How to Air Fry Frozen Chicken Wings

It’s game day, your guests are on their way, and you realize—you forgot to thaw your chicken wings. Don’t panic! With an air fryer, you can skip the thawing process and still get the restaurant-quality wings you crave in under 30 minutes.

Best Frozen Chicken Wings & Sides for the Air Fryer

The freezer aisle of your grocery store offers plenty of options for high-quality wings. Choose from breaded, pre-seasoned, or “naked” wings, depending on your tastes. Look for party wings (flats and drums), which are the ideal size for even air frying. Some of our favorite brands include:

• Tyson Any’tizers: Buffalo Style Bone-In Wings
• Gardein: Ultimate Plant-Based Chick’n Wings (for a meatless alternative)

Easy Air Fryer Chicken Wing Recipes

Looking for inspiration? Upgrade your wing game with one of our chicken wing recipes.

• Grilled Jamaican Chicken Wings
• Tangy Chicken Wings Recipe
• Melty Buffalo Wing-Ding Panini
• Sticky Hoisin Chicken Wing Rice Bowl

Step-by-Step: How to Air Fry Frozen Chicken Wings

The trick to air frying frozen chicken wings is to use a two-stage method. Start by using your air fryer to thaw and cook the chicken, then use it to achieve the perfect crisp.

Step 1: Preheat and Prep

Preheat your air fryer based on chicken wing package instructions and prep any seasonings or sauces you plan to use.

Step 2: The Initial “Thaw” Cook

Air fry frozen chicken wings for 10–12 minutes to start the thawing process.

Step 3: Drain and Season

Once the wings are thawed, drain any excess liquid and pat the wings dry. Then, spray them with cooking oil and toss with any seasonings you’re using.

Pro tip: Draining excess liquid and patting the wings dry before the final cook helps the skin crisp instead of steam.

Step 4: Final Cook

Put wings back in the air fryer and cook at 400°F for about 20 minutes. (Your timing may differ depending on the brand of chicken wings you use. Check your package for cooking instructions.)

Sauce It Up: Dips and Toppings

Wings are a blank canvas for your favorite sauces and flavors. Variety is key, so offer your guests a few different options. Some easy dips and toppings include:

• Classic Buffalo: Mix melted butter with hot sauce
• Daisy Brand Sour Cream: Offer on the side as a cooling counterpart to spicy wings
• Asian-Inspired: Combine soy sauce, honey and ginger

Related Articles

• Guidelines for the Storage of Frozen Foods
• 10 Reasons the Air Fryer is Your Freezer’s BFF
• How to Cook Frozen Food in an Air Fryer: Air Fryer Tips and Tricks