect. Keep up the good work !!
Thank you 🙂
Wow. I too, am formerly from Buffalo and have been searching for a way to make authentic Buffalo wings. I bought an air fryer because of all the hype, and failed time after time to make a decent batch of wings. All I got were slimy chicken pieces that wouldn’t hold sauce. So I used the fryer solely for making french fries.
I followed this recipe word for word using frozen wings and got real, true, authentic, wonderful Buffalo wings. I cannot thank you enough. Finally, my decades long ambition of being able to make wings at home without drowning the kitchen in oil has come true. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I’m so glad you found the recipe helpful Dave! Cheers.
Greetings from across the pond in the UK. I had no idea about what made an authentic Buffalo Wing, but I kept seeing Franks in my local supermarket and have been having a hankering to try Buffalo Wings.
Already owning an air fryer and a deep fryer (which I try to avoid using, except for making proper beer-battered fish and chips) I thought this recipe might finally allow me to taste something close to authentic without having to pay to cross the big water (visiting your shores and eating my way across, up and down is on my bucket list).
Hot damn have I been missing out! First time I did it with some skinless boneless thighs as it’s what I had available (sacrilege I know)…decent albeit a bit overcooked (oops!). Can’t fault Franks, its so tasty that I even had it on some grilled cheese the next morning. I made up some decent blue cheese dip with some nice stanky blue stilton.
Second run will be tonight with some skin-on bone-in thighs (again, what I have available) and I strongly suspect the increased meatiness and skin will result in something even more delicious.
Thank you for this recipe and cementing the USA as somewhere I have to visit as a food destination!
These were excellent! I spent a year close to Buffalo, and know what good wings taste like. It’s been 30 years since I’ve been there and I’ve been searching ever since for good, authentic wings here in Pennsylvania. I got an air fryer in December and I’ve tried three different recipes. None lived up to my expectations. Today, I tried this recipe and I was not disappointed! They turned out excellent and my family is still raving about them. Thank you!
That’s so exciting to hear Christine! Thank you!
I’m so excited about trying this recipe today. Question re: butter – should I use salted or unsalted butter in the recipe? Thanks!
Hi Devyani – I would use unsalted butter so that you can better control the salt level. Enjoy!