Go Back
–+ servings
Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

5 from 5 votes
Author: Laurie Fleming
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 27 minutes
Total Time: 37 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings

Description

Crispy Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Wings glazed in a sweet, sticky honey BBQ sauce that caramelizes right onto the skin. Ready in just 30 minutes with 7 simple ingredients, these wings are the ultimate game-day appetizer — juicy on the inside, shatteringly crisp on the outside, and tossed in the best homemade honey BBQ glaze.

Ingredients 

For the Wings:

  • 1 lb chicken wings, fresh (split into flats and drumettes)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder, aluminum-free
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, or cornstarch for extra crisp

For the Honey BBQ Glaze:

  • 1/2 cup honey BBQ sauce, Sweet Baby Ray's recommended
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • Dash of hot sauce, optional

For Garnish (optional):

  • Chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onions
  • Extra honey BBQ sauce for dipping

Instructions

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels — this is the single most important step for crispy skin.
  • Coat the wings. Place the wings in a large bowl and toss with the baking powder, flour, salt, and pepper until evenly coated on all sides.
  • Air fry the wings. Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they aren't touching. Cook at 400°F for 12 minutes, flip, and cook another 12 minutes until golden and crispy.
  • Make the glaze. While the wings cook, whisk together the honey BBQ sauce and honey in a large bowl. Add a dash of hot sauce if desired.
  • Sauce the wings. Transfer the cooked wings to the bowl of glaze and toss until fully coated.
  • Caramelize the glaze. Return the sauced wings to the air fryer and cook for 3 more minutes at 400°F. This creates a sticky, glossy finish that clings to every wing — don't skip this step!
  • Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley or green onions, with extra honey BBQ sauce on the side for dipping.

Equipment

  • Air Fryer, Air Fryer Basket or Air Fryer Oven
  • Parchment Paper, optional
  • Cooking Spray

Notes

Recipe Notes

  • For extra crispy wings: Substitute cornstarch for the all-purpose flour.
  • For spicy honey BBQ wings: Add 1 teaspoon of sriracha or 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the glaze.
  • Frozen wings work too: Air fry frozen wings at 400°F for 10 minutes first, pat dry, then continue with the recipe (add 3–5 minutes total cook time).
  • Oven method: Bake at 425°F on a wire rack for 40–45 minutes, flipping halfway. Sauce, then return to the oven for 5 minutes.
  • Make it gluten-free: Use cornstarch instead of flour and a certified gluten-free BBQ sauce.
  • Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 5–7 minutes to re-crisp.
  • Internal temperature: Chicken wings should reach 165°F when checked with a meat thermometer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 257kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 9gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 735mgPotassium: 149mgFiber: 1gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 115IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 57mgIron: 1mg