Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings (Printable version)

Crispy chicken wings tossed in garlic butter and Parmesan, cooked to golden perfection with the air fryer.

# List of ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs chicken wings, split and tips removed
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
04 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
05 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
06 - 1/2 tsp paprika

→ Garlic Parmesan Sauce

07 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter
08 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
11 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
02 - In a large bowl, toss the chicken wings with olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika until evenly coated.
03 - Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 12 minutes, flip, then cook for an additional 10 to 13 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
04 - While the wings cook, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant but not browned, then remove from heat.
05 - Place cooked wings in a clean large bowl. Pour melted garlic butter over them, add Parmesan cheese, parsley, and red pepper flakes if using. Toss thoroughly to coat.
06 - Serve immediately, optionally garnished with extra Parmesan and parsley.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They get incredibly crispy without the mess and calories of deep frying.
  • The garlic parmesan coating is rich and buttery, with just enough sharpness to keep you reaching for more.
  • Everything comes together in about half an hour, so they're perfect when friends show up unexpectedly.
02 -
  • Pat the wings completely dry before seasoning, any moisture will steam them instead of crisping the skin.
  • Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket or the wings will turn out soggy. Cook in batches if needed.
  • Toss the wings in the sauce while they're still hot so the Parmesan melts slightly and clings instead of clumping.
03 -
  • Use a microplane to grate the Parmesan finely so it melts into the butter and coats the wings evenly.
  • If your air fryer runs hot, check the wings a few minutes early to avoid overcooking the garlic or drying out the meat.
  • Make a double batch of the garlic butter and save half for tossing with pasta or drizzling over roasted vegetables later in the week.

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