Delicious and Crispy Frozen Chicken Wings in an Air Fryer

Craving some delicious, crispy chicken wings but don’t want to wait for them to thaw? Look no further than your air fryer and cook them from frozen!

Using your air fryer to cook your frozen chicken wings is faster than traditional oven baking and produces perfectly crispy wings with minimal oil. Allowing you to serve up delicious chicken wings as an appetizer or as a main meal.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of cooking frozen chicken wings in an air fryer, from seasoning to cooking time and temperature.

There is a recipe card for these delicious air fryer chicken wings at the bottom of this article.

Why cook frozen chicken wings in an air fryer?

Quick & Easy – Having a large family, I always like to have our freezer full of food I can easily cook from frozen. With frozen wings, you simply take them out of the freezer and organize the wings in a single layer in your air fryer’s basket. Cook in a pre-heated air fryer for 20 minutes.

Convenient – With a busy lifestyle you cannot always remember to take food out of the freezer the night before to defrost. I know I don’t, that is why it is great that you can cook chicken wings from frozen in your air fryer.

Healthier – When cooking wings in an air fryer you do not need to add any oil. Fatty grease also drips to the bottom of the basket, away from the wings as they cook. The wings do not re-absorb that fat, providing crispy wings that are fewer in calories.  

How long does it take to cook frozen chicken wings in an air fryer?

It takes 20 minutes to cook frozen chicken wings at 400 F (200 c). You may need to add some extra time if cooking large wings or you like your wings to be extra crispy. Use a digital meat thermometer to check the wings are fully cooked.

How to marinate frozen chicken wings before cooking them in an air fryer

Chicken wings are great without any additional seasoning, but if you want to introduce some extra flavor you can add some herbs and spices as a wet or dry rub to the wings before they are frozen, cooked, and during.

To make a simple marinade…

Step 1 – Select your herbs and spices

A simple combination I like to use is a mix of paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, salt, and olive oil.

Step 2 – Mix

In a large bowl add all the oil, herbs, and spices and mix them together.

Step 3 – Add the wings (fresh or frozen)

If the wings are not pre-cut into drumettes or wingettes. Use a sharp knife cut the wings in half. Cut the wings at the joint. This will give you a drumette and wingette from each wing.

Add the wings to the bowl, covering the wings in the herb and spice mix.

Step 4 – Cook or Store

Cook: If you froze the fresh chicken wings straight after buying them from the store. But now you want to air fry them with the herb and spice mix added. Put the frozen chicken wings covered in the herb and mix in the air fryer basket once it has pre-heated (see below).

Store: If you have decided to season the fresh wings before freezing them. Put the wings covered in the herb and spice mix into an airtight container or freezer bag. Put them in the freezer for up to one month.

How to cook frozen chicken wings in an air fryer

To serve up delicious and crispy chicken wings simply follow this step-by-step guide. Within 20-25 minutes you will be serving chicken wings that your whole family will love.

Step 1 – Break up the chicken wings

If the wings are clumped together when you take them from the freezer, either…

• Leave them to thaw for 5 to 10 minutes before you can break them apart.
• Add them to the air fryer as its pre-heats.

Step 2 – Pre-heat the air fryer

Pre-heat the air fryer to 400 F (200 c).

If your wings are clumped together, add the wings now to have the air fryer thaw them out.

If you did not add a herb or spice mix before freezing the wings, add it now once the wings can be separated. Use a brush to brush it on. Or put the wings in the bowl with the herb and spice mix, and give it all a stir to cover all the wings.

Step 3 – Add and organize the wings

Once the air fryer has pre-heated you have the option to add a little oil or a liner to reduce the clean-up time. It’s optional, but I find wings do stick to the basket without oil or a liner (parchment paper or silicone liner).

Organize the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, on top of the liner if you are using one.

If you added the wings to thaw while the air fryer pre-heated, use tongs to move the wings around to ensure they have space between them.

Step 4 – Cook

Cook the wings for 20 minutes at 400 F (200 c) depending on the size of the wings.

Step 5 – Turn

Halfway through the cooking time, pull out the air fryer drawer and use tongs to turn the chicken wings.

Return the drawer and cook for the remaining 10 minutes.

Step 6 – Check

After 20 minutes of cooking time, remove the drawer and check that the wings have crisped to your satisfaction and that they are fully cooked.

Use a meat thermometer to check that the chicken wings have an internal temperature of at least 165 F (74 c).

Step 7 – Extra time

If you like your chicken wings to be crispier or the internal temperature is not above 165 F (74 c) cook for 3-5 minutes more.

Step 8 – Serve

Serve up the delicious wings once cooked to your preference and have an internal temperature above 165 F (74 c).

If you want to soak any excess oil off the cooked wings before serving, use tongs to place the wings on some paper towel. Then serve.

Top tips

Here are some top tips to follow, to serve up the best chicken wings from frozen using your air fryer.

Separate wings – If the wings come out of the freezer stuck together and you are short on time. Put the wings in the air fryer basket to thaw out as it pre-heats. Once the air fryer is pre-heated pour away any liquid that has drained into the bottom of the basket. Organize the wings to be cooked, after pouring away this liquid. Alternatively, leave for 5 – 10 minutes to thaw at room temperature.

Single layer – For best results don’t be tempted to air fry too many chicken wings at once and have them piled up on each other. This will disrupt the cooking process, resulting in uneven cooking and less crispy wings. If needed cook in batches.

Turn – To serve up wings that have crispy skin on all sides. Turn the wings halfway through their cooking time.

Extra seasoning – When you turn the wings halfway through the cooking time. it is a great opportunity to apply the additional seasoning.

Timings – You may need to increase the cooking time if your batch contains larger wings. The timings stated are a guide as wings do vary in size. If needed cook the wings for more or less time to crisp to your personal preference.

Internal temp – Before serving check the wings with a digital meat thermometer. The cooked chicken wings should have an internal temperature of 165 F (74 c).

Serve with

If you didn’t add a herb and spice mix before you cooked the chicken wings or you just want to provide some extra flavors. Serving your wings with your favorite dipping sauce is a great way to add some extra flavor. Our favorite sauces are…

• Buffalo sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Ranch dressing
• Garlic butter
• Peri Peri sauce
• Honey Sriracha

Make sure you have some paper towel or a damp cloth to hand to clean your fingers. Do not forget if eating with children.

Common questions

How do you store leftover chicken wings?

Once you have cooked your frozen chicken wings if by some miracle you have some leftover wings you can store these in an airtight container or freezer bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Do not re-freeze the chicken wings.

How do I reheat leftover chicken wings?

To reheat your chicken wings, take them from the fridge and add them to your air fryer basket.

Reheat in a preheated air fryer for 4 minutes at 360 F (180 c).

Should I defrost chicken wings before cooking them in an air fryer?

You do not need to defrost chicken wings before cooking them. You can if you want and vary the above timings to do so.

Can I cook frozen Tyson chicken wings in an air fryer?

Yes, by following the steps outlined above. It is the same for any branded wings.

Can I cook pre-cooked (sauced/breaded) frozen chicken wings in an air fryer?

Yes, you can. As the wings are already cooked and covered in a sauce. Follow the steps outlined in the frozen chicken wings recipe but reduce the cooking time to 15 mins at 400 F (200 c). Alternatively read this article, which covers the process in full.

Still use a digital meat thermometer to check the internal temperature and ensure they are safe to eat.

Related articles

Easy Air Fryer Chicken Recipes – A collection of easy chicken air fryer recipes to provide you with inspiration and help you make the most of your air fryer.

How To Air Fry Pre-Cooked Frozen Chicken Wings – A simple how to guide to help you put pre-cooked frozen chicken wings on your plate.

Best Air Fryer Frozen Food Recipes – All the best frozen food recipes in one place to help you make the most of your air fryer.

What Can And Can’t Go In An Air Fryer? – A complete guide on what you can use in your air fryer. Useful for deciding which oil or liner to use in your air fryer.

Recipe card