Air Fryer Garlic Buffalo Chicken Wings Recipe (Crispy & Easy)

Get ready to discover what might just become your new favorite way to make chicken wings. These Air Fryer Garlic Buffalo Chicken Wings deliver all the crispy texture and bold flavors you crave from traditional deep-fried wings, but with a fraction of the oil and cleanup hassle. The magic happens when hot air circulation creates that coveted crispy exterior while keeping the meat inside incredibly juicy and tender. What sets these wings apart is the garlicky buffalo sauce that adds an extra layer of savory depth to the classic spicy-tangy combination. Perfect for keto and low-carb lifestyles, game day gatherings, or any time you want restaurant-quality wings without leaving your kitchen.

garlic buffalo chicken wings in a basket

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Why This Recipe Works

The brilliance of air fryer chicken wings lies in the technology’s ability to mimic deep frying through rapid hot air circulation, creating that essential crispy skin without submerging the wings in oil. At 390°F, the air fryer makes the perfect environment for rendering the fat under the skin while crisping the exterior to golden perfection. The key is starting with properly dried wings, which allows the skin to crisp beautifully rather than steam. The garlic-enhanced buffalo sauce provides the perfect finishing touch, with butter creating richness, Frank’s RedHot delivering classic buffalo flavor, fresh garlic adding aromatic depth, and Worcestershire sauce contributing umami complexity that elevates these wings above ordinary buffalo wings.

Ingredients

For the Wings:

  • Chicken wings – Use drumettes and flats for the perfect wing experience and optimal cooking
  • Salt – Seasons the wings and helps draw out moisture for crispier skin

For the Garlic Buffalo Sauce:

  • Butter – Creates rich, smooth sauce base and helps balance the heat
  • Frank’s RedHot sauce – Provides the classic buffalo wing flavor profile
  • Fresh garlic – Adds aromatic depth and savory complexity beyond regular buffalo sauce
  • Worcestershire sauce – Contributes umami richness that enhances the overall flavor

How to Make Garlic Buffalo Chicken Wings in an Air Fryer

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees. 
  2. Pat chicken wings with a paper towel and sprinkle salt over the wings.
  3. Place the wings into the basket and cook at 390 degrees for 18 minutes or until done. 
  4. Combine butter, Franks Red Hot sauce, minced garlic, and Worcestershire sauce in a small saucepan.
  5. Cook on medium-low until the sauce is heated through.
  6. Simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally until the wings have finished cooking. 
  7. Place air-fried wings into a large bowl, add sauce, and stir to coat the wings.
  8. Serve with celery sticks and ranch or blue cheese dressing.

How Many Wings Can You Cook at Once?

The number of wings you can cook at the same time depends on the size of your air fryer. I have a Panasonic, and I can fit about 10-12 smallish wings in it.

a basket of garlic buffalo chicken wings

Chef’s Notes

Wing Preparation: Properly drying the wings is the single most important step for crispy results. Don’t rush this process.

Temperature Accuracy: Use a meat thermometer to ensure wings reach 165°F internal temperature for food safety.

Batch Cooking: Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. It’s better to cook in two smaller batches than one crowded batch.

Sauce Timing: Start the sauce when wings have about 5 minutes left to cook, ensuring both are ready simultaneously.

Storage and Reheating Guidelines

Proper Storage

Refrigeration: Cool wings completely before storing in airtight containers for up to 3 days. Store sauce separately to maintain wing crispiness.

Freezing: While possible, freezing isn’t recommended as it affects the crispy texture that makes these wings special.

homemade garlic buffalo hot wings in a basket
garlic buffalo wings in a basket

Air Fryer Garlic Buffalo Wings (Crispy & Easy)

Crispy air fryer buffalo wings with garlic hot sauce. Perfect for keto diets with no extra oil needed. Finger-licking good in just 18 minutes!
4.88 from 8 votes
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Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Air Fryer Buffalo Wings, Air Fryer Recipes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 319kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken wings Drumettes and flappers
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup Franks Red Hot sauce
  • 3 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  • Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees. 
  • Pat chicken wings with a paper towel, and sprinkle salt over the wings.  Place the wings into the basket, and cook for 18 minutes, or until done. 
  • While the wings are cooking, in a small pot combine butter, Franks Red Hot sauce, minced garlic, and Worcestershire sauce.  Heat on medium low until the sauce is heated through.   Simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally until the wings have finished cooking. 
  • When the wings are done, place into a large bowl, add sauce and stir to coat the wings.  You may want to use all of the sauce, or you may want your wings lightly sauced. 
  • Extra sauce can be stored in the refrigerator. 

Nutrition

Calories: 319kcal | Carbohydrates: 0g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 1124mg | Potassium: 141mg | Sugar: 0g | Vitamin A: 595IU | Vitamin C: 1.1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 0.8mg

Favorite Air Fryer Recipes

Love wings? Try these recipes!

Be sure to check out more of my chicken wing recipes and the best air fryer recipes here on CopyKat.com!

About Stephanie Manley

Stephanie Manley is the creator of CopyKat.com. She has been recreating copycat recipes since 1995. Learn more about Stephanie Manley.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Corky Freeman

    5 stars
    After I’m done airfrying the wings I soak the wings in the sauce and then stick in the oven, grill, or smoker
    for a few minutes. That way the sauce is baked into the wings. Yummy!

  2. lee

    5 stars
    I can’t wait to try this recipe. It looks delicious. I just hope this is Keto friendly as I am on Keto diet now :(.

  3. Angelina

    4 stars
    We recently purchased an air fryer, and love it! Although I’m usually the cook in the family, my hubby is now the self-appointed ‘air-fryer Chef’ (lol). Since none of us here are crazy about chicken wings, I wonder how chicken drumsticks would work. We’d most likely only need to increase the cooking time (& temp them), right? Sounds like a super yummy recipe Stephanie, so thanks.

4.88 from 8 votes

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