Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

Try our Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings—made with sweet raw honey + loaded with fresh garlic, they're irresistibly crispy, sticky, and utterly delicious, perfect for snacking, game days, appetizers, or side dishes. They're a crowd favorite that everyone will love! Gluten-free, Dairy-free + Oven-baked option.

You've heard it from me before, and here it is again--- The quickest way to my heart is through a chicken wing. I'm always experimenting with new flavors and cooking methods for these delicious bites, and you can find all my wing recipes on Orchids + Sweet Tea. Finally, it's time to add an Air-fried chicken wings recipe! Here are my Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings—a definite household favorite that's sure to be a hit!

If you're a fan of chicken wings in general, then you must try these Baked Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wings, Sticky Gochujang Chicken Wings, and even these Lemon Pepper Cauliflower Wings and Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings/Bites for all of my meatless-loving peeps!

Succulent + juicy, with that perfect touch of garlicky goodness and sweetness from the honey, it's hard to believe that air-fried wings can be this delicious. They stay tender on the inside and beautifully sticky + crispy on the outside, thanks to a few simple tweaks. The best part? If you're not the biggest wing fan, you can use whole pieces of chicken with this recipe, making it a win-win for everyone.

Jump to:

• Why You Will LOVE These Garlic Honey Chicken Wings!
• What Are The Two Types of Wings?
• How To Make Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
• Ingredients
• Is It Better To Bake or Airfry Chicken Wings?
• Do I Use Cornstarch or Flour for Crispy Chicken?
• How to Prep + Season Wings
• Tips + Tricks to The Crispiest Garlic Chicken Wings
• What Dips Go Well With Garlic Honey Chicken Wings?
• What to Serve With Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
• Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings Q + A's
• More Handheld Snacks To Try Next!
• MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
• Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

Why You Will LOVE These Garlic Honey Chicken Wings!

• Versatile snack, appetizer, or side option.
• Boasts of a great dairy-free + gluten-free option.
• Bold garlic + slightly sweet honey flavor combo.
• The perfect crispiness on the outside + juiciness on the inside!
• Addictively tasty + irresistible for the entire family.

What Are The Two Types of Wings?

When it comes to wings, there are two types: Drums (a.k.a. drumettes) and flats (a.k.a. wingettes). The drums actually look like miniature chicken legs and have one single bone in the middle surrounded by meat, whereas the flats are “flat” and contain two smaller bones that run the length of the wing.

How To Make Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

In just 4 simple steps, you'll have those garlic wings you've been craving. First, we prep + clean, and marinate then, we coat; and finally, we bake + toss the wings in a delicious sauce! These wings do not disappoint y'all!

Ingredients

CHICKEN WINGS:

• Organic chicken wings, disjointed. The star of the show, providing the juicy and meaty base!
• Garlic powder: Provides a savory garlic punch.
• Sea salt + Black pepper. Enhances the natural flavors of the chicken and other seasonings.
• Smoked paprika: Imparts a smoky and earthy undertone.
• Cornstarch: It's the secret ingredient that adds extra crispiness to the wings by creating a crunchy coating when baked.

HONEY GARLIC SAUCE:

• Extra virgin olive oil. Adds richness and depth while promoting a golden, crispy texture.
• Garlic cloves. Infuses a strong garlic aroma and flavor.
• Minced ginger. You can either buy it minced already or mince it yourself with a grater.
• Raw honey. I find raw organic honey to have the best flavor. Nate's Organic is a great option!
• Cornstarch + warm water. This will thicken the sauce up.
• Tamari sauce. You can also use soy sauce, if desired.
• Red pepper flakes. For a touch of spice. Omit if you prefer no spice.
• Sesame seeds. This adds a great overall flavor + texture.
• Green onions. Aka scallions, chopped.

SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR BAKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THESE WINGS!

Here, I’ve curated a list of baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods, especially with these Honey Garlic Chicken Wings. Everything from my pan, wooden spoons, parchment paper, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

Tools I Used For These Honey Garlic Wings

• Mixing bowls
• Garlic Press
• Tongs
• Air Fryer
• Small Pot
• Mixing Spoon

Is It Better To Bake or Airfry Chicken Wings?

Of course, both methods of making these honey chicken wings are effective. However, if you’re wondering whether you’d be able to also make these wings in the oven—-then yes!

To make your crispy chicken wings in an air fryer, it's very similar to doing it the oven. The only difference would be the cook time and adding them to a basket versus a baking sheet. Once you've seasoned and dusted your chicken wings, add them to your air fryer basket, spray with cooking oil, and cook them at 360 degrees for 10-15 minutes. NOTE: You might want to spray your basket with cooking oil to ensure that your chicken doesn't stick to it during cooking.

As you know, this chicken wings recipe is for air-fryer wings and honestly, they’re just as crispy as making them in the oven--- so the choice is yours!

Do I Use Cornstarch or Flour for Crispy Chicken?

OK, so this is one of the hot debates as it relates to which one creates the crispier chicken or chicken wings. While cornstarch does add an extra layer of crispiness to your chicken, using flour still works too if you don't have any cornstarch on hand!

But to be honest, the best-kept secret is the combination of both cornstarch and flour, which creates the crispiest results. Of course, if you're looking to make this fried chicken recipe gluten-free, then substitute the cornstarch or flour with arrowroot starch or a great gf all-purpose flour.

How to Prep + Season Wings

Baking these chicken wings is generally an easy process—in total just 20 minutes. You first start by cleaning and washing your chicken pieces to ensure that they are clean and ready to be seasoned. I like to wash my chicken wings with both vinegar and lemon to help keep things clean and sanitized.

Once your chicken wings are clean, then it’s time to pat them dry and season them! I’m all about seasoning every “layer” of my food, therefore, the chicken gets direct seasonings. Let everything marinate for 10-15 minutes or 1-2 days (or overnight tightly wrapped in the refrigerator) for the best results.

Tips + Tricks to The Crispiest Garlic Chicken Wings

To make sure your wings get as crispy as possible without needing an actual "coating", follow these simple tips:

• After rinsing your wings, be sure to pat dry completely until they are as dry as possible before marinating them.
• Make sure each wing has plenty of space on the baking sheet or baking dish. The airflow helps things crisp up. 
• When using a baking sheet, add a wire rack atop the parchment paper so that wings can crisp up nicely on all sides.
• Broiling your wings for about 5 minutes or so helps to get them nice and crispy without burning.

What Dips Go Well With Garlic Honey Chicken Wings?

This easy chicken wings recipe is full of flavor all on their own. But who doesn’t love to dunk and dip?

Serve your wings with any (or all) of these tasty condiments:

• Creamy Lemon Garlic Dressing
• In-N-Out Sauce
• Ranch Sauce
• Honey mustard
• Creamy Chipotle Dressing/Sauce
• Avocado Cilantro Lime Sauce
• Salsa verde
• Hot sauce!
• Jalapeno Ranch Sauce
• Pesto sauce

What to Serve With Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

They're just perfect with anything, and I know that I might be biased because of my absolute LOVE for chicken wings as a whole. Haha. Although these wings make for the perfect handheld appetizer, I also love making these wings during the week along with my favorites like-

Grain/buddha bowls: Create a delicious Buddha bowl with all your favorite grains and vegetables, like this Fall Harvest Farro Bowl or this Healthy Pesto Buddha Bowl

Salads: Pair with a refreshing salad like Roasted Cauliflower Green Goddess Salad or Fall Harvest BBQ Chickpea Kale Salad for a light and vibrant accompaniment.

Loaded fries: Create a more indulgent treat by serving the wings with a side of loaded cheesy fries or sweet potato wedges. Try these BBQ Quinoa Taco Fries and Learn How To Make THE BEST crispy seasoned French fries

Garlic bread: Elevate your wing experience with a plate of steaming hot garlic bread like this Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread or this Homemade Texas Toast Garlic Bread, perfect for soaking up the delicious orange sauce.

Rice or quinoa: Consider serving the spicy wings with a side of basmati rice, brown rice or this Vegan Quinoa Fried Rice to absorb the flavors and provide a fulfilling base.

Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings Q + A's

More Handheld Snacks To Try Next!

Now that you're on a snacking kick with Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings, give these recipes that your entire family will love a try next.

• Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan French Fries
• Dairy-Free Mexican Street Corn Nachos
• Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower Wings/Bites
• Baked Buffalo Chicken Tacos [Dairy-Free]
• Sticky Orange Chicken Popcorn Chicken
• How To Make the Best Charcuterie Board

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried this Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram  and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!

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