Ready for deliciously crispy and juicy chicken wings without deep-frying? Look no further than this Ninja Foodi Chicken Wings recipe! With just a few simple ingredients and a quick air fry, you'll be enjoying the most flavorful wings in no time. Get ready to impress your guests with this restaurant-quality meal!
Are you ready to take your chicken wings up a notch? Then these chicken wings in the Ninja Foodi are just for you.
Follow along and I’ll teach you how to make crispy, juicy, Buffalo-sauced wings that will be the star of any party.
Whether you’re hosting a gathering or just making snacks for yourself and your family, these delicious air fried chicken wings are sure to hit the spot.
Serve them with ranch or blue cheese dressing for the perfect game-day snack.
Let’s get ready to make some crispy chicken wings!
Ingredients
- Chicken Wings: I used whole wings, but you can also use just the drumettes or flats. Either way, make sure you dry them with paper towels before coating them with the seasoning mix.
- Baking Powder: Baking powder is used in the dry rub to help the buffalo wings get a nice crispy texture when they are cooked. Make sure to use an aluminum-free baking powder as using baking powder that has aluminum can result in an offputting taste.
- Brown Sugar: The brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness to the wings that balances out all the savory spices and seasonings. I used light brown sugar, but dark brown will work as well.
- Garlic Powder, Smoked Paprika, and Sea Salt: These three seasonings add a deep and smoky flavor to the air fryer chicken wings.
- Butter: You can use salted or unsalted butter for the sauce.
- Garlic: Adding minced fresh garlic to the butter helps enhance all the other flavors in the recipe.
- Buffalo Sauce: I used Frank’s hot sauce, but you can use your favorite brand of hot sauce. Just make sure to adjust the amount according to the heat you want.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This adds another layer of savory flavor to the Ninja Foodi wings and compliments the other ingredients in the sauce.
Step by Step
For the full recipe with measurements, see the recipe card at the end of the post.
First, start by prepping the wings. Dry the wings off with paper towels and place them in a large bowl.
Tips & Tricks
- Make sure you preheat your Ninja Foodi before adding your wings. This will help them to cook evenly and make sure they get crispy.
- Flip the wings halfway through cooking time to ensure they are cooked through and evenly browned.
- When checking if the wings are done, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the wing - it should read 165°F (74°C).
- Allow your cooked chicken wings to rest for five minutes before serving; this will help lock in flavor and moisture.
Serving Suggestions
Chicken wings are the perfect meal for parties and game nights. Serve up some of these delicious wings with a variety of sides and accompaniments to make it a complete meal!
- Jalapeño poppers: Perfect for those who like a little kick.
- Coleslaw: A creamy side dish to cool down the heat. My favorites are blue cheese coleslaw, cilantro lime slaw, no mayo coleslaw, broccoli slaw salad, citrus slaw, and jalapeno coleslaw.
- Potato salad: Tangy and delicious, ready to be scooped alongside the wings. Favorites include Instant Pot potato salad, red skin potato salad with capers, cauliflower potato salad, sour cream potato salad, and potato salad with bacon.
- Blue cheese dip: Creamy and cooling dip that complements the flavor of the wings perfectly. Try this buttermilk blue cheese dressing or keto blue cheese dressing.
- Celery sticks and carrots: Tasty crunch that offers a wholesome option.
- Baked beans: Sweet and savory, this side is always a winner.
Wing Sauce Variations
- Citrus Ginger: Combine the melted butter with ⅓ cup orange juice, 3 tablespoons lime juice, ½ cup pineapple preserves 1 tablespoon grated ginger. Stir and sprinkle with chopped scallions after coating the wings with the sauce.
- Beer Barbecue: Combine 1 bottle of beer, ½ cup barbecue sauce, 2 tablespoons of light brown sugar and hot sauce with the butter. Saute for about 20 minutes until the sauce reduces. Toss with the wings and serve.
- Siracha Buffalo: Add â…“ to â…” cup of sriracha to the sauce, depending on how much heat you want.
FAQs
What type of chicken wings should I use?
You can use whole wings to make Ninja Foodi buffalo wings, or you can use wings that have been cut - commonly called drumettes and flats.
Drumettes are part of the wing that looks like a mini drumstick and have more meat, while the flat is the piece with two bones that connect to the drumette.
I used whole wings, so if you want to use smaller ones, you will need to reduce the cooking time by a few minutes.
How can I tell if my wings are cooked?
To check if your Ninja foodi air fryer wings are done cooking, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the wing - it should read 165°
Can I use frozen wings?
Yes, Ninja Foodi frozen chicken wings are great! I prefer to work with thawed meat, because
I don't find that the seasonings adhere as well when cooking wings from frozen.
If you do want to make frozen chicken wings in your Ninja Foodi, I recommend rinsing them first. This will help remove some of the frost, and so that the spices stick to the exterior. You'll need to increase the cooking time if you're using frozen wings.
Tools
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- Ninja Foodi
- Mixing bowls
- Foil
- Tongs
- Instant Read Thermometer
More Ninja Foodi Recipes to Try
- For a delicious side that your family will ask for again and again, don't miss this Ninja Foodi Mac and Cheese.
- Ninja Foodi Chicken Alfredo is comfort food at it's best. You won't believe how easy and delicious this recipe is.
- For an easy weeknight meal, this Ninja Foodi Chicken Breast is always a winner!
- Ninja Food Whole Chicken is a crowd-pleasing family dinner that is tasty enough for company.
Ninja Foodi Chicken Wings
Equipment
- Ninja Foodi
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon aluminum free baking powder
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
For Finishing
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ¼ cup hot sauce like Frank’s
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Dry the wings off with paper towels and place in a large bowl
- In a small bowl, stir together the baking powder, brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt.
- Toss the wings with the seasoning mixture until the wings are coated.
- If you have time, let the wings sit at room temperature for an hour, or refrigerate overnight. (Optional.)
- Set your Ninja Foodi to Air Fry, and set the temperature to 400° F.
- Add the wings to your air fryer basket, cooking in batches to not overcrowd.
- Cook for 13 to 16 minutes, and then transfer to a plate and cover with foil. Cook the remaining wings and transfer to a plate and cover.
- Remove the air fryer basket from the Foodi, and set it to saute. Add the butter. Once the butter is melted add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce and stir to combine.
- Toss the wings with the hot sauce and serve warm.
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