Description
These crispy air fryer salt and vinegar chicken wings deliver a shatteringly crisp coating with a tangy, salty flavor in under 30 minutes. Perfect for game day, parties, or a quick weeknight treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds (about 900g) chicken wings, separated into drumettes and flats
- ½ cup (120ml) distilled white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon (18g) kosher salt, plus more for finishing
- 2 tablespoons (16g) cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon (4g) baking powder (aluminum-free)
- 1 teaspoon (3g) garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon (1.5g) onion powder
- ½ teaspoon (1g) black pepper, freshly ground
- Avocado or canola oil spray
- Optional: ¼ cup (60ml) white vinegar mixed with ½ teaspoon salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper for dipping
Instructions
- Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels. For extra crispiness, let them sit uncovered in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Place the dried wings in a large bowl and pour ½ cup of white vinegar over them. Toss to coat and let marinate for 10 minutes at room temperature, tossing once halfway.
- Drain off the vinegar completely and pat the wings dry with fresh paper towels.
- In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and 1 tablespoon kosher salt.
- Sprinkle the dry mixture over the wings and toss with your hands until evenly coated. The coating should look dry and powdery.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
- Arrange the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each wing. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Spray the wings lightly with avocado or canola oil spray.
- Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 12 minutes. Flip each wing, spray the other side lightly with oil, and cook for another 10-12 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Immediately sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Let rest for 2 minutes before serving.
Notes
Patience with drying is non-negotiable for crispiness. Don’t skip the vinegar marinade for deep tangy flavor. Every air fryer runs differently; check wings at 20 minutes. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding. Season immediately after cooking for best salt adhesion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 22-24 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 wings
- Calories: 320
- Sodium: 680
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 4
- Protein: 28
Keywords: air fryer chicken wings, salt and vinegar wings, crispy wings, easy chicken wings, game day appetizer, 30-minute recipe