With just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of prep time, you can have a plate of crispy, juicy wings that are sure to satisfy your cravings ready in no time. But be warned: once you try these addictive wings, you may find yourself making them again and again!
Garlic parmesan wings are a delicious and easy appetizer or meal that can be made quickly in the air fryer. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful and crispy dish that everyone will love. Experiment with different seasonings and variations to find your favorite flavor combination, and serve them with a variety of sides and dipping sauces.
If you have frozen chicken wings, check out my recipe for Frozen Wings in the Air Fryer. You might also like my recipe for Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs and My Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks.
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🍗 Ingredients
All you need for these delicious garlic parmesan wings are your chicken wings, herbs and spices, melted butter and parmesan cheese. And your favorite dipping sauce too!
To make air fryer garlic parmesan wings, you'll need:
- Chicken wings
- Olive oil
- Paprika (sweet or smoked)
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Baking powder
- Salt & pepper
- Butter
- Parmesan cheese
- Dried oregano
- Chili powder (optional for extra spice)
See the recipe card for precise quantities and instructions. Substitution suggestions are also found below!
📖 Instructions
With some quick prep of the ingredients, you'll be snacking on these almost addictive wings in no time!
Add the wing sections to a large mixing bowl and toss with olive oil until well coated.
Add all the spices for the chicken wings and toss well to coat.
Place the wings in the air fryer in a single layer and air fry for 12 minutes before flipping.
While the wings are air frying, make the garlic butter parmesan sauce. Mix together all the ingredients for the butter sauce.
Flip the wings and air fry for another 12 minutes. Depending on the size of your air fryer, make the wings in batches.
Place into oven Once the wings are cooked, place them in a large mixing bowl and pour the butter sauce over. Toss the wings well to coat with the sauce.
Serve with chopped fresh parsley, more parmesan cheese and your favorite dipping sauce.
Hint: Make sure you pat dry the chicken wings before adding oil and seasoning. This ensures the skin becomes extra crispy!
🙋🏻♂️ FAQs
Make sure to pat dry the wings before adding oil and seasonings to remove excess moisture. Also make sure to use the secret ingredient which is baking powder which changes the pH of the chicken, making it crispier. Lastly, preheat your air fryer!
I air fried the wings for 12 minutes on each side, so 24 minutes in total.
Wings need high temperature to crisp up so I recommend air frying them at 400°F (200°C) for best results.
The secret to extra crispy chicken wings is to use baking powder while seasoning the wings. Baking powder changes the pH of the chicken skin, making it extra crispy in the air fryer!
I find baking powder works better for making crispy wings. Flour does work but it doesn't affect the pH of the chicken skin like baking powder does which really crisps it up.
Only use baking powder to crisp up your chicken wings! Definitely don't use baking soda as you won't get the same results and the flavor will be affected.
🥣 Substitutions
Here are substitution suggestions you can use to make this recipe suit a certain diet or based on what you have available.
- Butter: You can use olive oil or coconut oil instead of butter. The flavor won't be as rich but they work as substitutes for butter.
- Parmesan cheese: If you don't have Parmesan cheese, you can use Pecorino Romano cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano cheese instead.
- Chicken wings: You can use chicken drumsticks or boneless chicken thighs instead of wings.
🥘 Variations
Try these delicious variations for more flavor!
- Honey garlic parmesan wings: Add ¼ cup of honey to the Parmesan cheese mixture to create a sweet and savory flavor.
- Buffalo garlic parmesan wings: Toss the wings in buffalo sauce after they are cooked and then sprinkle them with Parmesan cheese and parsley.
- Lemon garlic parmesan wings: Add the zest of one lemon to the Parmesan cheese mixture to give the wings a bright and fresh flavor.
- Cajun garlic parmesan wings: Add 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning to the Parmesan cheese mixture to give the wings a spicy kick.
🍗 What to serve with garlic parmesan chicken wings?
Garlic parmesan wings make a great appetizer or main dish, and there are many delicious sides and accompaniments that you can serve with them. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Salad: Garlic parmesan wings can be rich and flavorful, so a light and refreshing salad can be a great contrast. Try a simple mixed greens salad with a vinaigrette dressing, or a Caesar salad with plenty of crisp romaine lettuce and shaved Parmesan.
- Vegetables: Roasted or grilled vegetables are a healthy and delicious side dish that pairs well with garlic parmesan wings. Try roasted asparagus, grilled zucchini, or sautéed green beans.
- Rice or Quinoa: A side of rice or quinoa can help balance out the richness of the garlic parmesan wings. Try brown rice or quinoa for a healthier option, or add some herbs and spices to give the grains extra flavor.
- French Fries or Sweet Potato Fries: If you're in the mood for something indulgent, garlic parmesan wings go great with crispy French fries or sweet potato fries. You can make your own in the air fryer or oven, or pick up a bag of frozen fries from the grocery store.
- Bread: Garlic parmesan wings are delicious dipped in sauce, so serving them with some bread can help soak up any extra sauce. Try garlic bread, a crusty baguette, or some warm pita bread.
🍯 What are the best dipping sauces for garlic parmesan wings?
Garlic parmesan wings make a great appetizer or main dish, and there are many delicious sides and accompaniments that you can serve with them. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Ranch dressing: This creamy, tangy dressing is a classic choice for wings of all flavors, including garlic parmesan. It complements the bold garlic and savory parmesan flavors and provides a cool, refreshing contrast.
- Blue cheese dressing: If you're looking for a more pungent flavor, blue cheese dressing is another popular option. Its sharp, tangy taste pairs well with the richness of the parmesan and garlic.
- Honey mustard sauce: For a sweet and tangy option, try dipping your garlic parmesan wings in honey mustard sauce. The sweetness of the honey and the tanginess of the mustard create a perfect balance of flavors.
- Sriracha mayo: If you're a fan of spicy foods, you can add some heat to your garlic parmesan wings by dipping them in a mixture of sriracha and mayonnaise. The creamy mayo helps to balance out the spiciness of the sriracha, making for a tasty and flavorful dipping sauce.
- Garlic aioli: For an extra boost of garlic flavor, try dipping your wings in a garlic aioli sauce. This creamy and garlicky sauce is the perfect complement to the garlic parmesan wings, enhancing their flavor even more.
⏲ Equipment
Air Fryer: This recipe has been made and tested using a Cosori Max XL Large Cooker. It has a capacity of 5.8 quarts which is quite large. You can use any air fryer for this recipe, but all air fryers are different so adjust cooking times accordingly.
Air fryer temperatures vary between air fryer models so I use an oven thermometer to make sure that the air fryer is the correct temperature for each recipe.
🍶 Storage and Reheating
To store leftover garlic parmesan wings, let them cool completely and then place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep for up to 3 days.
To reheat the wings, place them in the air fryer basket and cook them at 375°F (190°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until they are heated through and crispy. You can also reheat them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-12 minutes, or until they are heated through.
If you want to freeze the wings, let them cool completely and then place them in a single layer in a freezer-safe container or resealable plastic bag. Make sure to remove as much air as possible before sealing the container or bag. They will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months.
To reheat frozen wings, let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Once they are thawed, you can reheat them in the air fryer or oven using the methods mentioned above.
👨🏻🍳 Top tips
- Pat Wings Dry: Use kitchen towel to pat the wings dry before seasoning them. This will make them crisper and more flavorful as the spices stick to the chicken better.
- Baking Powder: Using baking powder is crucial for crispy chicken wings. It makes them super crispy! Just make sure to use aluminium-free baking powder.
- Preheating Air Fryer: Preheating your air fryer for the best results, your chicken will be crisper.
Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a comment below and follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram!
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Chicken Wings
- 2-3 lbs Chicken wings sectioned into drumette and wingette (or flat)
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 tsp. Paprika Sweet or smoked
- 1 tsp. Garlic powder
- 1 tsp. Onion powder
- 2 tablespoon Baking powder Don't substitute with baking soda
- 1 tsp. Sea salt
- 1 tsp. Black pepper
Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce
- ½ cup Melted butter If using salted butter, reduce the salt by ½ tsp.
- 1 cup Grated fresh parmesan
- 2 tsp. Dried oregano
- 2 tsp. Onion powder
- 2 tsp. Garlic powder
- 1 tsp. Black pepper
- 1-2 tsp. Chili powder optional for a spicy kick
To Serve
- Fresh parsley
- Grated parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400℉ (200℃) while preparing the wings.
- Begin by separating the wings into the drumette and wingette portions. Pat the wings dry with kitchen towel.2-3 lbs Chicken wings
- Add the wing sections to a large mixing bowl and toss with olive oil until well coated.1 tablespoon Olive oil
- Add all the spices for the chicken wings and toss well to coat.1 tsp. Paprika, 1 tsp. Garlic powder, 1 tsp. Onion powder, 2 tablespoon Baking powder, 1 tsp. Sea salt, 1 tsp. Black pepper
- Place the wings in the air fryer in a single layer and air fry for 12 minutes, then flip the wings and air fry for another 12 minutes. Depending on the size of your air fryer, make the wings in batches.
- While the wings are air frying, make the garlic butter parmesan sauce. Mix together all the ingredients for the butter sauce.½ cup Melted butter, 1 cup Grated fresh parmesan, 2 tsp. Dried oregano, 2 tsp. Onion powder, 2 tsp. Garlic powder, 1 tsp. Black pepper, 1-2 tsp. Chili powder
- Once the wings are cooked, place them in a large mixing bowl and pour the butter sauce over. Toss the wings well to coat with the sauce.
- Garnish the wings with fresh parsley and extra grated parmesan. Serve the garlic parmesan wings immediately with your favorite dipping sauce and sides.Fresh parsley, Grated parmesan
Lanie
These wings look so amazing.
Harry
Thank you, Lanie! I hope you enjoy making them!