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These Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Wings are seasoned, crispy, juicy, and perfectly coated with an outstanding homemade garlic parmesan sauce. These chicken wings are perfect for dinner or your next game-day watch party.
Here are some more chicken wing recipes that range from baked, fried, and air-fried: Hot Honey Wings, Honey BBQ Wings, Sweet Thai Chili Wings, Southern Fried Wings, Jerk Chicken Wings, Lemongrass Hoisin Wings, and Honey Garlic Wings.
I'm a huge chicken wing fan. I'm such a huge fan that my friends joke that 10-piece wings only last about 5 minutes around me because I eat them in one to two bites. But that's only for wings that taste amazing.
I believe the perfect wing is juicy, crunchy, and seasoned before you add the sauce. So any wing recipe of mine will hold up to this standard. And these garlic parmesan wings will blow your socks off!
I use a Ninja XL air-fryer, and it looks more like a toaster oven, but since it's larger, I can air fry between 12-15 chicken wings at a time.
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Garlic Parmesan Wings Air Fryer Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you'll need for these fantastic air fryer garlic parmesan chicken wings.
Fresh Chicken Wings
You can buy the wings already separated, but you can save some money doing it yourself.
Seasonings
You'll need kosher salt, granulated garlic powder, black pepper, and Savory Cajun Seasoning for the seasoned wings. And some Italian seasoning and onion powder for the sauce.
Fresh Garlic Cloves
The fresh minced garlic proved to be significantly better than cooked garlic after conducting a test.
Mayonnaise
I prefer Blue Plate Avocado oil mayonnaise because it contains healthier fats.
Grated parmesan cheese
The shredded parmesan cheese didn't distribute evenly in the sauce because of its larger size. However, grated parmesan cheese ensured every bite had a piece of cheese.
Buttermilk
I understand it's unusual, but the buttermilk's acidity complements the raw garlic's flavor.
Sugar
Adding a small amount of sugar helped to balance the sauce's flavor.
Lemon Juice
Adding just a small amount of brightness can significantly enhance the taste of any dish.
How to Make Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings
The key to crispy wings in the air-fryer is the right amount of time and temperature. Keep that in mind, and you'll have delicious wings every time.
Chicken Wings
After you wash them, blot the chicken wings dry with paper towels, then add them to a large bowl.
Toss chicken wings in oil. Mix kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and Cajun seasoning in a small bowl. Season chicken wings and toss to combine.
Turn the air fryer on to 400°F, and spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place wings in an even layer, and spray with cooking spray.Cook wings for 15 minutes, flip over cook for 12 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
Garlic Parmesan Sauce
To make the sauce, combine garlic, mayonnaise, buttermilk, grated parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice in a big bowl. Mix until smooth and then refrigerate until ready to use.
Once the wings are cooked, toss cooked chicken wings in half of the sauce and serve while hot. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and more parmesan cheese, and use any unused sauce for dipping sauce.
Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are a few notes I had from making these mouthwatering air fryer wings.
- Wash your chicken in a 3:1 white vinegar or lime juice to water solution.
- Thaw frozen chicken wings 24-48 hours before using. You can soak them in cool water for 1 hour to thaw quickly.
- Let the chicken wings come to room temperature before cooking, about 10-15 minutes.
- If you expect a big group, it is better to purchase drumettes. In case you buy whole wings, make sure to separate the drums and the flats before cooking.
- To ensure your chicken wings get crispy, cook them in batches if they don't fit in a single layer in your small air fryer. Crowding them together will prevent them from crisping up properly.
- If you don't have Savory Cajun seasoning, swap it out for your favorite all-purpose seasoning.
- To achieve perfectly crispy chicken wings, it's important to remember that air fryers can vary in cooking times and temperatures. Therefore, you might have to increase the temperature by 10-20 degrees or adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Toss wings with a ¼ cup of baking powder for super crispy wings.
- You can still make these chicken wings in the oven if you don't own an air fryer. Bake them at 400°F for 50 minutes, flipping them halfway through and adding the sauce at the end.
- Do not use canned garlic in a jar; fresh is king.
FAQs
Here are the top questions readers have about making crispy air-fryer chicken wings.
It depends on your air fryer basket size, but typically you can cook up to 8-12 wings at once. When cooking multiple wings, be sure to evenly space them out so that they cook evenly and ensure proper heat circulation.
To air fry chicken wings, set the temperature to 400-425°F and cook for around 25 minutes. Remember to flip the wings halfway through cooking.
thickness of your wings. To test for doneness, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the wing and ensure it reads 165ºF before removing it from the air fryer.
You do not need to flour your wings before air-frying. The air fryer's high temperature helps create a crispy exterior while locking in the moisture inside the wings.
Layering wings is a great way to ensure your wings do not cook evenly. Place them in an even layer to achieve evenly cooked golden brown chicken wings.
It is generally better to use fresh chicken wings in the air fryer, but the majority of the wings you'll buy at the store are previously frozen wings. If you're using frozen wings, thaw them completely before cooking and dry them thoroughly to get crispy when cooked.
You can freeze air fryer garlic parmesan wings for up to two months. Cool them completely before transferring them to an airtight container and freezing them. When ready to enjoy, thaw the wings overnight in the refrigerator before air frying.
Air-fryer garlic parmesan chicken wings are best eaten immediately but store leftovers in an airtight container for 7 days in the fridge.
Reheat chicken wings in a 350°F oven or air fryer for 8-10 minutes or until hot. Retoss in the leftover sauce.
Freeze wings in a freezer-safe storage bag for 2 months. Thaw before reheating.
Garlic parmesan sauce is best 7 days after making but will remain fresh in an airtight container for 30 days in the fridge. I don't recommend freezing the sauce.
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you love the convenience of the air-fryer, I recommend you try these recipes!
- Garlic Asparagus
- Hash Browns
- Crispy Brussels Sprouts
- Fried Green Tomatoes
- Sweet Plantains with Crema
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
Before You Begin
Before getting started, here are the steps I use to get organized.
Step 1: Pull all the tools and ingredients on the counter before you wash the chicken.
Step 2: Measure everything out.
Step 3: Follow the recipe as written and get ready for the best air fryer garlic parmesan wings you've ever enjoyed.
I hope you love this recipe! It's an easy and tasty way to enjoy home-cooked wings. Once you're finished the last wing, don't forget to leave a comment, star rating, and share it! #LezEat
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
Ingredients
Chicken Wings:
- 2 lbs. chicken wings flats and drum separated
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ¾ teaspoons black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons Savory Cajun Seasoning
Garlic Parmesan Sauce:
- 10 garlic cloves chopped small
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup buttermilk
- ¼ cup grated parmesan
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Savory Cajun Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
Chicken Wings:
- In a large bowl toss chicken wings in oil. In a bowl mix salt, garlic powder, black pepper and Savory. Evenly sprinkle over chicken wings, toss to combine. Turn air fryer on to 400°F, spray the air fryer pan for 4 seconds with cooking spray. Place chicken wings in an even layer. If you have a smaller air fryer you’ll need cook in batches. Cook for 15 minutes, flip over cook for 12 minutes.
Garlic Parmesan Sauce:
- In a large bowl, mix together the garlic, mayonnaise, buttermilk, grated parmesan, Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, salt, black pepper and lemon juice until smooth. Cover and pop in the fridge until needed. Toss hot wings in sauce. Serve hot with remaining sauce on the side.
Notes
- Wash your chicken in a 3:1 white vinegar or lime juice to water solution.
- Thaw frozen chicken wings 24-48 hours before using. You can soak them in cool water for 1 hour to thaw quickly.
- Let the chicken wings come to room temperature before cooking, about 10-15 minutes.
- If you expect a big group, it is better to purchase drumettes. In case you buy whole wings, make sure to separate the drums and the flats before cooking.
- To ensure your chicken wings get crispy, cook them in batches if they don't fit in a single layer in your small air fryer. Crowding them together will prevent them from crisping up properly.
- If you don't have Savory Cajun seasoning, swap it out for your favorite all-purpose seasoning.
- To achieve perfectly crispy chicken wings, it's important to remember that air fryers can vary in cooking times and temperatures. Therefore, you might have to increase the temperature by 10-20 degrees or adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Toss wings with a ¼ cup of baking powder for super crispy wings.
- You can still make these chicken wings in the oven if you don't own an air fryer. Bake them at 400°F for 50 minutes, flipping them halfway through and adding the sauce at the end.
- Do not use canned garlic in a jar; fresh is king.
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