Best Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

by Killing Thyme // October 20, 2021 (updated January 10, 2023)

These are hands down the best crispy air fryer Buffalo wings! Same authentic flavor without the oil and deep frying.

Saucy, Vinegary, Buttery Goodness.

Buffalo wings are my kryptonite. I grew up right outside of Buffalo, so my family and I are purists and all agree that the farther away you get from Buffalo, the more poseur-ish the wings get.

You can imagine my dismay during my 7 year stint in North Carolina. Yeesh.

Luckily my father and I spent some time perfecting the recipe when I was still living back home, so I’ve been able to enjoy true Buffalo wings no matter where I’ve lived!

And now I’m thrilled to bring you this easy, quick, and mess-free recipe done in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Buffalo Wings Are the Way to Go!

Traditionally wings are deep fried, and that’s what gives them that beautiful golden crisp we all covet. This is great for restaurants and all, but deep frying at home is a bit scary, a lot messy, and pretty smelly—not to mention you have to dispose of all that oil afterward.

To put it simply, deep frying is a pain in the ass.

With the air fryer, you don’t even need oil! The process is clean, easy, quick, and you still get that crispy skin and deep-fried flavor without the hassle (and extra calories).

It’s a total win/win.

Only Four Ingredients Needed.

Sometimes simplicity is best, and that’s definitely the case with Buffalo wings. Here’s a rundown of what you need:

Chicken wings. If you can get wings without the tips, go for those. If you’re snagging wings from your butcher, ask them to cut the tips off of the flats, that way you’ve got your nice flats and drummies ready to go. You could cut the tips off yourself, but you’ll need a really sharp knife and you’ll want to be very careful. Bone isn’t always easy to snap through and the skin is slippery!
Frank’s® RedHot. Just the original kind. They do have the “Wings” variation, which has butter added to it already, but I prefer to add my own butter because it allows me to control the heat level and flavor, so plain ol’ Frank’s is what you’re looking for.
Butter. There is no set amount of butter for you to use. Once you get familiar with making your own Buffalo sauce you’ll see that it’s just a matter of winging it (ha). The point of the butter is, again, to tame the heat. The more butter you use, the less hot the wings will be.
Distilled vinegar. About a tablespoon is all you need, and it just gives the sauce that mouthwatering vinegary goodness that triggers those salivary glands and infiltrates the nostrils.

How to Make Buffalo Wings in the Air Fryer.

Pat the wings dry. Use some paper towels and gently pat the wings to remove excess moisture. There’s no need to season them!
Air fry those suckers. Place the wings into the air fryer basket skin-side up. Space them out as much as possible, but if some are slightly touching, that’s okay. Pop the airfryer basket into the air fryer and cook the wings at 375º F for 10 minutes. Open the basket, carefully flip the wings using tongs, and pop them back into the fryer for another 10 minutes. Then, open the fryer up, flip the wings again, and cook them for 5 minutes. Finally, open the fryer once more, flip the wings, and pop them back in for 5 minutes at 400º F.
While the wings are cooking, start the sauce. Pop the Frank’s into a small saucepan over medium-high heat and bring it to a low simmer.
Stir in the butter, starting with about 2 tablespoons, and let it melt into the sauce. Give it a taste. If you want less heat, add a bit more butter until you achieve the level of heat you prefer.
Finally, stir in some vinegar and bring the sauce to a low simmer. Stir occasionally while your wings are cooking so that a film doesn’t develop over your sauce. (If this happens, don’t worry about it. Just keep stirring and heating.)
When the wings are done, transfer them to a large mixing bowl and drizzle the sauce on top. You can toss the wings with tongs while whirling the bowl around to evenly coat them in that luscious velvety sauce.
Dig in. Serve with your favorite blue cheese dip and carrots and celery if you’d like. You know, for a good and healthy balance ;)

Useful Tools for This Recipe:

Air Fryer (at least a 7 quart is suggested)
Tongs
Mixing Bowls
Saucepan
Paper towels
Dipping cups (optional, but fun to serve dip in!)

Recipe Tips + Tricks.

Keep the wings and the air fryer basket dry! It’s tempting to brush the wings with oil, or at least the basket, but you don’t need to. Your wings will come out perfectly crispy and won’t stick to the fryer pan.
Pat the wings dry with paper towels to reduce moisture. Less moisture means a crispier wing.
The amount of butter in the wing sauce controls the heat level, so add a bit at a time until you achieve your preferred spiciness.
These are good in the fridge for up to two days in a sealed container (and they’re excellent cold).

Have You Made This Recipe?

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a STAR rating & commenting below with feedback!

You can also show off your creations on Instagram by tagging @killing__thyme

Awesome Pizzas to Serve With Air Fryer Buffalo Wings: