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Square overhead image of a plate of buffalo air fryer wings, served with celery, carrot batons and blue cheese dip.
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Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings served with a mild, creamy blue cheese dip. These wings are crispy, juicy and bursting with spicy tang from the 5-minute buffalo sauce!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Party Food
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer wings, Celebration, Game Day, how to make buffalo chicken wings, Party Food
Servings: 40 wings
Author Nicky Corbishley

Equipment

  • Double Stack Air Fryer - you can of course use a regular single-basket air fryer, but you'll likely need to cook in two batches
  • Spray Oil - I use avocado oil

Ingredients

Air Fryer Chicken Wings:

  • 1 kg (2.2 lbs) chicken wings
  • 1 level tbsp aluminium-free baking powder It has to be baking powder NOT baking soda - see further notes on baking powder below
  • ½ tsp pepper

Buffalo Wings Sauce:

  • 150 ml (2/3 cup) Frank’s hot sauce
  • 120 g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter chopped into small chunks
  • 1 tbsp cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • ¼ tsp salt

Blue cheese sauce

  • 120 g (1/2 cup) sour cream
  • 3 tbsp mayo
  • 75 g (1/3 cup) soft blue cheese use Roquefort, or you can use Saint Agur blue crème for a milder taste
  • ½ tbsp cider vinegar
  • ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • pinch dried parsley

To Serve:

  • 2 medium carrots peeled and cut into 2-inch (5cpieces
  • 2 sticks celery cut into 2-inch (5cpieces

Instructions

  • Cut each wing at the joint so you have a mini wing and a drumette. Place in a large bowl and add the baking powder and pepper. Toss to combine.
    1 kg (2.2 lbs) chicken wings, 1 level tbsp aluminium-free baking powder, ½ tsp pepper
    Chicken wings being cut into two pieces on a white chopping board
  • Add to the air fryer basket (you may need to cook in two batches depending on the size of your air fryer), cook for 30-35 minutes at 210C/410F, shaking the basket every 10 minutes.
  • To make the Buffalo sauce, place the hot sauce, butter, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, honey, and salt in a microwave-safe bowl (if making in the microwave) or a saucepan (if making on the stovetop).
    Microwave Method: Cover loosely with a microwave safe lid or use a small plate and cook on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring every minute, until the butter melts. Then stir together to combine.
    Saucepan Method: Place over a medium-high heat and bring to a gentle simmer whilst stirring. Turn off the heat.
    150 ml (2/3 cup) Frank’s hot sauce, 120 g (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, 1 tbsp cider vinegar, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tbsp honey, ¼ tsp salt
  • Mix the blue cheese sauce ingredients together in a bowl until smooth.
    120 g (1/2 cup) sour cream, 3 tbsp mayo, 75 g (1/3 cup) soft blue cheese, 1/2 tbsp cider vinegar, 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce, pinch dried parsley
  • Toss the Buffalo sauce with the wings and serve with the blue cheese sauce, carrots and celery.
    2 medium carrots, 2 sticks celery

Notes

Note on baking powder:

I get lots of messages on my other crispy wings recipe  on how delicious the wings are, but also the occasional message that the wings tastes bitter - despite assurances the recipe was followed to the letter and baking POWDER not baking soda was used.
After doing a little research, it seems that some people can be sensitive to the taste of sodium aluminum sulfate - which can be an ingredient in some baking powders. People who are sensitive to it notice a bitter taste. If you are sensitive to it, you may have noticed certain cakes taste bitter. However, cakes contain a lot less baking powder then this recipe, so you may not have noticed it before and still been sensitive to it.
My tips would be to:
  • Thoroughly dry the wings before dusting with the baking powder - so they only get a light coating.
  • Measure the amount of baking powder used exactly, and discard any excess left after tossing together with the wings.
  • Use aluminium-free baking powder - make sure it has no aluminum sulfate in it.

Can I make Buffalo wings ahead?

I prefer these wings fresh out of the air fryer, but you can make the wings ahead - without the sauce- then cool, cover and refrigerate for up to a day. Reheat them in a single layer in the air fryer for about 5-6 minutes at 200C/400F until they're crisp again.
You can also mix the Buffalo sauce ingredients together, then cover and refrigerate (uncooked). Microwave or pour into a pan and boil as per instructions before serving.
The blue cheese sauce can also be made ahead, covered and refrigerated for up to a day. Give the dip a stir before serving, as the Worcestershire sauce may separate upon refrigeration.
Nutritional information is per wing (approx 40 wings in this recipe), with a small serving (i.e a 1/40th serving) of blue cheese dip.

Nutrition

Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 166mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g

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