Air fryer frozen chicken wings (crispy, no thaw) (2024)

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Frozen Chicken Wings in Air Fryer is as simple as it gets! No thawing or preheating is needed—we’ll defrost them directly in the air fryer before seasoning, and then a second air fry crisps them up to perfection. They’re simply seasoned and served with a creamy Ranch Yogurt Dressing.

Air Fryer Frozen Salmon has been my go-to when I need a last-minute meal. I wasn’t sure wings would compare, but these were phenomenal—so crispy yet tender inside. My husband and I were fighting over them!

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ChihYu’s Tips for Making Crispy Wings from Frozen

The air fryer is perfect for making delicious meals from frozen, but there are a few key tips to know before you start. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can use them for not only chicken wings but fish, chicken, and more!

• No need to thaw: Place your frozen wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer. No need to thaw first.
• Double Fry Method: For the crispiest texture, the first fry is to defrost the wings. The second fry is to crisp them up perfectly.
• How to Season Frozen Wings: Wait until after the first fry to season your wings. This allows the seasoning to stick to the wings better.
• Avoid Overcrowding: Place your wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer and leave some space between them. This lets them crisp up instead of turning soggy as they thaw.
• Internal Temperature: It’s important to always check the internal temperature of protein, especially when cooking from frozen. The chicken is ready at an internal temp of 165°F (74°C).

Ingredients

I like to keep my seasonings light and simple for frozen proteins and then use a sauce to elevate the flavor. Using simple seasonings keeps them versatile so they can be paired with anything. Here we use basic seasonings (salt, pepper, and garlic powder) and serve with a creamy yogurt dressing.

For the wings

• Avocado oil spray: Used to grease the air fryer basket.
• Frozen chicken wings: Bone-in, raw and unseasoned. I use wings that have been cut, but you could also use whole chicken wings.
• Coarse sea salt
• Garlic powder
• Ground black pepper
• Olive oil: Used to season the wings.

[Optional] Ranch Yogurt Dressing

• Japanese kewpie mayo: Japanese mayo is the creamy base of the dressing. It brings tanginess and a subtle sweetness that American mayo lacks.
• Unsweetened Greek yogurt: Tangy Greek yogurt cuts through the richness of the mayo, lightening the dressing a bit.
  • Substitution: Use dairy-free yogurt as needed.
• Milk: I use milk to thin the dressing to the perfect dipping consistency.
  • Substitution: For dairy-free, use unsweetened almond, soy, or oat milk as needed.
• Soy sauce: Some added umami and salt for depth of flavor.
• Ground black pepper

How to Cook Frozen Chicken Wings in Air Fryer

Air frying frozen chicken wings is so simple! The key to ultra-crispy and well-seasoned wings from frozen is to partially defrost them in the air fryer before adding the seasoning and crisping them up with a second fry. Total air fryer cook time is just 22 minutes with no preheating needed.

1. Add frozen wings to the basket. Spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil and arrange the frozen wings in air fryer in a single layer, leaving space between each piece.
2. Air fry. Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 10 minutes to partially defrost the wings.
3. Season the wings. Transfer the wings to a bowl with the seasonings and olive oil. Toss to coat well with the seasoning mixture.
4. Remove excess liquid. Pour out any liquid in the air fryer basket from the defrosting stage.

5. Second fry. Place the seasoned wings back into the basket and air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 12 minutes.
6. Check the temperature. The wings are ready when the internal temperature reads 165°F (74°C) on a meat thermometer. If needed, air fry for an additional 5 minutes.
7. Prepare the yogurt ranch dressing. Mix Kewpie mayo, Greek yogurt, milk (or substitute), soy sauce, and a touch of black pepper until smooth.
8. Plating and serving. Serve the cooked wings hot with the ranch yogurt dressing or your favorite wing sauce on the side, garnished with extra black pepper.

Good to know: Air fry frozen wings at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes to defrost the wings then second fry at the same temperature for 12 minutes to crisp up the wings.

General tips for air frying frozen proteins

And if you’re a nerd like me, here’s the science behind it:

Similar to how crispy Beijing duck is prepared in China, drying chicken skin in a fridge or freezer removes excess moisture, which is why you don’t need to thaw frozen chicken wings before air frying

You can use the same process for all frozen proteins cooked in an air fryer:

• Single Layer: Always place frozen proteins in a single layer in the air fryer basket for even cooking.
• First Fry: The initial fry is to defrost. If there’s water pooling under the basket from defrosting, discard it.
• Seasoning: Add your seasoning after the first fry—it’ll stick better to the meat.
• Second Fry: Fry again to fully cook the protein to a safe internal temperature and achieve that perfect crisp!

What to serve it with

These crispy and juicy air fryer frozen chicken wings make a fantastic party food, appetizer, or protein main for dinner. Add some nutrition to your spread with some tasty air fryer vegetable sides and serve with multiple dipping sauces for a serious flavor boost.

• Air Fryer Veggies: Balance your meal and minimize cleanup with a side of crisp veggies, like Frozen Broccoli in Air Fryer, Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower, Frozen Asparagus in Air Fryer, or Frozen Brussel Sprouts in Air Fryer. Simple yet delicious!
• Dipping Sauces: Sauces can really elevate the flavor of your wings! Offer something for every taste with my sweet and spicy Honey Sriracha Sauce, Japanese-inspired Roasted Sesame Dressing, creamy and tangy Bang Bang Sauce, or this smoky and garlicky Bacon Aioli.

TIP: Check out our Air Fryer Cooking Times cheat sheet with more veggies and proteins cooked from fresh or frozen!

More Air Fryer Protein Recipes You Might Like

If you enjoyed making this easy and delicious air fry frozen chicken wings recipe, be sure to try some of my other favorite air fryer proteins! They’re easy, healthy, and cooked to perfection.

• Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer is one of the most popular posts on my blog for good reason! ZERO prep time and ready in 15 minutes, this salmon is so tender and flakey.
• Frozen Shrimp in Air Fryer feels so gourmet yet this simple protein option goes from freezer to plate in just minutes!
• Frozen Chicken Breast in Air Fryer is your quick weeknight dinner dreams come true! No need to worry about thawing and the texture is perfect! So juicy and delicious.

Frozen chicken wings in air fryer recipe

Make delicious and crispy frozen chicken wings in the air fryer. No thawing required – a quick and easy meal idea!.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 265kcal, Carbohydrates: 0.2g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 12g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 63mg, Sodium: 447mg, Potassium: 132mg, Fiber: 0.04g, Sugar: 0.01g, Vitamin A: 120IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 11mg, Iron: 1mg