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Golden, crispy Air Fryer Chinese Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings, seasoned with bold flavors for a delicious snack or meal.

Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings

3.93 from 14 votes
Author: Laurie Fleming
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 27 minutes
Total Time: 42 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings

Description

Crispy, takeout-style air fryer salt and pepper chicken wings coated in cornstarch and tossed with garlic, chilies, scallions, and five-spice pepper salt.

Ingredients 

Wings

  • 2 lbs chicken wings, split into drumettes and flats, tips removed
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder

Finishing salt

  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground white pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder

Aromatics

  • 5 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 1 jalapeño, or 2 red Thai chilies, thinly sliced
  • 3 scallions, whites and greens sliced separately
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Instructions

  • Pat the wings very dry with paper towels.
  • Toss the wings with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and ½ teaspoon white pepper. Add the cornstarch and baking powder and toss until evenly and thinly coated. Shake off any excess.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Arrange the wings in a single layer, working in batches if needed, and spray lightly with oil.
  • Air fry for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying any dry spots with oil.
  • Increase the heat to 400°F and air fry 5 to 7 minutes more, until deep golden and the thickest piece reads at least 165°F (175°F to 185°F for the best texture).
  • Meanwhile, stir together the finishing salt ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the garlic, chilies, and scallion whites and stir for 45 to 60 seconds, until fragrant.
  • Add the wings, about half of the finishing salt, and the sesame oil. Toss for 30 seconds. Taste and add more finishing salt if desired.
  • Top with the scallion greens and serve immediately.

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Cooking Spray
  • Parchment Paper, optional

Notes

  • For an air fryer-only method, cook the aromatics with the oil in a small oven-safe dish at 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes, then toss everything in a bowl.
  • Raw frozen wings: air fry 8 to 10 minutes at 380°F to thaw, pat dry, coat, and continue cooking, adding 3 to 5 minutes as needed.
  • Recalculate the nutrition in WP Recipe Maker after updating the ingredients. The old numbers no longer apply.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 316kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 23gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 1043mgPotassium: 244mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 309IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 105mgIron: 2mg