Sweet And Tangy Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Craving chicken wings but trying to resist the temptation of takeout? These sweet and tangy air fryer barbecue wings are the perfect solution. Brought to us by Catherine Brookes, this recipe couldn't be easier to whip up, with the wings ready to enjoy in just 30 minutes, achievable with the air fryer. 

You'll find that using the air-frying technique in this recipe gives the chicken a beautiful char on the outside while keeping the meat nice and juicy. And, compared to the more traditional oven-baking method, it'll save you time, so if you haven't tried cooking chicken wings in your air fryer yet, this is your sign. Because these wings are both rubbed with dry spices and tossed in barbecue sauce, they most definitely deliver on the sweet and tangy flavor, with the chicken's coating gloriously caramelized when fresh out of the air fryer.

Guaranteed to come out sticky, saucy, and cooked to tender perfection, these wings are perfect when served as an appetizer with your favorite dips or as part of an easy weeknight dinner with a selection of sides. As you take your first succulent, barbecue-infused bite, we guarantee you'll be glad you didn't spend a fortune on takeout instead! 

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

When it comes to making wings of any kind, the seasoning is crucial. To give the chicken in this recipe a spicy, savory flavor that goes well with sweet and tangy notes, you'll need olive oil and a selection of seasonings — paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper — to coat the wings. Then, grab some of your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce to toss with the air-fried spicy wings.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Mix the olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Lay out the chicken wings and pat dry with paper towels.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Add the wings to a large bowl with the spice mixture. Mix well to coat evenly.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Line your air fryer basket(s) with parchment paper or brush the rack with oil.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Add the chicken wings to the basket(s) without overlapping them — work in batches if needed. Cook for 10 minutes at 375 F.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Flip the wings and cook for another 8 minutes.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

In a mixing bowl, toss the wings with the BBQ sauce.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Return the coated wings to the air fryer and cook for a final 2 minutes.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

Serve the wings garnished with chopped parsley if desired.

Catherine Brookes/Mashed

The natural pairing for barbecue chicken wings is, of course, a cool and creamy ranch dip, but there's also plenty of room to experiment with other sauces here. Another delicious idea is to serve your wings with a rich and tangy blue cheese dip. The combination of blue cheese crumbles, sour cream, and mayonnaise nicely contrasts with the sweetness of the barbecue sauce. 

Or, to add some tasty garlicky flavor to your plate, pair the wings with a roasted garlic aioli. Baking the already flavor-packed garlic bulbs gives them a wonderful caramelized sweetness that makes the dip seriously more aromatic when blended with mayonnaise and lemon juice. 

If you love zesty, herbaceous flavors, try some Greek yogurt enhanced with some lime juice and chopped cilantro. A honey mustard dip made with mayonnaise is another classic choice, offering a tangy sweetness that fits in seamlessly alongside the barbecue sauce.

If you don't have an air fryer, using a different cooking method to make these barbecue wings is no problem. The most obvious choice, and one that's just as simple, is oven-baking the chicken. For this technique, start by following the chicken preparation steps as usual — patting the meat dry and rubbing it with the olive oil and seasonings. Then, arrange the wings on a foil-lined baking sheet or metal rack, and bake them at 425 F for around 35 to 45 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 F. Finally, toss the chicken in the barbecue sauce, and it's ready to serve.

To pan-fry the wings, the chicken can again be coated in the seasoning mixture as usual. Next, place your frying pan over high heat and wait for it to get nice and hot. Add the wings and sear them for around two minutes per side to give the skin some color. Then, reduce the heat to low and cover the pan with a lid. Cook the chicken for another 20 minutes, flipping it every now and again until fully cooked through, before adding the sauce.