Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

These perfectly crispy yet juicy Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings are a must-have for your next party! Golden brown air-fried wings are glazed in a homemade honey, soy, and garlic sauce that's absolutely addicting. Whether you're in need of an easy 1-hour dinner or a delicious party appetizer, these Honey Garlic Chicken Wings are sure to satisfy!

• Healthier: Making chicken wings in the air fryer is a lot faster, cleaner, and with much less oil. This recipe is also dairy free and made with mostly whole foods for a rich yet satisfying meal.
• Quick and easy: Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings are super simple and effortless. You only need 8 ingredients (most of which are pantry staples), 1 hour, and 1 cooking appliance to pull it together!
• Versatile: Serve these air fried chicken wings as an easy appetizer, snack, or meal. The sweet and sour sauce is also so delicious that you'll want to glaze it on pork, salmon, vegetables, and more!

• Chicken wings: Depending on your grocery store, you'll either find whole or party wings. Whole wings have the drumette, flat, and wing tip all as one piece, so you'll have to separate them yourself. Party (or split) wings provide the drumettes and flats already separated.
• Corn starch: A light dredge creates a crispy, light exterior. It's my favorite coating for chicken wings - I also use it on my Vietnamese Fish Sauce Chicken Wings.
• Baking powder: Because there's no gluten in corn starch, it doesn't brown very well. A tiny bit of baking powder helps dry out the exterior, increases browning, and creates tiny bubbles in the skin for better texture.
• Honey: The base of the sauce. It's a sweetener but also a natural thickener so you don't have to cook the sauce.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic will provide the best flavor in the sauce.
• Lime: The zest and juice provides bright acidity, which balances the sweetness.
• Soy sauce: A quick way to add Asian-inspired umami and salty flavor. I recommend using a low sodium soy sauce.
• Red pepper flakes: For a hint of spice. Add an extra ¼ teaspoon if you like spicy chicken wings, or omit if you prefer it without heat.
• Oil spray: Avocado oil is my favorite oil to cook, fry, and sauté with because of its high smoke point (500°F) and neutral flavor.
• Kosher salt: The salt amounts listed in this recipe are for Diamond Crystal kosher salt. If using Morton kosher salt, sea salt, or Himalayan pink salt, reduce by half. If using table salt, reduce the salt by ¼.

• Use any cut of chicken you'd like! Chicken tenders, thighs, drumsticks, and breasts are all great canvases for the honey soy sauce. For larger cuts, I recommend air frying at 375ºF and using a meat thermometer check when it's done. The internal temperature needs to reach a minimum of 160ºF.
• Replace corn starch with an equal amount of rice flour or potato starch.
• If needed, you can substitute fresh garlic with ¾ teaspoon garlic powder.
• If you don't have fresh lime juice, you can substitute with a mild vinegar like apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar.
• If you have time, dry brine the chicken wings for better flavor and browning. First, season chicken wings with 1 teaspoon salt. Line a baking sheet with foil, place a wire rack inside, top with wings, and place in fridge uncovered for 8-24 hours. Then coat with corn starch and baking powder and immediately air fry.
• Add even more flavor to your chicken wings. Use smoked paprika, garlic powder for double garlic, ginger, or Cajun seasoning to make a dry rub.
• To make gluten free Honey Garlic Chicken Wings in the air fryer, substitute soy sauce with coconut aminos or tamari.

STEP ONE: First, split the chicken into flats and drumettes if not already done so. Freeze the wing tips for broth or soup.

STEP TWO: Then pat split wings as dry as possible and add to a large bowl with corn starch, baking powder, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until the wings are evenly coated, then let sit for 30 minutes.
This will dry out the chicken skin for a crispier exterior, while seasoning deep into the chicken meat. It may look a little stickier and wetter - but it'll dry up in the air fryer.

STEP THREE: While the chicken is marinading, make the honey garlic sauce. Add minced garlic, lime zest, and lime juice to a bowl. Fully submerge the garlic in the lime juice and let sit for 5 minutes to remove the raw bite.

Then add honey, soy sauce, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine, season to taste, and set aside.

STEP FOUR: Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF. When hot, spray the basket with oil. Add a single layer of chicken wings, making sure to not let them overlap, and spray once more with oil. Air fry for 10 minutes, then flip wings and spray with more oil. Air fry for an additional 5-8 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature is at least 165ºF.

STEP FIVE: Transfer the air fried chicken wings to a bowl and let rest for 5-10 minutes. Pour in the honey garlic sauce and toss to coat. Serve hot with remaining sauce on the side for dipping.

• "Cook" the garlic. When making the sauce, submerge the garlic in lime juice and let sit for a full 5 minutes. The acid will "cook" the garlic to take away the raw spice, making it more palatable.
• Adjust to your own air fryer. I have a 6-Quart Instant Vortex and cooking the wings at 400°F for 15 minutes was perfect for me. I recommend testing one piece first to determine the best temperature and cook time for your Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings.
• Let the wings rest. Let the wings cool on a wire rack for at least 5 minutes before saucing. This allows the oil to dry so the honey garlic sauce doesn't immediately slide off, plus the chicken meat will be juicier after resting. A wire rack will also prevent the bottom of the chicken wings from soaking in oil or softening.
• Bake instead. To bake instead of air fry, preheat the oven to 400ºF and place a wire rack inside a baking sheet. Spray the wire rack with oil and place dredged chicken on top. Spray tops with oil and bake for 35-45 minutes until golden and internal temperature is at least 160ºF.

• Sauces: Dip these chicken wings in your favorite dipping sauce like ranch, sweet chili, sweet and sour, honey mustard, or blue cheese.
• Appetizers: Serve a variety of crowd-pleasing appetizers with Air Fryer Crab Rangoons, Tteokkochi (Korean Rice Cake Skewers), or Air Fryer Potato Croquettes.
• Vegetables: Make Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings a complete meal with nourishing vegetables on the side. My favorites include Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Glaze, Roasted Carrots and Green Beans, or Sweet Potato Fries.
• Side Dishes: Fried chicken wouldn't be complete without Hawaiian Mac Salad, Brown Butter Garlic Mashed Potatoes, or Mac and Cheese.