Attention wing lovers! Work these easy air fryer garlic parmesan wings into your weeknight dinner rotation for a meal the whole family will love. Set aside 20 minutes of cooking time for crispy and finger-licking-good wings in no time. The juicy wings are perfect for the Super Bowl, game day, and gatherings, just like my salt and pepper chicken wings.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken Wings: Two pounds of wings feed my family of four with leftovers, but you can adjust the recipe if you’re feeding a crowd. Make it easy on yourself and purchase chicken wings split into drums and flats. I usually buy uncooked party wings from Costco.
- Baking Powder: Baking powder (not baking soda) is the key to making crispy baked chicken wings.
- Spices: Keep it simple and season the wings with kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and paprika.
- Sauce: Melted butter flavored with fresh garlic cloves and fresh parsley adheres to the chicken wings. Finish them with shredded or grated parmesan.
Tools Used to Make This Recipe
Make this easy recipe for air fryer wings using a mixing bowl and an air fryer. Air fryers are the perfect way to cook chicken wings, regardless of the model. I use an Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer with a large basket.
How to Make Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Pat dry the chicken wings using a cloth to remove excess moisture. Then, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C).
Step 2: Stir the baking powder, kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and paprika in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the chicken wings and toss to combine.
Step 3: Line the chicken wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry for 18 minutes.
Step 4: Flip the wings halfway through. Work in batches until all the chicken cooks.
Step 5: Let the wings cool for 10 minutes, then toss them in a large bowl with melted butter and a combination of garlic, chopped parsley, and grated parmesan cheese.
Expert Tips
- Using the air fryer method lets the air move freely around the chicken wings so the heat can circulate on all sides.
- Baking powder is alkaline, and pairing it with salt changes the acidity and pH of the skin for extra crispy wings.
- Baking powder is alkaline, and pairing it with salt changes the acidity and pH of the skin, which helps the wings to become crispy.
- Space the chicken wings in the air fryer basket. Crowding the chicken can result in steaming instead of a crispy texture.
- Let the chicken wings rest before tossing them in the homemade garlic parmesan sauce for the best results. Doing so allows the wings to release moisture from the skin so they stay crispy.
If you enjoy this recipe, try one of these chicken wing recipes!
Serving Suggestions
Garlic parmesan chicken wings are an American classic and a family dinner favorite! Serve the versatile wings as an appetizer for game day and gatherings, or throw them together for a weeknight meal with one of these sides for wings.
- Dipping Sauce: Ranch Dressing, Sos Czosnkowy
- Vegetables: Carrots and Celery, Corn on the Cob
- Salad: Vinegar Coleslaw, Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad, Caesar Salad
- Potatoes: Hasselback Potatoes, Roasted Potatoes, Southern Potato Salad
- Sides: Onion Rings, French Fries, Jalapeño Poppers, Corn Bread, Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese
What to do with the Leftovers
- Refrigerate – Store leftover wings in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze –Let the cooked wings cool completely, and transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. Air fryer garlic parmesan wings freeze for 4-6 months.
- Thaw – Defrost the chicken in the fridge overnight before reheating.
- Reheat –Warm the parmesan chicken wings in the oven for 15 minutes at 350°F (176°C).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to cook chicken wings in the air fryer?
I recommend cooking the air fryer garlic parmesan wings in batches. Every batch takes about 18-20 minutes. The length of the cooking time largely depends on the size of your air fryer and how many wings you cook at one time. I use the Instant Vortex and cook two pounds of chicken wings in 2-3 batches.
More Chicken Recipes:
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings
- Small Bowl
- 2 pounds chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, coarse ground
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- Pat dry the chicken wings using a cloth to remove excess moisture. Then, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C).
- Stir the baking powder, kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and paprika in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the chicken wings and toss to combine.
- Line the chicken wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry for 18 minutes, flipping the wings halfway through. Work in batches until all the chicken cooks.
- Let the wings cool for 10 minutes, then toss them in a large bowl with melted butter and a combination of garlic, chopped parsley, and grated parmesan cheese.
- Using the air fryer method lets the air move freely around the chicken wings so the heat can circulate on all sides.
- Baking powder is alkaline, and pairing it with salt changes the acidity and pH of the skin for extra crispy wings.
- Baking powder is alkaline, and pairing it with salt changes the acidity and pH of the skin, which helps the wings to become crispy.
- Space the chicken wings in the air fryer basket. Crowding the chicken can result in steaming instead of a crispy texture.
- Let the chicken wings rest before tossing them in the homemade garlic parmesan sauce for the best results. Doing so allows the wings to release moisture from the skin so they stay crispy.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.