Name: Air Fryer Buffalo Wings
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 21 min
Ingredients: 20 chicken wing pieces ((flats and/or drumettes)); 1/2 Tbsp oil ((avocado or vegetable oil)); 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 1/4 cup butter; 1/4 cup hot sauce; Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing

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These Air Fryer Buffalo Wings are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and tossed in a buttery buffalo sauce with just the right amount of heat. The air fryer gets the wings nice and crisp without dragging out the deep fryer—or turning the kitchen into a sports bar. Serve them with ranch or blue cheese for an easy game day snack, party appetizer, or whenever buffalo wings sound like a perfectly reasonable dinner.

air fried buffalo wings on parchment paper next to a small bowl of dressing

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 16-18 minutes

Ingredients:

chicken wings (flats and/or drumettes)
oil (avocado or vegetable oil)
salt
pepper
butter
hot sauce
Optional:
- Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing

raw chicken wings in a bowl next to bowls of hot sauce and seasonings, a stick of butter, and a spoon of oil

Get the full printable instructions with measurements at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

Looking For More Game Day Snacks?

Easy Jalapeño Poppers – no bacon, baked or air fried with a crunchy topping
BBQ meatballs – 2 ingredients, stove-top or slow-cooked

Step-by-Step Directions:

Step 1: Dry chicken pieces with paper towels and place in a bowl. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss everything together a few times to evenly coat the wings.

raw chicken wing pieces being sprinkled with salt and pepper

Step 2: Place wings, skin side down, in the air fryer basket in a flat layer. You may need to do two batches to avoid overcrowding. Air fry at 400º F for 16-18 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

raw chicken wing pieces in an air fryer basket

Step 3: While wings are in the air fryer, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, then stir in the hot sauce. Leave on low, stirring occasionally, until ready to use.

hot sauce being poured into a small sauce pan with melted butter

Step 4: The wings are done when the skin is crispy and the temperature registers 165º F when taken with a meat thermometer. If you prefer them dry, brush the wings with the sauce while they are still in the air fryer basket and place back in the air fryer for 1 minute, then serve. If you like your wings wet, toss them in a bowl with the buffalo-butter sauce and serve. Either way, dip them in some Ranch or Blue Cheese dressing and enjoy!

chicken wings in an air fryer basket being brushed with butter-hot sauce

cooked chicken wings being stirred with tongs in a bowl with butter-hot sauce

Oven Alternative:

Follow step 1, then bake the wings on a baking sheet at 400º F for 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Be sure to check for doneness. They should register 165º F when taken with a meat thermometer.

dry chicken wings on a plate with one being dipped into ranch dressing

wet chicken wings coated in buffalo sauce on a plate next to a bowl of blue cheese dressing

Simply Made Tips:

Equal parts butter and hot sauce will be mild. For medium or hot, add more hot sauce, 1 Tbsp at a time, until desired heat is reached.
Some air fryers require preheating. If yours does, carefully place wings in the hot air fryer basket after preheating.

🍗 Before You Go…

Wings are never a bad idea, but they’re even better with a full snack spread. Browse our ultimate party food guide for more recipes everyone will actually eat.

Air Fryer Buffalo Wings

chicken wings coated in buffalo sauce on a plate next to a bowl of blue cheese dressing

Lighten up this timeless classic, but keep all of the flavor! These air fryer buffalo chicken wings are so good, you won't even miss the deep fried version. Plus, they cook in under 20 minutes!

Beth

Prep Time 3

Cook Time 18

Total Time 21

Servings

Ingredients

20 chicken wing pieces (flats and/or drumettes)
1/2 Tbsp oil (avocado or vegetable oil)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup hot sauce

Optional:

Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing

Instructions

Dry chicken pieces with paper towels and place in a bowl. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss everything together a few times to evenly coat the wings.
Place wings, skin side down, in the air fryer basket in a flat layer. You may need to do two batches to avoid overcrowding. Air fry at 400º F for 16-18 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
While wings are in the air fryer, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat, then stir in the hot sauce. Leave on low, stirring occasionally, until ready to use.
The wings are done when the skin is crispy and the temperature registers 165º F when taken with a meat thermometer. If you prefer them dry, brush the wings with the sauce while they are still in the air fryer basket and place back in the air fryer for 1 minute, then serve. If you like your wings wet, toss them in a bowl with the buffalo-butter sauce and serve. Either way, dip them in some Ranch or Blue Cheese dressing and enjoy!

Oven Alternative:

Follow step 1, then bake the wings on a baking sheet at 400º F for 20 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Be sure to check for doneness. They should register 165º F when taken with a meat thermometer.