Air Fryer Sweet Chili Wings

Ever since I got an air fryer for Christmas, I have been experimenting with different recipes. Some turn out great, nice and crispy like I want them, but some seem to still fall short.

I’ve never been one who loves wings. Perhaps it’s because when I eat them in public I look like an absolute barbarian, but the taste and texture has to also be just right for me to feel that they are worth it (especially when they are deep fried). That is until I tried sweet chili wings, a menu item at my local pub. My boyfriend insisted we order them and I agreed they sounded interesting. They. were. amazing.

I needed to figure out how to recreate these wings so I could be the hit of any Super Bowl party I ever attend for the rest of my life. But I hate deep frying things at home….so..

Enter my air fryer.

Ingredients

1 lb chicken wings (about 9-12 wings)

2 tsp baking powder

4 tbsp Blue Dragon sweet chili dipping sauce

Olive oil spray

Salt and pepper, to taste

Garlic powder (optional, to taste – no more than 1 tsp)

Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning (optional, for garnish)

Directions

  1. Place the chicken wings in a shallow bowl. Pat as dry as possible with a paper towel. Discard paper towel and wash hands before handling anything else!
  2. Sprinkle the baking powder into the bowl. Evenly coat the chicken with the baking powder (I used my hands for this, but just remember when handling raw chicken to always wash your hands before touching anything else!)
  3. Then, sprinkle in salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Evenly coat the chicken.

4. If you are making a smaller amount of wings, you can achieve optimal crispiness by placing in a metal wire rack into your air fryer (mine came with one). If you do not have a metal rack or if you are preparing a larger amount a wings, you may just use the basket (they still get pretty crispy and you save some time!). Spray the rack / basket with a small amount of olive oil spray to lightly coat.

5. Carefully sort the wings in one layer onto the rack/ or as close to a single layer as possible in the air fryer basket. You may overlap a little on a second layer if necessary.

6. Set air fryer to 340 degrees for 13 minutes. If cooking wings in the basket directly, shake basket every 5 minutes or so to allow for even cooking.

7. After 13 minutes, change the temperature to 400 degrees F and set the timer for another 8 minutes.

Now time for this stuff!

8. As wings are continuing to cook, pour sweet chili dipping sauce into a wide, shallow bowl.

9. Once 8 minutes is up, take wings out WITH TONGS (THEY WILL BE HOT), and toss to coat in the dipping sauce. Place them back in the air fryer.

10. Once all wings are coated with the sauce, cook on 400 degrees for 5 more minutes, or until when chicken is fully cooked through. If not yet to your desired crispiness, carefully place them back in for a few minutes, checking frequently, until done.

11. Garnish with Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning and some green onions/chives for a nice game day treat!

Weight Watchers Freestyle SP: 12 points for one serving (about 3-4 wings, depending on their size). Points were calculated using the Recipe Builder on the WW app.

Air Fryer Sweet Chili Chicken Wings

  • Servings: 3
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Ingredients:
1 lb chicken wings (about 9-12 wings)
2 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp Blue Dragon sweet chili dipping sauce
Olive oil spray
Salt and pepper, to taste
Garlic powder (optional, to taste – no more than 1 tsp)
Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning (optional, for garnish)

Directions:

1. Place the chicken wings in a shallow bowl. Pat as dry as possible with a paper towel. Discard paper towel and wash hands before handling anything else!

2. Sprinkle the baking powder into the bowl. Evenly coat the chicken with the baking powder (I used my hands for this, but just remember when handling raw chicken to always wash your hands before touching anything else!)

3. Then, sprinkle in salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Evenly coat the chicken.

4. If you are making a smaller amount of wings, you can achieve optimal crispiness by placing in a metal wire rack into your air fryer (mine came with one). If you do not have a metal rack or if you are preparing a larger amount a wings, you may just use the basket (they still get pretty crispy and you save some time!). Spray the rack / basket with a small amount of olive oil spray to lightly coat.

5. Carefully sort the wings in one layer onto the rack/ or as close to a single layer as possible in the air fryer basket. You may overlap a little on a second layer if necessary.

6. Set air fryer to 340 degrees for 13 minutes. If cooking wings in the basket directly (not on the wire rack), shake basket every 5 minutes or so to allow for even cooking. If cooking on the wire rack, you can let it cook without shaking.

7. After 13 minutes, change the temperature to 400 degrees F and set the timer for another 8 minutes.

8. As wings are continuing to cook, pour sweet chili dipping sauce into a wide, shallow bowl.

9. Once 8 minutes is up, take wings out WITH TONGS (THEY WILL BE HOT), and toss to coat in the dipping sauce. Place them back in the air fryer.

10. Once all wings are coated with the sauce, cook on 400 degrees for 5 more minutes, or until when chicken is fully cooked through. If not yet to your desired crispiness, carefully place them back in for a few minutes, checking frequently, until done.

11. Garnish with Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning and some green onions/chives for a nice game day treat!

Note: Nutrition information may not be exact. Ingredients were estimated and entered using verywellfit.com’s Nutrition Calculator.