Garlic and parmesan chicken wings are really simple and come together quickly and easily. Salt, pepper, olive oil, grated parmesan cheese, and garlic powder deliver a crispy and flavorful snack that pairs perfectly with a nice bitter IPA.
The air fryer is a phenomenal way to quickly cook ultra-crispy wings without the need for messy oils and deep frying. While you can make this recipe in the oven, the air fryer is much faster and delivers crispier results thanks to the circulating high heat.
These wings are gameday essentials along with my honey buffalo wings, honey garlic wings, and simple dry-rubbed wings. Serve with a side of creamy ranch and optional celery and carrot sticks.
Why This Recipe Works
- Crispy and delicious: cooking wings in an air fryer is a foolproof way to get the perfect crispy wing texture without deep frying. You’ll be amazed by the texture.
- Healthier and easier cleanup: air frying is a much healthier alternative to deep frying and eliminates the handling and disposal of hot cooking oils.
Ingredients
- Chicken “party” wings: fully defrosted and separated into wingette and drummette.
- Finely grated parmesan cheese: finer grated cheese makes for easier spreading/adhering to the wings however you can use a slightly coarser consistency if you prefer.
- Olive oil: olive oil helps to make the skin extra crispy.
- Garlic powder: garlic powder works better than fresh garlic because it crisps nicely and helps form more of a dry rub texture.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities below.
How to Cook Crispy Chicken Wings in an Air Fryer
Step 1.
Pat the wings dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture from the skin. This helps with crisping the skin.
Step 2.
Toss wings in a bowl with a light drizzle of olive oil. A very light coating is all that is needed. Too much oil will result in pooling and smoking in the air fryer. Season all over with salt and pepper.
Step 3.
Add garlic powder and parmesan cheese and toss until evenly coated. Add more garlic powder as needed.
Step 4.
Transfer wings to a 4-5 quart air fryer arranging them as evenly as possible in the basket with minimal overlap. Some overlap or stacking is OK, especially if you rotate them every 5-6 minutes.
Step 5.
Air fry at 375°F for 22-26 minutes, or until wings are crispy and fully cooked through (at least 165°F internal temp for chicken). Toss the wings 2-3 times throughout the cooking process to ensure even cooking. This is especially important if cooking larger quantities.
Step 6.
Plate the wings and sprinkle a dusting of parmesan and optional fresh parsley. Serve immediately with optional carrots, celery, and ranch dressing.
Tips & Tricks
- You can make your own grated parmesan by using a blender or food processor. Cut cheese into small cubes and pulse until the desired texture is reached. You can also use a microplane.
- If you can’t find separated wings, you can buy full chicken wings and separate them yourself with a sharp knife. Here is a very helpful video.
- You can arrange up to 2 layers of wings in your air fryer if you add additional cooking time and toss every 5 minutes. The wings should be evenly golden brown on all sides.
Frequently Asked Questions
I can fit 2 pounds of wings at once in a 4-quart air fryer. The secret is to flip/toss the wings every 5 minutes to ensure an evenly cooked exterior. If you’re cooking multiple layers of wings, this is especially important.
I typically do not preheat my air fryer, however preheating for 2 minutes prior to cooking ensures faster cooking and an immediate blast of hot air from the start.
Chicken wings can be cooked up to 180°F and remain juicy and tender due to their higher fat content. At a minimum, wings should be cooked to an internal temp of 165°F.
What to Serve With Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
- Baked sweet potato fries or parmesan truffle fries make the perfect side for wings.
- These pair well with heavier gameday apps like cheesesteak sliders, skillet buffalo chicken dip, and crock pot chili.
- Make it a complete meal with bacon brussels sprouts, creamy mashed potatoes, and maple bourbon cornbread.
More Chicken Wing Recipes
- Honey buffalo chicken wings
- Grilled honey garlic chicken wings
- Grilled tequila lime chicken wings
- Dry rub air fryer wings
- Simple jerk chicken
Enjoy this recipe? If you made this recipe, please leave a ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ star rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments!
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Air Fryer Garlic and Parmesan Wings
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 5 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Description
Party wings tossed in salt, pepper, olive oil, grated parmesan cheese, and garlic powder. They’re crispy, super flavorful, and pair perfectly with a nice bitter IPA.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2–2 pounds thawed chicken party wings (wingette and drummette separated)
- 1/4–1/3 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2–3 teaspoons garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional minced parsley for garnish
- Optional sliced carrots, celery, and ranch dressing for dipping
Instructions
- Pat the wings dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture from the skin. This helps with crisping the skin.
- Toss wings in a bowl with a light drizzle of olive oil. A very light coating is all that is needed. Too much oil will result in pooling and smoking in the air fryer. Season all over with salt and pepper.
- Add garlic powder and parmesan cheese and toss until evenly coated. Add more garlic powder as needed.
- Transfer wings to a 4-5 quart air fryer arranging them as evenly as possible in the basket with minimal overlap. Some overlap is OK, especially if you rotate them every 5-6 minutes.
- Air fry at 375°F for 22-26 minutes, or until wings are crispy and fully cooked through (at least 165°F internal temp for chicken). Toss the wings 2-3 times throughout the cooking process to ensure even cooking.
- Plate the wings and sprinkle a dusting of parmesan and optional fresh parsley. Serve immediately with optional carrots, celery, and ranch dressing.
Notes
Chicken wings can be cooked up to 180°F and remain juicy and tender due to their higher fat content.
I typically do not preheat my air fryer, however preheating for 2 minutes prior to cooking ensures faster cooking and an immediate blast of hot air from the start.
The easiest way to make finely grated parmesan is by using a blender or food processor. Cut cheese into small cubes and pulse until the desired texture is reached. Finer grated cheese makes for a better coating/dusting.
If cooking closer to 3 pounds of wings, it may take closer to 30 minutes to fully cook the wings, depending on the size of your air fryer. Do not overfill.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5 wings
- Calories: 578
- Sugar: .3g
- Sodium: 357mg
- Fat: 41.6g
- Saturated Fat: 11.3g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: .1g
- Protein: 47.9g
- Cholesterol: 148mg
Keywords: garlic and parmesan wings, chicken wing recipes
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