Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

Air Fryer Buffalo chicken wings are perfectly crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and coated in a mouthwatering homemade Buffalo sauce. Best of all, they cook without the deep frying! Using only a handful of ingredients like chicken wings, hot sauce, and a touch of butter (or ghee), these wings come together with minimal effort. Perfect for game days, family gatherings, or whenever you want a satisfying snack, these wings are a must!

Ingredients For Buffalo Chicken Wings

There are only a few ingredients in the easy air fryer chicken wings recipe. 

• Chicken Wings: 2 pounds of chicken wings.
• Hot Sauce: Hot sauce is needed to make the Buffalo sauce. However if you are using your own Buffalo sauce, you do not need this ingredient. 
• Butter or Ghee: Unsalted butter or ghee (for paleo & Whole30) is needed to make the Buffalo sauce. If you are using your own Buffalo sauce, you do not need this ingredient. 
• Salt & Pepper: The wings are seasoned lightly with your preferred amount of salt & pepper before they are cooked in the air fryer.  
• Starch Flour: Starch is listed as an optional ingredient because the wings will still cook perfectly without it. The starch makes the wings extra crispy in the air fryer. Use your preferred starch like cornstarch. I use arrowroot starch which is paleo and Whole30 compatible.

What Are Buffalo Chicken Wings

Buffalo wings are a popular American food that originated in Buffalo, NY. The exact origins is debatable but everyone agrees it came from Buffalo. These days Buffalo chicken wings appear on menus in restaurants across the country. They’re a popular game day food and have inspired a slew of new Buffalo-style foods. 

How To Make Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

Making Buffalo chicken wings in the air fryer is very easy. Toss the wings with salt, pepper, and  starch (optional). Add to the air fryer basket and cook for 22 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time. The sauce comes together quickly since there are only 2 ingredients. Add the hot sauce and butter to medium-size sauce pan. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking frequently.

Air Fryer instructions 

1. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.
2. Add the prepared chicken wings to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not overlap. You may need to cook your wings in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
3. Cook for 11 minutes, flip the wings and then cook an additional 11 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reached 165 degrees and the wings are crisp to your liking.
4. Remove the wings from the air fryer basket and add to a large bowl. Pour the Buffalo sauce on top of the chicken wings and toss to coat evenly.

While the wings are cooking in the air fryer, take the time to make the the homemade sauce on the stove-top. Or make the Buffalo sauce ahead of time. Homemade Buffalo sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to 30 days. 

What Cut Of Chicken To Use

To make Buffalo chicken wings, you will need…chicken wings! Drumettes, flats, or a combination of the two like you see here. Buffalo wings are cooked unbreaded.

Using Starch 

I like to toss my wings in arrowroot starch flour before air frying. This helps make the wings extra crispy. I use arrowroot flour because it’s gluten-free, paleo, low-carb, and Whole3o compatible. Can you use a different starch? Yes, I encourage you to use the starch that fits your dietary needs. Arrowroot starch is a one-for-one replacement for cornstarch. Can you omit the starch all together? Of course, it’s an optional ingredient. 

Homemade Buffalo Sauce

The Buffalo sauce is the star of this recipe since that’s where the flavor comes from. The sauce here is a true Buffalo sauce because it only uses 2 ingredients: Frank’s hot sauce & butter. Some people like to add vinegar to their sauce. If you’re one of those people, add 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. If you have your own Buffalo sauce that you want to use, by all means do so. While I always encourage you to make your own sauce, store-bought sauce will work just fine.  

How To Serve Buffalo Wings

Buffalo chicken wings are commonly served with carrots, celery and a dipping sauce like ranch or bleu cheese.

Tips For This Chicken Wings Recipe

• To make these paleo & Whole30 compliant, be sure to use ghee and not butter. Other than that ingredient, the recipe is compliant. 
• Store leftover Buffalo wings in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 

Recipes Using Buffalo Sauce

• Chicken Dip

• Slow Cooker Chicken Wings

• Chicken Chili

• Homemade Buffalo Sauce

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

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Air Fryer Buffalo chicken wings are perfectly crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and coated in a mouthwatering homemade Buffalo sauce. Best of all, they cook without the deep frying! Using only a handful of ingredients like chicken wings, hot sauce, and a touch of butter (or ghee), these wings come together with minimal effort. Perfect for game days, family gatherings, or whenever you want a satisfying snack, these wings are a must!

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 pounds chicken wings
• 1 cup hot sauce
• 2/3 cup unsalted butter or ghee
• Salt & pepper
• 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch (optional)

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Instructions

Prepare The Chicken Wings

1. Rinse & pat dry the chicken. Add the chicken to a large bowl. Add the arrowroot starch, salt, and pepper. Toss until evenly coated.

Prepare The Buffalo Sauce

I suggest you prepare the sauce while the wings cook in the air fryer.

1. Add the hot sauce & butter (or ghee) to a small sauce pan. Bring to a simmer. Cook 7 to 10 minutes, whisking frequently.

Air Fry

1. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees.
2. Add the prepared chicken wings to the air fryer basket in a single layer. Do not overlap. You may need to cook your wings in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
3. Cook for 11 minutes, flip the wings and then cook an additional 11 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reached 165 degrees and the wings are crisp to your liking.
4. Remove the wings from the air fryer basket and add to a large bowl. Pour the Buffalo sauce on top of the chicken wings and toss to coat evenly.

Nutrition

• Serving Size:
• Calories: 630
• Sugar: 7.8 g
• Sodium: 1333.7 mg
• Fat: 39.4 g
• Saturated Fat: 21.2 g
• Carbohydrates: 15.4 g
• Fiber: 1.8 g
• Protein: 51.5 g
• Cholesterol: 210.6 mg

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