How To Cook Frozen Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer for the Big Game
Want to know how to cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer? It is surprisingly simple!
In fact, it has never been easier to make this sports day classic in the comfort of your own home. If you are the one hosting for the big game, wings are a great, affordable way to feed your guests.
Before air fryers, wings were a difficult delicacy to cook at home, requiring a huge frying operation that splattered half your kitchen with oil — or a hefty bill (plus tip and delivery fee) from a specialty wing shop. But air fryers offer a low-stress, low-cost way to get your game day wings right at home.
Air fryers are also a great method when you need to cook your wings in a rush. Other methods require you to defrost the wings before you can even start cooking. (Which, let’s face it, not all of us think that far ahead!) Only air fryers can take a wing from completely frozen straight to crispy and delicious!
And the best news? New Yorkers can get wings delivered straight to your door with FreshDirect.
What You’ll Need To Cook Frozen Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
Chicken wings have a pretty straightforward ingredient list. All you need is:
A neutral cooking oil spray with a high smoke point. Vegetable oil, peanut oil, or an equivalent.
Your preferred sauce or dry rub to toss in.
Depending on the brand of wings you prefer, they may come with a sauce on the side, or you may have to buy sauce separately (or make your own).
How To Cook Frozen Chicken Wings in an Air Fryer
Thanks to the magic of the air fryer, chicken wings are an exceptionally straightforward and mostly hands-off recipe. You can make them in just a few steps:
Spray the basket with a neutral oil of your choice, then add your frozen wings in a single layer. Leave some space between each wing so they can crisp properly.
Set your air fryer to 400 F. Cook for 9 to 10 minutes to defrost.
Move the wings to a clean mixing bowl and toss them in salt, pepper, and any other dry seasoning you want. Check the basket and remove any excess water that may have accumulated during defrosting.
Place the wings back in the basket. Then, air fry them at 400 F for 10 to 12 minutes.
Use a cooking thermometer to ensure your wings have reached an internal temperature of 165 F (always test in the thickest part of the wing because that is where the meat cooks the slowest). Air fry them more as needed, 3–5 minutes at a time, if they are not quite done.
Put your wings in a clean mixing bowl and toss in your sauce of choice.
How To Account for Different Types of Wings
Everyone has their own preferred type of wings: boneless, bone-in, breaded, or just crispy-skinned. Depending on what kind of wings you’re making, you may need to make a few adjustments to the recipe.
The above recipe is for raw, bone-in, skin-on wings with an accompanying sauce, but there are many ways to enjoy your wings. Depending on the kind of wings you’re making, you may need to make a few adjustments to the recipe.
If you’ve planned ahead and your wings are already defrosted, you can skip Step 2, and proceed directly to tossing them in salt and pepper.
You can also reheat frozen, premade wings by following Steps 1 and 2, then seasoning them with salt and pepper and tossing them in sauce.
As a general rule, breaded boneless wings need a few more minutes to cook and thaw than their bone-in counterparts. Check with your thermometer during Step 4 to see how they’re doing after 10 minutes; if they’re not done, toss them in for another five.
If you plan to apply a dry rub instead of a sauce, add it with the salt and pepper in Step 3 before your second fry rather than afterward.
Tips for Cooking Perfectly Crispy Chicken Wings
When air frying your frozen chicken wings, be sure to pay attention to the following points to ensure they cook properly.
Don’t Overcrowd Your Air Fryer Food needs a little breathing room to cook properly, especially if you want it to crisp up. Do not fill the air fryer wall to wall or dump multiple layers of wings on top of each other. You may have a uniquely sized air fryer, but the average can fit about 12 to 16 wings at a time. If you are cooking for a large crowd, you will probably need to cook multiple batches.
Flip the Wings While Cooking
While some recipes leave it up for debate, in general, it’s recommended to flip your wings halfway through the frying process. Experience with your individual air fryer and preferred chicken will tell you which way is best. If you’re in doubt, go ahead and flip those wings.
Don’t Use Sauce in the Air Fryer
When it comes to the air fryer, avoid premade frozen wings that are already sauced. The sauce is likely to burn in the air fryer, and the additional moisture will cause the skin to come out rubbery instead of crispy. Many premade chicken wings come with the sauce separately to avoid this exact issue.
Give Your Wings an Extra Five Minutes if Needed
If you cooked your wings as directed but they have not reached the correct internal temperature, it is safe to air fry them for an additional five minutes without any worries.
Dig In to Game Day-Ready Wings
With an air fryer and a bag of frozen wings, great game day food is always within reach. This simple method delivers crispy, juicy chicken wings without the mess, cost, or planning ahead that other methods require.
Whether you’re hosting friends, feeding the family, or just craving wings on a busy night, this recipe makes it easy to go from freezer to table in minutes!
