Air Fryer Chicken Wings Made From Frozen

Easy Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer (Straight From Frozen)

Frozen wings, zero thawing, and dinner (or game-day snacks) is basically handled.

These air fryer frozen chicken wings are the answer for those nights when you want something hot and crispy without waiting for anything to defrost. The secret is a simple low-temp thaw stage followed by a higher-temp crisp stage. That’s how you get juicy wings with crispy skin—without adding oil or making a mess.

Best part? You can keep them plain and dip them, or toss them in BBQ sauce (or your favorite wing sauce) at the end. This method works great with “party wings” (drumettes + flats) and is super forgiving—perfect if you’re feeding hungry kids, watching a game, or just need something easy.

Quick & Easy Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Make perfectly cooked chicken wings in the air fryer - straight from frozen, with almost no prep time, and less cooking time than in the oven!

4.83 / 5 ( 23 Reviews )

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 42 minutes minutes

Serves: 4

Adjust Servings: 4

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 12 frozen chicken wings
• garlic salt to taste
• pepper to taste
• BBQ sauce to taste

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

• Dump frozen chicken wings into air fryer basket. It's ok if they overlap because they will shrink as they cook. The amount you can cook at once will depend on the size of your air fryer.
• Cook at 350˚F/177˚C for 10 minutes to thaw.
• Season both sides of chicken with garlic salt and pepper.
• Cook at 380˚F/193˚C for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time.
• Coat chicken with your favorite BBQ sauce.
• Cook at 400˚F/204˚C for 5 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

My 4-qt air fryer fits just over 2 pounds (almost 2.5 pounds) of frozen wings at one time.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcal | Protein: 26g | Fat: 23g | Sodium: 105mg

Why This Frozen Wings Method Works

Cooking wings from frozen is all about managing moisture. If you blast frozen wings at a high temp right away, they can steam and stay soft. This method uses:

• Stage 1 (lower heat) to thaw and start rendering fat
• Stage 2 (higher heat) to crisp the skin
• Stage 3 (sauce + quick finish) to caramelize without burning

Food safety note: Chicken should reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F. If you ever want an official reference, the USDA has a great guide on safe minimum internal temps.
USDA Safe Temperature Chart.

Ingredients for Frozen Chicken Wings

• Frozen chicken wings (party wings/drumettes/flats)
• Garlic salt
• Pepper
• BBQ sauce (or your favorite sauce)

Supplies You’ll Need

• Air fryer (example: Cosori Pro II)
• Tongs for flipping (optional but helpful)

How to Cook Frozen Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Add the frozen wings

Dump the frozen wings into the air fryer basket. No oil and no thawing needed. It’s okay if they overlap at first—wings shrink as they cook.

Batch size tip: The amount you can cook depends on your air fryer size. If your basket is crowded, cook in two batches for the crispiest results.

Step 2: Thaw stage (quick low-temp start)

Cook at 350°F for 10 minutes to thaw and start rendering fat.

Step 3: Season the wings

After the thaw stage, season both sides with garlic salt and pepper.

Step 4: Crisp stage (main cook)

Increase to 380°F and cook for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Flipping helps the wings crisp evenly. Use tongs if you have them—it’s fast and keeps the skin intact.

Step 5: Sauce + caramelize

Coat wings with your favorite sauce (we love BBQ). If you want a homemade option, try our
Sweet Baby Ray’s Copycat BBQ Sauce.

Step 6: Final high-heat finish

Air fry at 400°F for 5 minutes to caramelize the sauce and finish them off.

Want them extra saucy? Add another quick toss of sauce after cooking. For crisp-first people, keep sauce on the side for dipping.

How to Make Frozen Wings Extra Crispy

If you want that “restaurant-style” crisp, here are the biggest wins:

• Don’t overcrowd: Air needs to circulate. Two batches > one crowded batch.
• Pat dry after thaw stage (optional): If you notice moisture, a quick blot with a paper towel helps.
• Extend the crisp stage: Add 3–5 minutes at 380°F before saucing if your wings are extra large.
• Sauce at the end: Sauce early = softer skin. Sauce late = crisp + sticky glaze.

Sauce Ideas (BBQ, Buffalo & More)

Can I use another sauce?

Yes! BBQ is a classic (and we love Sweet Baby Ray’s), but you can swap in any favorite.

Prefer sweet heat? Try our
Sweet & Spicy Wings Sauce.

More sauce ideas: Buffalo, garlic parmesan, honey sriracha, teriyaki, lemon pepper, or even a dry rub + ranch dip.

Frozen vs Fresh Wings

Fresh or frozen?

This page is optimized for frozen chicken wings in the air fryer—because that’s what people are actually searching when they need wings fast.

If you use fresh (raw) wings, reduce the total cook time and watch closely so they don’t dry out. You’ll still want to flip halfway through and confirm they reach 165°F internally.

Storage & Reheating Tips

• Store: Keep leftover wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days.
• Reheat: Air fry at 350°F for 5–8 minutes until hot and crisp again.
• Pro tip: Reheat first, then add fresh sauce after heating to keep the skin from going soggy.

FAQ (Add These in Rank Math FAQ)

How long do frozen chicken wings take in the air fryer?

Most frozen wings take about 40 minutes total using a thaw stage + crisp stage + quick finish. Larger wings may need a few extra minutes.

Do I need to thaw chicken wings before air frying?

No—this method is designed for air fryer chicken wings from frozen. The initial 350°F stage helps thaw and start rendering fat so the wings crisp up properly.

Do I need oil for air fryer frozen chicken wings?

Usually no. Wings naturally render fat as they cook, which helps crisp the skin. Oil can actually make them greasy.

What internal temperature should chicken wings reach?

Chicken wings should reach 165°F at the thickest part. (See the
USDA chart
for official guidance.)

Why aren’t my wings getting crispy?

The most common reason is overcrowding (not enough airflow). Cook in batches and consider adding 3–5 minutes to the crisp stage before saucing.

More Easy Air Fryer Frozen Recipes

Chicken wings are just the beginning. If you love “straight from the freezer” air fryer wins, try these:

• How to Cook Frozen Mozzarella Sticks in the Air Fryer
• How To Cook Frozen White Castle Burgers In The Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Frozen Egg Rolls
• How To Cook Air Fryer Frozen Corn Dogs

Final Thoughts

Keeping frozen wings on hand is one of my favorite “save dinner” tricks. With this air fryer frozen chicken wings method, you can go from freezer to crispy in about 40 minutes—and customize the flavor any way you want. Make them for an appetizer, game day, a quick lunch, or an easy dinner with a salad and some veggies.

More snacks to make in the air fryer:

• Homemade Pizza Bagels in the Air Fryer
• How to Make Popcorn in the Air Fryer
• Dorito Crusted Babybel Cheese Bites
• Simple Air Fryer Tuna Melt
• Vegetarian Bean & Cheese Burrito in the Air Fryer
• 10 Minute Air Fryer Ham Quesadilla

Air Fryer Tips & Tricks You’ll Love

Keep up with our newest recipes: Subscribe here.

Follow Fabulessly Frugal on
Instagram
|
Facebook
|
Pinterest
|
YouTube