These crispy, gluten-free chicken wings cook up in a flash with an air fryer!
Chicken wings are as core to American culture as ranch dressing, hamburgers, and football. In fact, we typically eat chicken wings with ranch dressing when football is on TV, and in that setting, hamburgers are probably somewhere nearby. They’re delicious, often spicy, and rarely good for you.
When we make chicken wings, we typically deep-fry them (with or without a breading), slather them in sugary barbecue sauce or oily hot sauce, and then dip them in ranch or blue cheese dressing. Sure, they’re traditionally served with carrots and celery, but really—who are we kidding here? A side of raw vegetables doesn’t undo what fried chicken, barbecue sauce, and ranch do to us!
This recipe for air fryer breaded chicken wings, however, actually is a bit healthier than your average pile of restaurant chicken wings. In this recipe, the wings are breaded with an almond flour base, so you can have breading without the extra carbs—plus, the smoked paprika, cayenne, and garlic in the crispy crust negate the need for a toss in some oily sauce. If you still need to dip these in ranch or blue cheese to get to the bottom of your chicken wing craving, you can do so knowing you’ve prepped the chicken in a healthier way! Just don’t forget those carrots and celery sticks.
Are Air-Fryer Breaded Chicken Wings Healthy?
These chicken wings are a healthier choice because using the air fryer requires less oil to form a crispy crust. Using almond flour instead of white flour for the breading is healthier in certain ways—almond flour is higher in protein and lower in carbs, for example, plus almond flour is more satisfying than white flour. Chicken wings contain plenty of protein and B vitamins, but bear in mind that they are high in fat. These tasty wings aren’t exactly low in calories either, however, so be sure to serve them up with some fresh veggies.
Overall, this recipe is suitable for gluten-free and dairy-free eaters, and it’s keto and low-carb friendly, too.
Explore The World Of Wing Flavors
As we all know, wings come in all kinds of flavor profiles. Go to any restaurant that specializes in wings, and you’re likely to find between five and twenty-five different combinations of sauces and seasonings, at all different levels of spiciness. Some have hundreds of flavor-and-spice combos!
That’s why I’m encouraging you to play around with the spices and seasonings in this recipe. The seasonings listed in the recipe below are a slam dunk, but take a minute to think about what you’re craving. Want something a little more herbal? Try adding a half teaspoon of ground thyme, marjoram, oregano, or rosemary. Interested in more of a BBQ-like rub? Add a little brown sugar. I personally like adding lemon pepper, thyme, rosemary, and white pepper to my breading recipe. Experiment until you find the combinations you love!
How Do I Store Leftovers?
These wings are best enjoyed right out of the air fryer, but you can store leftovers in the fridge for up to four days. Simply reheat them for a few minutes in the air fryer to bring back that irresistible crunch. To freeze them, transfer them to freezer-safe zip-top bags and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let them thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating in the air fryer to resurrect that crunch!
Serving Suggestions
Serve these wings with something fresh and green, like Grilled Broccoli, the ever-fabulous TikTok Cucumber Salad, a fresh Tomato-Basil Salad, or some Roasted Air-Fryer Cauliflower. If you’re craving fries, well, don’t deny yourself—but keep it healthy with these Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries or some Baked Fries. And for the ranch fans, try this Avocado Ranch Dressing out for a spin!
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken wings If using whole wings, cut into flats and drumettes; discard tips
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup almond flour
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken wings with the olive oil.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, smoked paprika, garlic powder, sea salt, cayenne, and black pepper in a separate bowl.
- Coat each wing in the almond flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Set them aside on a plate as you go.
- Arrange the wings in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them for air circulation. Cook for 14-16 minutes, flipping halfway through. They're done when they're crispy—or, if you have a fancy meat thermometer, target an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Serve immediately with a side of celery and carrot sticks, along with your favorite dipping sauces.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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