If you like those flavorful crispy fried chicken wings from Chinese takeout spots, you can’t miss this recipe. By using an air fryer, you only need to use a minimal amount of oil to create a great result – juicy tender wings with a crunchy crispy crust. It takes no time to put together, requires little hands-on time, and it cooks super fast. I’ve shared quite a few Chinese chicken wings recipes in the past, such as Baked Sichuan Chicken Wings, Easy Sticky Wings with Hot Sauce, Chinese Baked Hot Wings, and Honey Soy Oven Baked Chicken Wings. I love them all for different reasons, but I cook these air fryer wings the most frequently, because they are just so easy to prepare and are always a guaranteed hit.
Ingredients for air fryer chicken wings
You only need a few pantry ingredients to make these amazing Chinese chicken wings. If you cook Chinese food at home often, you probably already have all of the ingredients on hand.
One word on Shaoxing wine
I often get questions on Shaoxing wine. It’s a key ingredient in the recipe and will add a lot of umami to the marinade. Dry sherry is the best alternative and you can easily find it at a liquor store. You can also use Japanese sake as a replacement. However, if you do not wish to have any alcohol in your dish, you can omit the Shaoxing wine from the recipe.
Dry spice vs. fresh aromatics
I often prefer to use fresh ginger and garlic to make a marinade. However, I tried to use dried garlic and ginger powder in this recipe to further simplify the prep process, and the result turned out great. If you wish to use ground fresh ginger and garlic, definitely go for it!
How to cook air fryer Chinese chicken wings
Air fryer Chinese chicken wings cooking notes
A large ziplock bag is your friend
I prefer to marinate the Chinese chicken wings in a large ziplock bag because the wings will be marinated more evenly without the need to stir them every couple of hours. If you do not plan to cook the wings immediately, you can easily throw the bag into the freezer and take it out to thaw when you’re getting ready to cook.
To flip or not to flip
I flipped the wings in between while shooting this recipe, because the wings would be crisped more evenly. However when I’m feeling lazy, I won’t bother to flip the wings and the result will still be really good, with the top of the wings extra crispy, and the bottom a bit soggy. If you do not plan to flip the wings, make sure not to line your frying basket with parchment paper, so the air will circulate under the wings and cook them properly.
How to reheat the wings
To reheat the wings, air fry them at 350°F (176°C) for about 8 to 10 minutes without preheating. The wings will crisp up nicely and remain juicy.
Tweak your cooking time accordingly
Depending on the type of air fryer and the size of the chicken wings you use, the cooking time might differ. I use a Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven currently. It is quite powerful and sometimes it takes less time. When I tested this recipe, I noticed that bigger wings will take up to 15 to 16 minutes in a preheated air fryer. Smaller wings only take 12 minutes. If you do not preheat the air fryer, the cooking time will need to be increased by a few minutes as well. When you’re using an air fryer recipe, always check on your food a few times during cooking, and slightly adjust the cooking time so you get the best result.
What dipping sauce to serve with Chinese chicken wings
These crispy Chinese chicken wings are seasoned with the intent to serve them without any sauce. However, I do like to dip them in mayonnaise (my favorite is kewpie mayo). You can also serve them with different types of hot sauce, such as Sriracha sauce and chili garlic sauce, or any hot sauce you prefer. A light squeeze of lemon juice over the wings is super tasty as well.
Afterthoughts
I’m quite happy with this recipe because these air fryer Chinese chicken wings offer a healthier and tastier alternative to deep-fried chicken wings. They take about 5 minutes to put together and reheat very well. No matter whether you’re whipping up a quick dinner, hosting a party, or doing bulk prep for your meals for the week, this is a winning recipe for sure.
Other delicious air fryer recipes
Air Fryer Garlic Ribs (蒜香排骨)Air Fryer Sweet Potato FriesAir Fryer Salt and Pepper ChickenAir Fryer Fries with Spice MixAir Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken
