Air Fryer Keto Chicken Wings: Quick, Easy, Delicious!

Chicken wings are a great keto-friendly appetizer or meal, and cooking them in an air fryer is one of the easiest and best ways to prepare them. The air fryer seals in the juices, leaving the wings tender on the inside, while creating an extra crispy crust on the outside.

There are many ways to season and sauce keto chicken wings, and they can be cooked from fresh or frozen.

Keto chicken wings in an air fryer: Ingredients

Keto chicken wings are a delicious, low-carb option for a meal or appetizer. They can be made in an air fryer in under 30 minutes and are sure to impress! Here's what you'll need:

Chicken Wings:

First, you'll need to decide on the type of chicken wings you want to use. You can use either flats or drumettes, or a combination of both. If you purchase whole chicken wings, you will need to separate them at the joints to make wingettes and drumettes. This recipe calls for fresh or thawed chicken wings; if your wings are frozen, be sure to thaw them first for the best results.

Oil:

You'll need some sort of oil to help the seasoning stick to the wings and encourage crispiness. Options include olive oil, avocado oil, or a cooking spray of your choice. You can also use neutral oil or melted butter.

Seasonings:

This is where you can get creative and tailor the flavours to your taste preferences. Here are some options for seasonings to use in your keto chicken wings:

• Sea salt
• Black pepper (freshly ground is best)
• Garlic powder
• Baking powder (aluminium-free is recommended)
• Smoked paprika
• Chili powder
• Cayenne pepper (for a spicier kick)
• Italian seasoning

Keto-Friendly Sauces:

While keto chicken wings are delicious on their own, you can also serve them with a variety of keto-friendly sauces. Here are some options:

• Buffalo sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Blue cheese dressing
• Ranch dressing
• Teriyaki sauce
• Keto garlic parmesan sauce
• Keto blue cheese dressing
• Keto garlic lemon aioli
• Bang bang sauce
• Sugar-free peanut sauce

Other Tools:

In addition to the ingredients, you will, of course, need an air fryer to cook your keto chicken wings. It is also recommended to have an instant-read thermometer to ensure your chicken wings are cooked to the proper internal temperature of 165° F.

How to make keto chicken wings in an air fryer

Keto chicken wings are a delicious, low-carb appetizer or meal that can be made in under 30 minutes. Here's a step-by-step guide to making crispy and juicy keto chicken wings in an air fryer:

Ingredients:

• Chicken wings (drumettes or flats)
• Olive oil or avocado oil
• Baking powder (aluminium-free)
• Salt and pepper
• Other seasonings of your choice (e.g. garlic powder, smoked paprika, taco seasoning)
• Keto-friendly sauce (optional)

Instructions:

• Start by drying the chicken wings with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
• In a small bowl, combine the baking powder, salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you wish to use.
• Place the chicken wings in a large bowl and sprinkle on the seasoning mix. Toss to coat the wings evenly.
• Preheat your air fryer to 380-400° F.
• Place the wings into the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't overlap. You may need to cook in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
• Spray the wings lightly with cooking spray or brush with oil.
• Cook the wings for 20-30 minutes, tossing or flipping them every 5-10 minutes to ensure even cooking. The total cook time will depend on your air fryer model.
• The wings are done when the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165° F.
• Remove the wings from the air fryer and toss with your favourite keto-friendly sauce if desired.
• Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips:

• For extra crispy wings, spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray before adding the wings.
• If using frozen chicken wings, preheat your air fryer to 350°F and cook for 40-55 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown.
• You can adjust the seasoning mix according to your preference or add some cayenne pepper for a spicier kick.
• These keto chicken wings are great on their own, but you can also serve them with dipping sauces like keto ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, or buffalo sauce.

How long to cook keto chicken wings in an air fryer

Keto chicken wings are a quick and easy meal to make in an air fryer. The cooking time will depend on the quantity of wings you are cooking, the type of air fryer you are using, and whether the wings are fresh or frozen.

For fresh chicken wings:

If you are cooking 2 pounds of wings, cook them for 25-30 minutes at 380°F. Toss the wings every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking. You can also cook them for 15 minutes at 250°F and then increase the temperature to 430°F for 15-20 minutes.

For frozen chicken wings:

If you forgot to thaw your wings, don't worry! You can still cook them in the air fryer. First, cook them for 10 minutes at 350°F, and then increase the temperature to 380°F for 25-30 minutes.

Keto sauces for chicken wings

Chicken wings are a great keto-friendly snack, and there are plenty of sauces that can be used to add flavour without compromising on your diet. Here are some keto-friendly sauces to try with your chicken wings:

Keto Buffalo Sauce

A simple, two-ingredient buffalo sauce can be made with hot sauce and melted butter. You can also add minced garlic cloves, paprika, and cayenne pepper to taste. If you want a creamier sauce, add some mayonnaise or softened cream cheese.

Blue Cheese Dressing

Blue cheese dressing is a classic dip for chicken wings and can be made keto-friendly.

Garlic Parmesan Sauce

A keto-friendly garlic parmesan sauce can be made to coat your wings or as a dip.

Teriyaki Sauce

You can buy sugar-free teriyaki sauce or make your own keto-friendly version.

Sweet Chili Sauce

A sweet and spicy sauce can be made with traditional Asian ingredients like sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic chilli sauce, and ginger. Replace the brown sugar and cornstarch with low-carb substitutes to make it keto-friendly.

Lemon Pepper

Lemon pepper is a great seasoning for chicken wings and can be used as a dry rub.

Spicy Garlic

A spicy garlic sauce is a sticky option that can be made keto-friendly.

BBQ Sauce

Be careful with store-bought BBQ sauce as it can sometimes contain unwanted ingredients like corn starch and corn syrup. However, there are keto-approved options available, or you can make your own.

Other Options

Other keto-friendly sauces and dips include ranch dressing, garlic powder, paprika, and cajun seasoning.

How to reheat keto chicken wings

If you have leftover keto chicken wings, you can reheat them in the air fryer to still have perfectly cooked, crispy wings the next day. Here is how to do it:

Method:

• Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. You can also use a small amount of oil or butter.
• Place your wings in the air fryer basket. Make sure they are in a single layer and not overlapping. If you have a lot of wings, you may need to reheat them in batches.
• Set the air fryer temperature to 350°F to 380°F.
• Reheat for 3 to 5 minutes, or until warmed through.
• If you are reheating sauced wings, it is recommended to use a small air fryer pan, tin foil, or parchment paper to avoid a mess and keep the wings moist. Reheat sauced wings for 4 to 5 minutes.

Tips:

• For best results, use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the chicken wings are completely heated through. The internal temperature should reach at least 165°F.
• If you are reheating whole chicken wings, add an extra 2 minutes to the cooking time.
• Always preheat your air fryer before adding the wings to keep them from drying out.
• Store leftover chicken wings in an airtight container or zippered plastic bag in the refrigerator. They will keep for 3-4 days.

Now you can enjoy your leftover keto chicken wings just like they were freshly cooked!

Frequently asked questions