EXTRA CRISPY air fryer chicken wings Ninja Foodi Grill Crispy Chicken Wings

For extra crispy air fryer chicken wings add baking powder and cornstarch!

For ULTRA CRISPY chicken wings all you need to do is add baking powder and cornstarch to your seasonings. DO NOT USE BAKING SODA! I have made that mistake before and it nearly ruined a batch of chicken wings. I had to drown the wings in sauce to save them! Baking soda leaves a soapy taste behind that is quite unpleasant.

I used both the Ninja Foodi Grill and the Ninja Foodi XL Grill to air fry these crispy chicken wings however you can do this in any air fryer with a few minor adjustments. I’ve tried the Cosori air fryer, the NuWave Air Fryer, and the Power Air Fryer – all of these air fryers work well for to make crunchy chicken wings.

How much baking powder and cornstarch should I add to my chicken wings to make them crispy?

Add 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon of seasoning salt for each pound of chicken wings to make them crispy.

Watch the Sweet Savant step by step video on YouTube demonstrating both the Ninja Foodi Grill and the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Grill

How to make extra crispy chicken wings in an air fryer

I learned this technique from reading Kenji Lopez’s Serious Eats post and watching his video about making crispy chicken wings in the oven. His recipe requires letting the wings hang out uncovered in the refrigerator for 8 hours or more to dry the skin out. For my recipe, we’re using the air fryer and the fan from the air fryer helps to dry out the chicken skin significantly. No need to wait 8 hours or more. Air fryers cook more quickly than your oven cutting the cooking time down from 50 minutes to just about 15 minutes.

What kind of chicken wings are best for crispy chicken wings?

First, start with air-chilled chicken wings if you can. Air chilled chicken wings are cooled in a blast chiller after processing instead of water like most chicken wings. Water chilled chicken wings can be well, watery, and will need to dry out a bit before cooking.

The label will clearly say “Air Chilled” and the wings will cost a bit more.

What seasoning should I use for my crispy chicken wings?

Try my Sweet Savant Seasoned Salt recipe to season your wings. It’s a combination of paprika, lemon pepper, and other spices. Feel free to use your favorite seasoned salt brand or use kosher salt and pepper.

Why should I add baking powder to the chicken wings?

According to Serious Eats, the baking powder adds surface area with tiny bubbles to the chicken wings as a result the wings get more crunchy.  Baking powder also raises the pH level in chicken, creating shorter protein strands, letting the skin get more crispy. Cornstarch locks onto any moisture present creating a structure that makes a crispy coating.

What kind of sauce should I add to my extra crispy chicken wings?

These chicken wings are delicious right out of the air fryer but feel free to add the sauce of your choice. Buffalo sauce, barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, or whatever you happen to fancy that day are all good compliments to these delicious chicken wings.