Football season is in full swing, and that means bringing on the piled-high plate of savory, crispy, juicy, and aromatic air fryer salt and pepper chicken wings. It doesn’t get any better than meaty wings perfectly seasoned with just a bit of kick.
Nothing satisfies as much as that first bite of crunchy skin and succulent meat you get from a perfectly cooked chicken wing. Eats like these Sweet Chili Wings are always the right answer. They’re festive enough to entertain with, but when you make them in the air fryer, they are easy enough for any night of the week. Throw in a side of sweet potato fries, and you have an event!
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings Recipe
- Ingredients
- Flavor Variations
- Instructions
- Hint
- Storage
- What to Serve with Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
- Tips for the Best Crispy Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
- More Delicious Chicken Wings Recipes
- Frequently Asked Questions
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love This Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings Recipe
- Simple Process - Unlike some chicken wing recipes that might have you breading and frying or smoking and then frying, these get tossed with the seasonings and cooked up in the air fryer.
- Texture - Skip the mess and hassle of frying and get that same crispy skin while keeping it healthy and easy. These wings give you that perfect balance of the crunch you crave and tender, moist meat.
- Minimal Ingredients - When you start with quality chicken wings, it doesn’t take much to allow them to shine. You probably already have most, if not all, of the seasonings for these Cajun chicken wings in your pantry. Part of the reason they’re so easy to make is they don’t require any complicated ingredients. Win/Win!
Ingredients
- Springer Mountain Farms Chicken Wings - This American Humane Certified chicken is responsibly raised on family farms and is free of antibiotics and hormones. They are fed a 100% U.S.-grown diet. You can taste the quality in every bite!
- Cajun Seasoning - Every blend is a little different but will give you that kick of cayenne, savory bite of garlic and onion, and herbaceous pop of thyme.
- Salt - Enhances all of the natural flavors of the ingredients.
- Garlic Powder - Complements the garlic in the Cajun seasoning and adds even more depth of flavor.
- Parsley - Gives a fresh note that balances the kick.
- Olive Oil - Not only does this help the spices adhere to the chicken wings, but it also helps the skin get extra crispy.
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Seasonings: Play with your favorite seasonings to create different kinds of chicken wings.
- Spicy: Add some cayenne or red pepper flakes to the seasoning blend for a kick of heat.
- Boneless: Use chicken breast chunks for boneless chicken wings.
Instructions
1: Preheat the air fryer to 390 degrees and lightly brush the basket with olive oil.
2: Toss the wings in a large bowl with the olive oil and seasonings until evenly coated.
3: Place the chicken wings in an even layer, making sure they don't overlap. Then, cook them for 10 minutes.
4: Flip the wings and cook them for another 8 to 10 minutes until crispy and the internal temperature is 165 degrees.
Hint
It's important to lightly coat the basket with oil, otherwise the skin on your wings will stick.
Storage
Refrigerate these wings for up to 4 days in an air-tight container or resealable bag. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible.
To reheat the wings, defrost them if frozen. Then, bring them to room temperature an air fry them at 390 until the skin is crisp again.
What to Serve with Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
Wings are classic party food, so serve them with your other favorite party snacks. They're great with fire-roasted salsa and chips, avocado lime crema with chips, or sweet potato fries with Bic Mac dressing.
Tips for the Best Crispy Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
- Because there is no acid in the spice mix, you can toss these in the spices and olive oil earlier in the day and then cook them later. Just cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap or transfer them to an airtight container and keep them refrigerated until ready.
- Use gloves when mixing your chicken to make it easy to clean and keep it mess-free.
- Make sure not to stack the chicken wings on top of each other in the air fryer basket. You want them spaced out so the air can circulate around them and evenly cook and crisp them up. If they overlap, part of the wings will steam instead of be brown.
- The size of your chicken wings and the air fryer will affect the cooking time. Always cook to a temperature of 165 ℉, and do not go just by time.
More Delicious Chicken Wings Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
The heat of Cajun seasoning depends on the brand. Some are hotter than others, but in general, they're not excessively hot.
Yes, you can. Be aware that you'll have to cook the wings in batches.
Wings reheat very well in the air fryer. Cook them for 3 to 4 minutes, giving the basket a good shake about halfway through cooking. The time needed depends on the size and thickness of the wings.
Lots of people think air fryers don't need preheating, but in reality, it's one of the best ways to ensure even cooking and proper cooking time. It only takes about 5 minutes, so why not do it?
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📖 Recipe
Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings Air Fryer
Equipment
- Internal Themometer
Ingredients
- 12 Springer Mountain Farms Chicken Wings
- 2 ½ tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Parsley
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 390 ℉
- Use a pastry brush to lightly brush olive oil into the air fryer basket.
- Add the chicken wings to a large bowl along with the olive oil and seasonings. Toss to combine, making sure the wings are fully and evenly coated.
- Place the chicken wings in an even layer in the air fryer basket making sure they don’t overlap.
- Allow them to cook for ten minutes.
- Flip the wings and allow the second side to cook for another 8-10 minutes or until their internal temperature is 165 ℉ and they’re crispy.
Notes
- Because there is no acid in the spice mix you can toss these in the spices and olive oil earlier in the day and then cook them later on. Just cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap or transfer them to an airtight container and keep them refrigerated until ready.
- Use gloves when mixing your chicken to make for easy cleanup and keep it mess-free.
- Make sure not to stack the chicken wings on top of each other in the air fryer basket. You want them spaced out so the air can circulate around them and evenly cook and crisp them up. If they’re overlapping, part of the wings will steam instead of brown.
- Both the size of your chicken wings and the air fryer will affect the cooking time. Always cook to temperature, in the case of chicken wings 165, and do not go just by time.
JC says
Using the air fryer made these so easy -- and so good!
Juyali says
Easiest recipe ever. And my family finished them in no time. So good!
Criss says
I made these salt and pepper chicken wings in the air fryer, and they came out so crispy and flavorful! Such an easy and quick recipe for a perfect snack or game day treat.
Oscar says
Love these wings especially with the cajun seasoning. Definitely a keeper, thanks for the recipe.
Elizabeth says
Loved this wing recipe! Perfect for game day hosting!
Leslie says
Simple, easy, and all around a good recipes! This is a staple in our house and we cannot get enough of it!
NKendrick says
So happy to hear that! Thank you!
nancy says
I love air fryer chicken wings. this classic salt and pepper really hit the spot
Nisha says
I am always looking for air fryer recipes and love how simple and tasty this seems to be . Definitely going on my to-try-out list. Thanks for sharing!
Tiffany says
My kids love anything with cajun seasoning on it so these are a hit! I also love that I can have the protein of a dinner ready so quickly! Thank you
Gloria says
Chicken wings are so addictively good. I love the simple seasoning. Crispy skin perfection.