Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Spicy Asian Glaze

A delicious air fryer chicken wings recipe with a spicy Asian sauce that’s easy to make and absolutely irresistible. You can also toss these in a classic buffalo wing sauce if you prefer.

*This post is sponsored by SunButter, a sunflower seed spread that works great for allergy-safe cooking and baking. Thanks for supporting the brands that help keep recipes like this running.

The Best Air Fryer Chicken Wings

At first, my air fryer was mostly for roasting vegetables, especially Brussels sprouts. But once I started experimenting with chicken, everything changed. Air-fried chicken legs and wings become satisfyingly crisp without deep frying, and these wings are no exception.

You can serve the wings simply seasoned with salt and pepper straight from the air fryer, or toss them in a flavorful sauce. While a classic buttered buffalo sauce is always a crowd-pleaser, this spicy Asian-style wing sauce is a favorite: tangy, slightly sweet, spicy, and nutty — similar to a peanut sauce but allergy friendly when made with sunflower seed butter.

These wings are great as a shared appetizer or as a main course alongside a salad or roasted vegetables. The air fryer crisps the skin in a way that rivals traditional frying, but without added oil, and the sauce elevates the wings into something memorable.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

• The air fryer crisps chicken skin much like deep frying, but without the extra oil.
• It works well as an appetizer to share or a satisfying main dish served with sides.
• The Asian wing sauce uses sunflower seed butter for a rich, nutty flavor that’s allergy friendly and blends tangy, sweet, spicy, and salty notes for a balanced finish.

How to Cook Chicken Wings in an Air Fryer

Cooking wings in an air fryer is straightforward. The key to extra-crispy skin is removing surface moisture and using a light dusting of baking powder. The baking powder pulls out moisture and helps the skin turn golden and crisp.

Step 1: Pat the wings dry with paper towels or let them sit briefly at room temperature to lose surface moisture. Season lightly with sea salt and black pepper, then sprinkle with baking powder to help crisp the skin.

Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 390º F (about 200º C) for 5 minutes. Place the wings in the basket in a single layer if possible, then cook at 390º F for 15 minutes. Turn or move wings as needed for even browning.

The Best Tangy Asian Wing Sauce

This Asian-style wing sauce is easy to make from simple, clean ingredients and pairs perfectly with the crisp wings. It’s rich and slightly nutty from sunflower seed butter, bright from rice wine vinegar, and has a touch of sweetness and heat.

Step 3: Combine the sauce ingredients in a small skillet and whisk over medium heat until smooth. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil for a couple of minutes, then remove from heat. The sauce will thicken as it cools, so avoid over-reducing it.

Step 4: Toss the hot wings in the warm sauce until evenly coated. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions if you like, and serve immediately for the best texture.

The secret ingredient in this sauce is sunflower seed butter, which gives it a peanut-like flavor while keeping it nut-allergy friendly. It blends beautifully with coconut aminos or tamari, honey, sriracha, rice wine vinegar, ginger, and a splash of water to create a balanced sauce that clings to the wings.

Questions about Using an Air Fryer

How long to cook chicken wings in an air fryer? Cook wings at a high temperature (390º F) for about 15 minutes for juicy meat and a crispy exterior.

Can I cook frozen chicken wings in an air fryer? Yes. Increase the cooking time to about 25 minutes and flip the wings after 15 minutes so both sides crisp evenly.

Do I need wing sauce? No. The wings are delicious with just salt and pepper. Use bottled sauce if you prefer, a teriyaki glaze, or this Asian-style sauce. You can also season wings with simple herbs and lemon for a lighter option.