Incredibly easy and delicious air fryer frozen chicken wings - perfect for game day or a quick weeknight dinner! Crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside, they taste like they just came out of the deep fryer, but healthier. Tossed in a sweet and spicy hot honey butter, these wings are a crowd favorite!
There really is no better way to cook chicken wings! Compared to the oven, the air fryer cuts the cooking time in half and makes the wings extra crispy, like they just came out of the deep fryer! I also love using this method with my homemade air fryer chicken nuggets - a very popular recipe on my website!
And you absolutely have to make the hot honey butter! It's, dare I say, life-changing. It's sweet, salty, spicy, buttery, and creamy. I'm obsessed. Nate's obsessed. You're going to be obsessed. You'll want to drizzle it on everything. It's also amazing on pizza. You have to try my BBQ Chicken Pizza with Hot Honey Butter!
And if you're here because you're looking for game day recipes, you absolutely have to make my pretzel pigs in a blanket with beer cheese! They get devoured quickly and everyone raves about the beer cheese!
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Why you'll love this recipe
- No thawing necessary. There is absolutely no need to thaw the chicken wings before air frying. They cook from frozen, saving you lots of time and hassle.
- Cooked perfectly. In just 25 minutes, the wings will be seriously crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.
- Crazy flavorful. You guys, the hot honey butter. I can't tell you enough how good it is!! Just three simple ingredients create the most amazing flavor.
Ingredient notes
This recipe calls for simple, pantry-staple ingredients.
See recipe card for full ingredient list and measurements.
- Chicken wings. Your favorite frozen, bone-in chicken wings. No need to thaw first! Alternatively, you can use refrigerated chicken wings - you'll just want to cut down on the cook time.
- Olive oil. To help the wings get nice and crispy. You can substitute with avocado oil or your favorite cooking oil.
- Salt.
- Pepper.
- Garlic powder. While garlic powder adds an extra layer of flavor, if you don't have any on hand, you can omit it.
- Butter. Salted butter is best here for maximum flavor!
- Hot sauce. I like to use Frank's redhot original cayenne pepper hot sauce. Not the wing sauce.
- Honey. Your favorite honey, or you can try substituting with maple syrup!
Substitutions and variations
- Chicken wings. While I love the simplicity of grabbing frozen chicken wings from the freezer, you can also use refrigerated wings for this recipe! Reduce the cook time to 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Honey. If you're out of honey or have an allergy, try maple syrup!
- Hot honey butter. I am fully obsessed with this sauce, but feel free to substitute it with buffalo sauce, BBQ, or your favorite wing sauce.
How to make frozen chicken wings in the air fryer
See recipe card for full instructions.
- Step 1: Season. Toss the wings in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Step 2: Cook. Air fry the frozen wings for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. If using thawed wings, cook 15-20 minutes.
- Step 3: Toss in hot honey butter. While the wings cook, make the hot honey butter. Toss the cooked wings in the sauce and then air fry again for a few minutes to caramelize the sauce.
- Step 4: Enjoy! Serve with extra hot honey butter and ranch for dipping.
How to make frozen chicken wings in the oven
- Step 1: Season the wings. Toss the wings in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Step 2: Cook the frozen chicken wings. Cook the frozen chicken wings at 400 degrees for about 1 hour (40 minutes if thawed), flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
- Step 4: Toss in hot honey butter. While the wings cook, make the hot honey butter. Toss the cooked wings in the sauce and return to the oven. Broil for 1-2 minutes, watching the wings closely so they don't burn, then flip the wings and broil again for another 1-2 minutes.
- Step 5: Enjoy! Serve with extra hot honey butter and ranch for dipping.
Expert tips
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer. Place the wings in the air fryer in a single layer, leaving a bit of space between each wing. If you stack the wings, they won't cook evenly and get as crispy on the outside.
- Move the wings around if they're not cooking evenly. I noticed my air fryer cooks a little hotter on one side than the other. If your air fryer is the same, you may need to move the wings around halfway through the cooking time when you open the air fryer to flip the wings, so they can all cook and crisp evenly.
- Air fry the wings again after tossing in hot honey butter. Don't skip this step! Make sure to air fry the wings again after you toss them in the sauce. It caramelizes the hot honey butter, helping it stick to the wings and char a little - they're so good this way!
Recipe FAQs
Air fry frozen chicken wings at 400 degrees for 25 minutes, flipping the wings halfway through the cook time to ensure both sides get crispy and the wings cook evenly.
A few simple tricks to ensure crispy, golden-brown wings in the air fryer. First, preheat your air fryer so it's nice and hot before the wings go in. Second, place the frozen wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a bit of space between each wing so moisture can escape. Lastly, spray the wings with oil before cooking to promote browning, and again after you flip the wings.
Yes, flipping chicken wings halfway through the cooking time allows both sides to cook evenly and get crispy.
Storing leftovers
If you have leftover chicken wings, store them in a resealable container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheating
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Add the chicken wings in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes. Flip and cook another 2-3 minutes until heated through.
Did you try this recipe?
I'd love to hear from you! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and comment below. I appreciate your helpful feedback! Follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Pinterest for more delicious recipes!
Thanks so much! - Rachel
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings with Hot Honey Butter
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken wings
- 2 pounds frozen chicken wings
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Hot honey butter
- 1 cup butter
- ⅓ cup Frank's original hot sauce
- ⅓ cup honey
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Toss the wings in the olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Place the wings in the preheated air fryer in a single layer. Set to air fry for 15 minutes. Flip the wings and cook another 10-15 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Meanwhile, make the hot honey butter. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt together the butter, hot sauce and honey, whisking to combine.
- Once the wings are cooked, toss with half of the hot honey butter. Place the wings back into the air fryer to caramelize the sauce and char the wings. Air fry for 2 minutes, then flip the wings and air fry for another 2 minutes.
- Serve the wings with the extra hot honey butter and a side of ranch.
Notes
How to make frozen chicken wings in the oven
- Step 1: Season the wings. Toss the wings in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Step 2: Cook the frozen chicken wings. Cook the frozen chicken wings at 400 degrees for about 1 hour (40 minutes if thawed), flipping halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
- Step 4: Toss in hot honey butter. While the wings cook, make the hot honey butter. Toss the cooked wings in the sauce and return to the oven. Broil for 1-2 minutes, watching the wings closely so they don't burn, then flip the wings and broil again for another 1-2 minutes.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is automatically calculated by a third party software and is only an estimate, not a guarantee. This information is provided as a courtesy, and you are solely responsible for all decisions related to your health.
Brenda says
Recipe calls for 2lb frozen chicken wings. Is that about ten wings, like what’s shown in your photos, or do you have to cook in batches when using the air fryer. I have a 7-1/2 quart air fryer so it’s pretty large, but I’m not sure I can fit ten wings in one layer.
Modern Farmhouse Eats says
Brenda, there are about 8-10 chicken wings per pound. If needed, cook the wings in batches so you don't overcrowd the air fryer.
Sean Kelly says
I’ve made these twice now, they come out awesome! I highly recommend using grape seed oil instead of olive oil, the olive oil made my whole house fill with smoke. Still a great flavor!
Modern Farmhouse Eats says
Sean, thanks for the tip. I'm so glad you're enjoying the recipe!!
Katie Van Harten says
Hi, what brand of Hot sauce do you use?
Modern Farmhouse Eats says
Hi Katie, I use Frank's original hot sauce
Carolyn Carter says
Yes, how much garlic powder? Also in the oven method recipe, it talks about saucing them and returning them to the air fryer. Does not give directions on saucing them after they’re cooked and how much longer to return to the oven.
Modern Farmhouse Eats says
Hi Carolyn, after you toss the wings in the hot honey butter, broil in the oven for 1-2 minutes, watching closely so the wings don't burn, then flip and broil another 1-2 minutes.
colleen says
You say to toss wings in with garlic powder, but garlic powder not listed as an ingredient. How much?
Modern Farmhouse Eats says
Hi Colleen, sorry I missed that! It's just 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.