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Air Fryer Sweet Chili Chicken Wings work as both an appetizer or entrée! These chicken wings are coated with just the right amount of flour to make them nice and crispy, then tossed in the most delicious homemade sweet chili sauce.
Air Fryer Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
I know why you’re here, so let’s get right to it, shall we? Sweet chili wing sauce! If you’re a fan of sweet chili sauce, you’re in luck, because this is going to quickly become your new favorite way to enjoy your favorite spicy sweet sticky sauce. Plus, I’ve added a few little touches to it that will really make your mouth water.
I’m sure the other major reason you’re here is because two magical words caught your eye – air fryer! Air fryer recipes are all the rage lately and it’s not hard to see why. They’re nifty little machines that can turn all of your favorite proteins, veggies, and even desserts into perfectly cooked, crispier versions of themselves in a matter of minutes!
These chicken wings really showcase what I mean when I say crispy, too. The air fryer cooks the skins on the wings to the most satisfying crispy consistency, all while the insides of the wings are still juicy and oh so tender. Oh, and did I mention that there’s only about 15 minutes of cook time required?
These bad boys are ready in no time, which makes them perfect for whipping up just before a party! Serve these wings on Superbowl Sunday to be the best host in the neighborhood.
Ingredients
For the chicken wings, here’s what you’ll need:
- Chicken wings – Separate the drums and the flats.
- Flour – All-purpose flour is what you’ll need to add to the crispiness of the skin.
The sweet chili sauce calls for:
- Sweet chili sauce – Any brand will do the trick!
- Lime – Squeeze the lime yourself, don’t buy a bottled lime juice.
- Garlic – For this sauce to have the freshest flavor, use fresh garlic, not pre-minced.
- Ginger – Same goes for the ginger! Use the real deal, not a paste or dried flakes.
- Red pepper flakes – If red pepper flakes aren’t your thing, you can also heat up this sauce with some sriracha.
Tips for air frying chicken wings:
Don’t overcrowd: you want the air to circulate in the air fryer (hence the name air fryer) so you don’t want to overcrowd your basket. Do them in batches and make sure there are no wings on top of each other. It won’t get crispy! You’ll want them in a single layer.
Plan ahead: some baskets in air fryers are small so you’ll want to plan ahead as it could take several minutes to make several batches!
Keep warm in the oven: while you’re waiting for the other wings to finish cooking, you can always keep the finished wings in the oven. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit then turn off the heat. Place a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet and put your wings on top of the rack. Place the baking sheet in the oven to keep the wings warm!
Are air fryer sweet chili wings spicy?
It all depends on what your definition of spicy is. I personally like the little spice from the additional red pepper flakes, but they’re optional! If you know you’ll end up breaking a sweat, you can omit the red pepper/sriracha from your sauce.
Do I have to separate the flats and drumettes?
While I personally like to have them separated, no, you do not have to do so. Feel free to keep the chicken wing whole if that’s what you prefer!
Keep that air fryer plugged in!
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Air Fryer Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
Ingredients
For the chicken wings:
- 1 pound (454 g) chicken wing portions, drumettes and flats separated
- ½ cup (63 g) all-purpose flour
For the sweet chili sauce:
- 1 cup (255 g) sweet chili sauce
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- ½ teaspoon grated ginger
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or sriracha
The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.
Equipment
Instructions
For the wings:
- Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel and place them in a large bowl.
- Add the flour and toss to combine, making sure each chicken wings is evenly coated in flour.
- Spray your air fryer with olive oil spray and add the chicken wings, making sure to place them in an even layer.
- Air fry at 400 °F (204 °C) for 8 minutes. Then turn the wings over and air fry for another 8 minutes.
For the sauce:
- While the wings cook, whisk together the sauce ingredients in a large bowl (sweet chili sauce, lime juice, grated garlic, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes).
- Toss the cooked wings with the sauce until they’re evenly coated.
- Place the wings back in the air fryer (in a single layer) and fry for an additional 2 minutes.
- Serve immediately, garnished with green onion or cilantro.
- Store any leftover wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.
Recipe Notes
NUTRITION FACTS
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.