Frozen chicken wings in the air fryer work wonders because you are short on time but you still can get crispy, juicy chicken wings with a ton of flavor from frozen to cooked!

I have chicken wings on the menu for my next meal as we speak. They are delicious and by chicken being so bland they adapt to any flavor you throw at it. When you think of frozen chicken wings in the air fryer it sounds odd. It’s like how will they cook properly? Oddly they come out very well from frozen. I think it’s the magic of the air fryer honestly!

Ingredients Needed

Chicken! Grab some frozen chicken wings from your local grocery store or freezer. That’s the easy part. The hard part will be how do you want them to taste? A basic dry rub, buffalo style or maybe a little creative like garlic parmesan.

Why An Air Fryer

I know if you tried to do this recipe in a baking sheet it would be a hot mess. But, the air fryer has that basket and that is why I believe it works so well. Not only is it convenient but that air circulation is a great technology. In the case of frozen chicken wings the water falls over leaving the chicken dry in order for the skin to crisp up.

How To Make Frozen Chicken Wings In Air Fryer

To start, grab the frozen chicken wings. You’ve been working all day you didn’t have time to take them out, no worries! I will handle it from here.

Now, place the chicken wings in a preheated air fryer basket. Don’t overcrowd them. I have a small air fryer so I can’t fit much into mine. If you overcrowd them they wont cook evenly or get good circulation.

Cook for 5 minutes, flip them then repeat for another 5 minutes. This will get the frost off on the outside so that you can now season the wings.

Then, close the air fryer back and cook for 12 minutes one side. Flip then repeat. Now, some people like their wings on the juicier side some on the harder side. Adjust the time cooked for those variations.

Helpful Recipe Tips

Don’t worry about the water that will pool in the bottom. This won’t effect your chicken wings because they aren’t in contact.
The best time to season the chicken is when the frost has melted. Otherwise, the seasoning and spices will just roll off on the sides with the water as it begins to melt.
Never stack the chicken! This is counterproductive because the chicken won’t cook evenly and it will effect the crispiness of the ones in contact with one another. You’ll notice the parts that were alone and not touching anything will be crispy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you cook precooked frozen wings in an air fryer?

This is just as easy! Simply use the same method but skip the 10 minute thawing process in the beginning. That portion isn’t needed because the chicken wings are already seasoned.

Should I thaw chicken wings before air frying?

This entire post is to help and prevent you from having to do that. You do not have to thaw them first but they do have to be thawed in order to be seasoned.

Why aren’t my chicken wings crispy?

More than likely you overcrowded them in the air fryer. This can happen in any method of cooking. The food needs space. I have cooked several frozen chicken wings in the air fryer and they always come out crispy so moisture isn’t the issue. Of course, patting the skin dry can help but it isn’t the end all, be all. Make sure your temp is high enough and be sure to give those chicken wings space to breathe in there. Also be sure to cook long enough. If you’re a person who like chicken wings on the juicier side they will be far less crispy than someone who likes theirs a little harder or drier.

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