how long to cook frozen wings in air fryer

Air fryer frozen chicken wings are super crispy, fast and make the perfect appetizer or game day snack!

air fryer chicken wings on a plate next to celery and blue cheese

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If you are new to the air fryer, I guarantee that it will soon become your favorite obsession! The air fryer cooks up all kinds of delicious food quickly and to crispy, crunchy perfection! And, cleaning your air fryer is a breeze (pro tip: clean after each use)!

If you are looking for delicious and crispy crunchy appetizers for football season or all year round, be sure to check out my Air Fryer Tater Tots, sweet and savory Bacon Jerky and Air Fryer Pizza Rolls!

Why this recipe works

Air fryer chicken wings are super crispy!
You can use precooked frozen chicken wings or raw frozen chicken wings and then add delicious seasonings or sauces once they are done cooking. Check out my ultimate sweet and spicy Wing Sauce. It is hands down the BEST!
Cooking frozen chicken wings in the air fryer let's you toss directly from the freezer without having to worry about messy defrosting!

Ingredients for this recipe

Frozen Chicken Wings: There are many variations of frozen chicken wings such as wings, drumsticks, frozen raw, precooked, breaded and pre-sauced. Tyson frozen chicken wings are also a great choice and available at most grocery stores. It is important to remember that the frozen chicken wings that you choose will affect your cooking time.
Sauce or Seasoning of Choice:You can sauce or season your wings with your favorite dry rub or chicken wing buffalo sauce. My personal favorite is my sweet and spicy Chicken Wing Sauce! I also include instructions on how to make regular buffalo sauce as well.

How to cook frozen chicken wings in air fryer

cooking frozen chicken wings in air fryer process shots 1 through 4

Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.
Put frozen chicken wings in air fryer in a single layer. For crispiest wings, it is best to give them a little room.
Cook for approximately 10-15 minutes on first side. A precooked frozen chicken wing will be closer to 10 minutes.
Flip each frozen chicken wing.
Note: If cooking raw frozen wings, if there is significant moisture in the fryer basket you can drain it. Be careful not to burn yourself or cross contaminate with raw chicken juice. Some air fryer models and sizes may not require draining so you will learn what works best for your air fryer model.
Cook for another 10-15 minutes. Again, a precooked chicken wing will be closer to 10 minutes.
Check your air fryer frozen chicken wings for desired crispiness and make sure they are cooked through. FDA recommends internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.
Place air fryer chicken wings in large bowl and add any desired sauces or seasonings.

Tips for air fryer frozen chicken wings

Important: Not all frozen wings cook the same. You will need to adjust your cook time based on the following cooking variables:

Air fryer model and size of fryer basket
Size of chicken wings
Whether chicken wings are raw, precooked, breaded or pre-sauced.
How many wings you are cooking (I recommend 1 single layer for maximum crispiness).

Don't crowd your basket! Chicken wings need room for the air fryer to circulate air producing that delicious crispiness!

Flip your wings halfway through. Use tongs and be safe.

Make sure your air fryer is clean. A dirty air fryer can get cause unwanted smoke.

If cooking fresh or raw wings, versus precooked chicken wings, FDA recommends cooking all poultry to minimal safe internal temperature of 165° F (74° C).

Frozen wings: Depending on your air fryer, you may need to drain liquid halfway through cooking process. Frozen wings tend to be wetter than precooking wings and as the chicken defrosts, the water will drip to the bottom which can prevent the wings from getting fully crispy. When you stop halfway to flip, you can carefully drain any excess moisture into the sink (be careful to avoid cross contamination with raw chicken juice).

Sauces and Seasonings for Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Seasoning: After wings are done cooking, place wings in large bowl and sprinkle with seasonings or your favorite dry rub. A side of Bang Bang Sauce is also delicious for dipping!

Sauces: After wings are done cooking, place in large bowl and toss in wing sauce. An extra trick is to let them cook for an additional 1-2 minutes in the air fryer and then sauce then again. That adds some extra caramelization and saucy goodness!

How to clean air fryer

(1) Clean after each use: This will make your air fryer cleaning much easier in general as you won't have to work as hard to clean off residue, sauce and grease.

(2) Always unplug and allow to cool before cleaning your air fryer.

(3) Using a paper towel, hand wipe any crumbs out of the air fryer basket and pullout drawer.

(4) You can also use a paper towel to hand wipe any excess grease from the air fryer basket and pillow drawer.

(5) Clean with warm soapy water: Be sure to she a soft non abrasive sponge or cloth. You don't want to harm the non stick surface.

(6) Use a toothpick to poke out any food stuck in holes of basket.

(7) Clean inside of air fryer: Set basket and drawer you the side. Again, issuing damp sponge or cloth dipped in warm soapy water, gently wipe inside clean. Check heating element for any excess debris.

(8) Wipe exterior with damp sponge or cloth.

FAQ and expert tips

How long do you cook frozen wings in the air fryer?

Cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer on 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes or more. Cook time depends on many variables including: (1) fryer model and size of fryer basket; (2) Size of chicken wings; (3) Whether chicken wings are raw, precooked, breaded or pre-sauced; and (4) How many wings you are cooking (I recommend one single layer for maximum crispiness).

Should I thaw chicken wings before air frying?

You do not have to thaw chicken wings before air frying. You can cook frozen chicken wings in the fryer straight from the freezer. If you do thaw your chicken wings before air frying it will decrease your cooking time.

How do you cook Tyson frozen chicken wings in air fryer?

You cook Tyson frozen chicken wings in the air fryer on 400 degrees for approximately 20 minutes, flipping half way through the cooking process.

Can you put Tyson frozen wings in the air fryer?

Yes, you can put Tyson frozen wings in the air fryer. Cook Tyson frozen wings on 400 degrees for approximately 20 minutes, flipping half way through the cooking process.

Are Tyson chicken wings precooked?

Yes, Tyson chicken wings are precooked. However, it is recommended to double check your packaging. FDA recommends cooking all poultry to minimal safe internal temperature of 165° F (74° C).

Can you stack chicken wings in an air fryer?

Yes, you can stack chicken wings in the air fryer. However, it is best to cook then in a single layer for maximum crispiness. If you do stack them, be sure to flip them periodically throughout the cooking process to assure that wings are evenly cooked.

Are air fried chicken wings healthy?

Yes, air fried chicken wings are healthier than the deep fried version. The air fryer allows air to circulate around the chicken wings while cooking producing a delicious and crispy skin without the need for excess oil.

Looking for other delicious snacks, appetizers or air fryer recipes?

Pizza Rolls in Air Fryer
Air Fryer Tater Tots
Candied Bacon Jerky
Healthy Cucumber Bites with Southwest Shrimp and Avocado

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air fryer chicken wings on a plate next to celery and blue cheese

▢
Air fryer

▢ 6-8 frozen chicken wings
▢ Buffalo sauce (optional)

Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees.
Put frozen chicken wings in air fryer in a single layer. For crispiest wings, it is best to give them a little room.
Cook for approximately 10-15 minutes on first side. A precooked frozen chicken wing will be closer to 10 minutes.
Flip each frozen chicken wing.
Note: If cooking raw frozen wings, if there is significant moisture in the fryer basket you can drain it. Be careful not to burn yourself or cross contaminate with raw chicken juice. Some air fryer models and sizes may not require draining so you will learn what works best for your air fryer model.
Cook for another 10-15 minutes. Again, a precooked chicken wing will be closer to 10 minutes.
Check your air fryer frozen chicken wings for desired crispiness and make sure they are cooked through. FDA recommends internal temperature of at least 165 degrees.
Place air fryer chicken wings in large bowl and add any desired sauces or seasonings.

Important: Not all frozen wings cook the same. You will need to adjust your cook time based on the following cooking variables:

Air fryer model and size of fryer basket
Size of chicken wings
Whether chicken wings are raw, precooked, breaded or pre-sauced.
How many wings you are cooking (I recommend 1 single layer for maximum crispiness).

Internal Temperature: FDA recommends cooking all poultry to minimal safe internal temperature of 165° F (74° C).

Air Fryer Chicken Wing Quick Tips:

Don't crowd your basket! Chicken wings need room for the air fryer to circulate air producing that delicious crispiness!
Flip your wings halfway through. Use tongs and be safe.
Make sure your air fryer is clean. A dirty air fryer can get cause unwanted smoke.

Tyson Frozen Chicken Wings (Pre-Cooked): Preheat air fryer 400 degrees. Cook on 400 degrees for approximately 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Sauces and Seasonings:

Seasoning: After wings are done cooking, place wings in large bowl and sprinkle with seasonings or your favorite dry rub.

Sauces: After wings are done cooking, place in large bowl and toss in wing sauce. An extra trick is to let them cook for an additional 1-2 minutes in the air fryer and then sauce then again. That adds some extra caramelization and saucy goodness!