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plain golden chicken wing flats and drumettes with blistered crisp skin and light pepper speckles on an ordinary plate, with no sauce, breading or garnish
Melissa Hart

Plain Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Plain wings are useful when you want the crisp skin to do the talking before any sauce gets involved. Pat them dry enough that a fresh paper towel barely picks up moisture. Start at a moderate temperature to render some fat, then finish hotter so the skin blisters without a flour coating. The basket needs gaps around the pieces. Serve the wings as soon as the final batch rests, because covering them would trap steam against the surface you just worked to crisp.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 55 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients
  

  • 2 lbs chicken wings split into flats and drumettes, tips removed
  • 2 tsp neutral oil
  • 3/4 tsp fine salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Method
 

  1. Preheat a 6-quart air fryer to 360°F for 3 minutes. Pat wings very dry and toss with oil, salt and pepper.
  2. Arrange half the wings in one layer with gaps between them. Cook for 16 minutes, turning after 8 minutes.
  3. Increase heat to 400°F and cook for 8 to 10 minutes more, turning once, until the skin is crisp and the thickest meat reaches at least 165°F.
  4. Transfer to a rack, uncovered, and repeat with the remaining wings, returning the fryer to 360°F for the first stage.
  5. Rest the final batch for 3 minutes and serve as 4 appetizer portions.