Frozen Chicken Wings in Air Fryer (No-Thaw Recipe)

Mouthwatering, last-minute dinners are possible with frozen chicken wings in the air fryer!

With the air fryer, you can whip up crisp and juicy chicken wings in just 30 minutes. 

After you whip up chicken wings, give air fryer sausages and biscuits a try next!

Frying frozen chicken wings with the air fryer? Yes, it’s possible! And the results are pretty impressive.

These air fryer chicken wings are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and seasoned perfectly.

Not sure how to do it? Don’t worry, I’m sharing everything you need to know to cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings

In case you haven’t hopped on board the air fryer train just yet, let me convince you!

The air fryer is a magical kitchen appliance that lets you crispy fry foods without oil.

And if you think the absence of oil will yield subpar results, these chicken wings will surely debunk that myth!

These wings are perfectly golden brown with crispy skins, juicy meat, and all that jazz.

The best part, perhaps, is that it all gets done in less than 30 minutes!

You won’t even need to defrost the chicken before you can begin.

So, to sum up, with the air fryer, you can deep-fry foods impeccably, without oil, and do so in no time.

What are you waiting for? Get yourself an air fryer today!

What You’ll Need to Cook Frozen Chicken Wings

• Frozen Chicken Wings – For this recipe, I used frozen, uncooked chicken wings.
• Oil – This isn’t essential, but I like coating my chicken with just a bit of oil for extra crispy skin.
• Garlic Powder, Salt, and Pepper – To season the wings.
• Sauce – For coating the wings. Use any sauce that tickles your fancy!

How to Cook Frozen Chicken Wings in Air Fryer

1. Defrost the frozen chicken wings.

Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket and set the timer for 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once defrosted, drain the air fryer’s bottom tray. Otherwise, your chicken wings won’t crisp up as well.

Note: This part is not a requirement. You can cook the wings in the air fryer even when they’re completely frozen. 

I only defrost the wings beforehand because I like to season them with salt and pepper before cooking. 

2. Season the defrosted wings. 

Place the chicken in a large bowl and toss them with oil and seasonings. Be sure they’re coated well!

Skip this step if you’re air-frying the frozen wings directly. 

3. Air fry the chicken wings.

Put the seasoned wings back in the basket, making sure they’re not overlapping.

Cook the wings for 10 to 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Flip them over halfway through so they cook evenly on both sides.

For unthawed, frozen chicken wings: air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Stick a meat thermometer into the thickest part of a wing to check for doneness. Cooked chicken has an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Coat the wings with your favorite sauce.

BBQ, honey garlic, butter parmesan – take your pick. 

5. Serve and enjoy!

How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken Wings in Air Fryer

In general, frozen chicken wings will take 20 to 25 minutes to cook in the air fryer.

However, there are several dependencies, so it’s hard to come up with one singular answer.

The first determining factor is how your air fryer brand operates. Some air fryers run stronger than others. 

Next is the size and thickness of the wings. The thicker and larger they are, the longer they’ll take to cook.

Last is how crispy you want the skins to be. For extra crispy wings, add 1-2 minutes to your timer.

All things considered, the best way to know exactly how long to cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer is to do a test batch.

For Fully Cooked Frozen Wings

Some brands already cook the chicken wings before freezing. In this case, air fry the wings for 15 to 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Apply the same temperature and cooking duration for cooking breaded or sauced frozen wings.

Tips and Tricks

• Your air fryer won’t work properly if you overcrowd the basket. If there’s not enough space for the hot air to circulate, your chicken won’t crisp up. Cook in batches if you have to.
• Don’t forget to drain the liquid that accumulates at the bottom of the air fryer after you defrost the chicken. If not removed, that liquid will keep the chicken from crisping up.
• Be sure to flip the chicken wings over halfway through cooking. This guarantees even cooking.
• You don’t technically have to defrost the wings beforehand. You can air fry the wings even when they’re frozen. I only do it because I like to season my wings before they cook.
• Don’t season the wings while they’re frozen. The seasonings will only get drained along with the liquid. 

The Best Sauce for Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings

The best sauce is whatever your favorite sauce is! Whether it’s BBQ, buffalo, honey garlic parmesan, or Asian, as long as you like the sauce, you won’t go wrong.

Whichever one you pick, be sure to toss the wings well so that every nook and cranny is covered in sauce!

More Air Fryer Dinner Recipes You’ll Love

Air Fryer Ribs

Air Fryer Salmon

Air Fryer Frozen Shrimp

Air Fryer Quesadillas

Air Fryer Pizza Rolls