Crispiest and Juiciest Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings!

Looking for a recipe that can satisfy your taste buds? Here’s the crispiest and juiciest Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings that disappear in no time after serving.

Who’s to say that you cannot enjoy chicken wings without it being drenched in too much oil? With an air fryer, you easily can. With only a little oil, the air fryer crisps up the chicken perfectly for that golden brown finish. Coat it with Garlic Parmesan butter, and everything becomes irresistible.

Welcome the Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan chicken wings recipe.

Why you’ll love this recipe

There’s so much to love about Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings. It’s garlicky, buttery and I’m surely in love with how the flavors explode as I bite into the meat. Here’s why they’re a must-try.

Healthy: Well, health comes first, as they say. Compared to the traditional way of making Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings, this air fryer method requires little oil. A good spray of olive oil will do instead of deep frying them in liters of oil. This reduces the amount of calories, and overall makes it much healthier.

Crispy, juicy and full of flavors: From the marinade, coating ‘til frying, this recipe is perfected to give you the best chicken wings you’ve ever had.

Less mess: Deep frying is really nice, especially if you’re aiming for that crispy texture and golden brown color. But it leaves way so much mess. The oil that splatters in the kitchen, the lingering smell and the hot kitchen are some of the downsides. While we can all live with it anyway, we have a great alternative in the form of an air fryer. Air Fryer crisps up chicken wings just as good as the deep frying method, and you don’t need tons of oil to achieve that.

Ingredients

The secret to irresistible garlic parmesan wings lies in simple, quality ingredients. Here’s everything that you need, along with potential substitutions.

• Chicken Wings: The star of the dish. Choose fresh wings for the juiciest results, but frozen ones work well if thawed properly. You can also choose to cook them whole or split them into drumette and flat.
• Garlic: In this recipe, I used a mix of fresh garlic and garlic powder. But feel free to use roasted garlic and jarred garlic paste too.
• Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan Cheese has a mix of savory and nutty flavors with a satisfying umami note that greatly elevates the quality of this dish. If possible, purchase a block of Parmesan cheese and grate it yourself.
• Olive oil: Cooking chicken wings in the air fryer will still require olive oil, although a lot less compared to deep-frying them. So, for air frying, I suggest any oil with a high smoke point, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Parsley: For the peppery flavor and green color.
• Butter: You can opt for salted butter for extra richness or go with unsalted and adjust the seasoning to your taste.
• Seasonings and herbs: You will need several seasonings for this dish, such as garlic powder, paprika, ground black pepper and salt. Feel free to add chili flakes if you want it spicy.
• Baking powder and cornstarch: Baking powder and cornstarch have always been part of my chicken wing recipes, whether I’m pan-frying, using a skillet, or air frying. They consistently deliver wings with a golden-brown color and a satisfyingly crispy exterior.

How to make Garlic Parmesan Butter sauce?

The real magic of Garlic Parmesan Wings lies in the sauce. Here are the steps and a few tips to make sure the flavor shines.

• Melt the butter! Compared to our Garlic Bread recipe, this one uses melted butter instead of softened butter. Why? Melted butter coats chicken much better, especially when the wings come out hot and crispy. On the other hand, softened butter would just clump up or get stuck in the nooks and crannies. So in a skillet, melt the microwave over medium heat.
• Mince the garlic finely, and toss them in the pan. Let it cook in the melted butter for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant. Make sure not to burn the garlic as they can give bitter taste that will 100% ruin the dish.
• Remove the heat and whisk in grated Parmesan Cheese until the sauce is slightly thick.
• Add salt and black pepper, and stir in fresh parsley.
• Set aside!

How to make the best Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer

There are only two ways you can get satisfying, crispy chicken wings: deep frying or air frying. Of course, we’ll go for the latter. There’s less mess, and it’s a lot healthier.

• Dry them well! Dab the wings with paper towels. Do it a couple of times if needed. Any leftover moisture will stop them from browning and keep the skin from crisping up.
• After removing the surface moisture, add a drizzle of olive oil and gently rub or toss the chicken until it’s well-coated. This ensures the dry spices will adhere properly.
• Combine two teaspoons of garlic powder, one and a half teaspoons of paprika, half a teaspoon of salt, and half a teaspoon of black pepper in a bowl. Give it a good stir until everything is well mixed.
• Sprinkle the spice mix all over the wings, trying to get as much coverage as possible. Toss them around until every piece looks nicely dusted. One tip: use your hands to rub the seasoning in, as it sticks better and makes the flavor pop even more.
• Transfer the wings into a ziplock bag and let them marinate for half an hour, or leave them overnight if possible.
• Preheat the air fryer to 185°C or 370°F for three minutes.
• Spray a little oil onto the preheated air fryer basket and place the chicken wings in a single layer. Finish with a light spray of oil over the wings to help them crisp up nicely.
• Set the timer for 12 minutes, and let the air fryer do its job. Flip them halfway through so both sides get nice and crispy.

Tip: Get to know your air fryer! Every model is a little different, which means cooking times can vary. Some run hotter, others have stronger fans, so it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on the wings the first time around and adjust as needed.

What to serve with

Air fryer chicken wings are amazing on their own, but the right sides and dips can turn them into a full-on feast. Try these dishes with the chicken wings!

• Best Air Fryer Honey Garlic Pork Belly Bites
• The Best Air Fryer Pepperoni Frittata
• Quick and Easy Air Fryer Tuna-Stuffed Bell Pepper
• Air Fryer Stuffed Potato Croquettes
• The Only Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Bites You’ll Ever Need
• Quick Air Fryer Roasted Baby Potatoes Recipe
• The Ultimate Air Fryer Pizza Toast
• Quick and Easy Air Fryer Fried Rice in Under 30 Minutes
• Air fryer Three-Cheese Spinach Lasagna Bites

Best Dipping Sauce

Here are some great dipping sauces that pair perfectly with air fryer garlic parmesan chicken wings:

• Classic Ranch
• Blue Cheese
• Garlic Aioli
• Buffalo Sauce
• Honey Mustard
• Marinara Sauce
• Chili Garlic Sauce

How to Store Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

Got some leftovers, and don’t wanna waste them? Here’s what you can do to store them.

Note: Be sure to let them cool down first before storing them for the sake of your food and your refrigerator.

Keep leftover air fryer garlic parmesan chicken wings in a safe, airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to three to four days. If they develop a sour or off odor, or show signs of sliminess or mold, it’s best to discard them as they’re no longer safe to eat.

How to Reheat Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

You may reheat your Chicken Wings with the use of Air Fryer, Oven, Microwave, or Stovetop. Here’s how.

Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 160°C or 320°F. Arrange the wings in a single layer in the basket and reheat for 3–5 minutes, until heated through and crispy again.

Oven: Preheat the oven to 175°C or 350°F. Place the wings on a baking sheet, cover loosely with foil to prevent them from drying out, and warm for 8–10 minutes.

Microwave: Place the wings on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Heat on medium power for 60–90 seconds, until warmed through. (Note: they won’t stay as crispy this way.)

Stovetop: Heat a nonstick skillet over low to medium heat. Add the wings and reheat for 3–4 minutes, flipping once, until warmed evenly.

Estimated Nutrition

Note: The nutrition details provided are based on general calculations and may not reflect exact results. Actual values can differ depending on the ingredients used, portion sizes, and how the food is prepared. Use this as a general guide, not a medical or dietary recommendation.

Thanks for giving this recipe a try! Hope it brought as much flavor to your table as it did to mine. If you enjoyed it, don’t forget to share your creation, tag me on TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook so I can see your delicious version. While you’re at it, follow us on these platforms to stay updated on every new recipe we share.

For more easy and tasty recipes, please check out Cookingdex!