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–+ servings
air fryer buffalo wings with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks
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5 from 19 votes

Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

These air fryer buffalo wings are crazy fast and super easy, and they’re some of the best hot wings you’ll ever try.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time2 hours
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 476kcal
Author: Kaitlin

Equipment

  • air fryer (can also make these in the oven; see note)

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds chicken wings (16-18 whole wings, yielding 32-36 flats and drumettes)
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 stick butter (melted)
  • 1/2 cup Frank's hot sauce
  • 1/2 cup Ken's chunky blue cheese dressing
  • 3 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese or gorgonzola (optional)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • If desired, rinse your chicken wings under cold water. Pat them dry with paper towels, and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Be sure to disinfect your sink and countertops afterwards!
  • Season with the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and black pepper. There’s no added salt, because the Frank’s is plenty salty. Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or as long as overnight.
  • Air fry the wings in batches at 400°F (200°C) for 22-25 minutes. 25 minutes will get them crispy, while 22 minutes yields a juicier but slightly less crisp wing. I was able to fit 16-18 wings in my air fryer. Keep the finished wings warm on a sheet pan in a warming drawer or oven set to 170°F while you air-fry the remaining wings. You can also just cook and toss the wings in batches, and serve them up as they are ready!
  • While the wings cook, whisk together the melted butter and Frank’s hot sauce until you have an emulsified sauce.
  • If you’re doctoring your blue cheese dipping sauce, combine the Ken’s blue cheese dressing with the crumbled blue cheese or gorgonzola cheese.
  • When the wings are ready, transfer them to a big mixing bowl (we use a large stainless steel bowl), and pour over the sauce, tossing them with a wooden spoon or tongs. Wear an apron, as they can splatter a bit as you toss them! If needed, you can do this in batches so they are easier to toss. Serve with the blue cheese sauce.

Video

Notes

Oven Instructions: Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C, and position a rack in the center of the oven. After marinating, transfer the wings to a sheet pan lined with non-stick foil or parchment paper. Bake on the center rack for 25-35 minutes until golden brown, rotating the pan once at the halfway point. Then toss in the sauce and serve.  
Alternative homemade blue cheese dressing:
  • 4 ounces/110g blue cheese
  • ½ cup/120g sour cream
  • ¼ cup/55g mayonnaise 
  • 1 large garlic clove, grated
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional) 
  • 2 tablespoons/30ml heavy cream, whole milk, or buttermilk
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper 
Crumble the blue cheese, breaking it into small chunks with two forks. Add it to a medium size bowl along with the sour cream, mayonnaise, grated garlic, and lemon juice (if using). Mix to combine, and thin to desired consistency with heavy cream, whole milk, or buttermilk. Season with salt and pepper, adding more to taste if desired. Mix thoroughly and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 476kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 150mg | Sodium: 896mg | Potassium: 332mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 880IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 2mg