Frozen Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer

FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook

• Why You Need My Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How To Cook Frozen Wings In The Air Fryer
• My Recipe Tips
• Sauce & Seasoning Variations
• Serving Ideas
• Frozen Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer (Crispy!) Recipe card
• Recipe Reviews

After I published my air fryer chicken wings recipe , many of you asked me if it’s possible to cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer . You can! I’ve had those days when I forget to thaw chicken more times than I can count, and while I used to think I’m just stuck choosing something else, I’ve discovered in my testing that air frying makes it possible to enjoy juicy, crispy wings even when I forget. It’s been such a lifesaver. If you forgot to thaw today, make these air fryer frozen chicken wings with me — I think you’ll love the results!

Why You Need My Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings

• Flavorful, crispy wings with extra crispy skin – A.k.a. what air fryer recipes do best. But what really surprised me is that I could achieve that juicy texture and crispy skin even with frozen chicken wings! It’s partly my method and partly my secret ingredient. 😉
• No need to thaw – Honestly, this is the main reason I cook frozen wings in the air fryer. It’s literally the only method I’ve found that actually tastes amazing without thawing.
• Quick & easy – With just 5 minutes of prep time and no planning ahead, this recipe is perfect for busy days… or just one of those days when the chicken doesn’t make it out of my freezer. And it’s definitely faster than oven baked wings .

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my air fried chicken wings recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

• Frozen Chicken Wings – I like a mix of flats and drumettes for variety, but either works. You can also make this recipe with whole chicken wings , but they’ll take longer for both air frying steps.
• Olive Oil – Avocado oil works, too.
• Baking Powder – My secret ingredient for crispy skin! It works by raising the skin pH and bringing moisture to the surface (so that it evaporates). Don’t use baking soda, which is different and will leave your chicken with a bitter flavor.
• Sea Salt & Black Pepper – These are my basics, but I’ve got more seasoning and sauce below!

How To Cook Frozen Wings In The Air Fryer

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

1. Pre-cook the frozen wings plain. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F, then arrange the frozen chicken wings in the air fryer basket. Air fry until thawed and warm. (The picture on the left is how I arranged them frozen, and on the right is how they look after this step.)

1. Dry the thawed wings. Pat the wings dry with a clean paper towel and pat dry with a paper towel. Drain any liquid from the bottom of the air fryer basket, if needed.
2. Oil and season. Drizzle the chicken with olive oil, and sprinkle with baking powder, salt, and pepper (or any seasonings you want). Toss to coat. I use tongs for easy mixing.
3. Air fry again. Place the wings back in the air fryer. Increase the heat (if your air fryer goes higher) and cook until crispy, flipping halfway through.

My Recipe Tips

• The timing for initial air frying step can vary a bit. 8 minutes is always ideal for the frozen wings I get, but if yours are small, I would check on them a few minutes sooner. Pull them once they are warm and thawed — I poke them with a fork to check that they aren’t solid inside.
• Season only after the first air frying step, not before. Oil and seasonings won’t stick well to the frozen chicken. This is why I pre-cook the frozen chicken wings in the air fryer first, as it’s essentially a faster way to thaw — and with the air flow, they don’t dry out even though this step does partially cook them.
• Dry well before seasoning. Moisture on the outside is the enemy of crispy skin, so you want them super dry. I find it helpful to line the bottom of my bowl with 2 layers of paper towels, dump the wings on top, then fold the paper towel over the top and get the paper towel between any layers. Then just pull the paper towel out from underneath.
• Don’t crowd the basket. It’s important that your wings are in a single layer, so cook in batches if they don’t fit well. It’s okay if they touch a little, but you don’t want them crammed together, or they won’t get crispy. I have this air fryer and love the roomy basket without a huge counter footprint.
• I don’t flip when thawing, but I do when air frying after seasoning. This is important for both sides to get crispy.
• I go by how the outsides look to determine they are done. For most chicken recipes I rely on internal temperature (165 degrees F is the minimum for chicken), but here the crispy skin is the most reliable indicator. The inside is always done by the time the skin crisps up, and I never find these wings dry even if the temp creeps up higher.

Sauce & Seasoning Variations

I created recipe to show you how to cook frozen chicken wings in the air fryer, focusing on the method rather than a specific flavor, but I’ve made it lots of different ways! Here are some other seasonings or sauces you can add:

• Simple spices – My go-to blend is a teaspoon of Italian seasoning plus 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
• Spicy dry rub – Trade salt and pepper for a tablespoon of my Cajun seasoning or jerk seasoning . My husband loves spicy food and he loves these.
• Lemon pepper – Replace the salt and pepper with 2 tablespoons of my lemon pepper seasoning . It’s already salted, but if you use a store-bought mix that isn’t, add salt separately.
• Buffalo – The classic! Make the wing sauce from my baked buffalo wings and toss your cooked wings in it.
• BBQ or teriyaki – Same as above, but use teriyaki sauce or barbecue sauce (I love this sugar-free BBQ sauce ).
• Garlic parmesan – This sauce is similar to the one in my Crock Pot chicken wings , but the method is different. I air fry frozen chicken wings as usual, and sauté 3 cloves of garlic in 1/4 cup of butter while they cook. Once the wings are done, toss them in the melted butter and top with shredded parmesan cheese. You can air fry for another minute if you want melty cheese.

Serving Ideas

I’ve served these air fryer frozen chicken wings as a dinner main as well as an appetizer. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy them:

• Dipping Sauces – I think a sauce is a must, even if you don’t toss the wings in it! These are perfect with ranch dressing (shown above) or blue cheese dressing , especially if you toss them in buffalo sauce or other hot sauce. When I eat them plain, I like them with sugar-free jalapeno honey .
• Crudites – A.k.a. raw vegetables. I usually do carrot and celery sticks, but cucumbers work well, too.
• Appetizers – Make a game day platter with my jalapeno poppers , bacon wrapped dates , air fryer french fries , and spinach artichoke dip .
• Sides – When I serve these for dinner, I like to pair them with other air fried sides, like air fryer zucchini or air fryer sweet potato fries . If you’d rather cook something in parallel while you’ve got your frozen chicken wings in the air fryer, try my parmesan brussels sprouts or broccoli cheese casserole .

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

• 2 lb Frozen chicken wings (flats and drumettes) ▢
• 2 tbsp Olive oil ▢
• 2 tsp Baking powder ▢
• 3/4 tsp Sea salt ▢
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper ▢
• Wing sauce of your choice (optional) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).
2. Arrange the frozen chicken wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer. (Cook in batches if they don’t all fit.)
3. Cook frozen wings in the air fryer for 8 minutes , until thawed and warm.
4. Transfer the wings to a large bowl and pat dry with paper towels. Drain any liquid from the bottom of the air fryer basket.
5. Add the olive oil, baking powder, salt, and pepper to the bowl with the wings. Toss to coat evenly.
6. Place the chicken wings back in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
7. Increase the air fryer temperature to 430 degrees F (221 degrees C), or leave it at 400 degrees F (204 degrees C) if that’s as high as your air fryer temperature goes. Air fry for 6 minutes . Flip the wings over and continue cooking for 4-6 minutes (for a total of 10-12 minutes), until the chicken wings are done and crispy.
8. Serve air fryer frozen chicken wings plain, or toss with your favorite sauce.

LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size : 4-6 chicken wings, or 1/4 entire recipe

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you with the right timing and get the crispiest skin, plus notes on flipping and how to tell they are done.
• Sauce and seasoning variations: See my variations above for ideas!
• Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Reheat: I highly recommend reheating in the air fryer again to get the skin crispy. And while they do re-crisp better in a single layer, sometimes I toss a larger batch in all at once and they still reheat pretty well.
• Freeze: To prevent your air fried frozen wings from sticking together, freeze in a single layer on a parchment lined baking flat first. Once solid, transfer to a zip lock bag and keep frozen for up to 3 months. I prefer to thaw before reheating, since they are already cooked at this point.
• Note on nutrition info: The nutrition information does not include wing sauce, as it depends on what you use.

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Healthy Air Fryer Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

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Frozen Chicken Wings In The Air Fryer

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• The Basic Keto Meal Formula
• Understanding Macros
• Keto Food Swaps
• Keto Food List
• Electrolyte Basics
• Keto Diet Types
• Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
• Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

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1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
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The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Keto Swaps For Bread

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Keto Swaps For Drinks

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Foods To Eat On Keto

• Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
• Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
• Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
• Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
• Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
• Avocados
• Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
• Almond flour and coconut flour
• Eggs
• Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

• White flour & sugar
• Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
• Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
• Cereal
• Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
• Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
• Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
• Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
• Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
• Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

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Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

• Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
• Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
• Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
• Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

1. Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
2. Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
3. Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
4. Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
5. Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
6. Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
7. Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
8. Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
9. FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

• Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you with the right timing and get the crispiest skin, plus notes on flipping and how to tell they are done.
• Sauce and seasoning variations: See my variations above for ideas!
• Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Reheat: I highly recommend reheating in the air fryer again to get the skin crispy. And while they do re-crisp better in a single layer, sometimes I toss a larger batch in all at once and they still reheat pretty well.
• Freeze: To prevent your air fried frozen wings from sticking together, freeze in a single layer on a parchment lined baking flat first. Once solid, transfer to a zip lock bag and keep frozen for up to 3 months. I prefer to thaw before reheating, since they are already cooked at this point.
• Note on nutrition info: The nutrition information does not include wing sauce, as it depends on what you use.