This post contains affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Better-Than-Takeout Air Fryer Honey Garlic Wings: My crispy, sticky, sweet, and just a little bit garlicky Honey Garlic Air Fryer Wings are everything you want in a quick, flavor-packed chicken wing! I’m going to show you how to get ultra-crispy skin wings without deep frying, with the perfect homemade honey garlic sauce that is out of this world delicious. These chicken wings are easy, mess-free, and perfect for game day, parties, or when you’re just craving wings fast!
Easy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings – No Deep Frying: my Honey Garlic Air Fryer Wings are crispy, juicy, and coated in a sticky-sweet garlic glaze made from simple pantry staples. If you know me, you know I use my air fryer for all kinds of dishes to get an irresistible crispy texture without oil or breading – so I designed this recipe to be lighter and quicker than traditional wings! It’s perfect for weeknight dinners, party appetizers, or game day snacking – tested in my home kitchen to be sure it works in yours!
Don’t want all the extras in a recipe post? We provide a skip to recipe button in the top left corner, as well as a clickable table of contents, just below, to help make this page easier to navigate.
At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
How to Make Honey Garlic Wings
These Honey Garlic Air Fryer Wings are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and coated in a sticky, sweet garlic sauce that’s totally addictive. We’re going to use simple pantry ingredients and no deep frying, for a restaurant-style chicken wing in under 30 minutes. This recipe is perfect for game day, parties, or fast weeknight snacks.
Air Fryer Honey Garlic Wings Ingredients
To make this recipe we will need the following ingredients:
- Chicken Wings: meaty, tender, and perfect for crisping; they serve as the hearty base of the dish
- Olive Oil: lightly coats the wings to help seasonings stick and aids in crisping during baking or air frying
- Garlic Powder: adds savory depth and a mild roasted garlic flavor to the wing coating
- Coarse Salt: enhances flavor and helps draw moisture from the skin for better crisping
- Ground Pepper: adds subtle heat and sharpness
- Cornstarch: creates a crisp outer layer when baked or air fried, giving wings a fried-like texture
- Cooking Spray: helps brown and crisp the exterior while preventing sticking
- Butter: adds richness and helps carry the garlic flavor in the sauce
- Fresh garlic (4 cloves): provides bold, aromatic flavor and a signature garlicky bite
- Honey: adds natural sweetness and creates a sticky, glossy coating
- Soy Sauce: brings savory umami and balances the sweetness of the honey
- Fresh Parsley: adds a pop of color and freshness to finish the dish
Steps to Make Air Fried Honey Garlic Wings
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following process:
Marinate & Cut Pieces
Marinate chicken (optional) up to a night before. Cut wings into 3 pieces if you have whole intact wings.
Pat Dry
Pat dry any excess liquid – this will help the chicken crisp.
Air Fry
Air fry, using the highest heat possible for the best results.
Make Sauce
Heat sauce and reduce to thicken.
Cook to Crisp
When chicken is crunchy on the outside and over 165 degrees in the middle, remove from air fryer and place into large bowl.
Toss in Sauce
Drizzle sauce over chicken wings in bowl, and toss well to coat wings in sauce. Add green onions and sesame seeds for garnish, if desired.
Tips and Tricks to Perfect Honey Garlic Wings
Pat Wings Dry for Max Crispiness: Use paper towels to thoroughly dry the wings before seasoning. Removing surface moisture is key to achieving golden, crispy skin in the air fryer.
Use Cornstarch for Crunch: Tossing the wings in cornstarch creates a light, crisp coating that mimics deep frying. Don’t skip it — it’s the secret to that irresistible crunch.
Don’t Crowd the Basket: Air circulation is what makes air fryer wings crispy. Cook in a single layer with a bit of space between each piece. If needed, cook in batches.
Flip Halfway Through: Turn the wings over halfway through cooking to ensure even browning and crisping on all sides.
Preheat the Air Fryer: Just like an oven, a preheated air fryer helps the wings start crisping the second they hit the basket.
Make the Sauce Separately: Cook the honey garlic sauce in a pan while the wings air fry. That way it’s thick, glossy, and ready to coat right when the wings are done.
Toss in Sauce Just Before Serving: For best texture, toss the crispy wings in the sauce only right before serving. This keeps the skin from getting soggy.
Garnish with Fresh Parsley for Brightness: A sprinkle of parsley adds color and a touch of freshness that balances the sweet and savory glaze.
Optional Pro Tip: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce to the honey garlic sauce for a subtle kick!
Honey Garlic Air Fried Wings FAQs
Yes, but cook them for an additional 5–10 minutes and ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Yes, marinating for a few hours or overnight enhances flavor, but pat them dry before air frying to ensure crispiness.
Lightly coat the wings with baking powder or cornstarch before air frying and don’t overcrowd the basket.
Yes, reheat at 350°F (175°C) for 5–7 minutes until hot and crispy.
Serve with celery sticks, ranch or blue cheese dip, or a simple slaw for balance.
Yes, just adjust the cooking time to 10–14 minutes depending on size and thickness.
What to Serve With Honey Garlic Wings
Honey Garlic Wings
Equipment
- Ninja AG301 Foodi
- Bovado USA 4 Quart Glass Bowl
Ingredients
Wings
- 2 pounds Chicken Wings, flats and drumettes separated
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon coarse Salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground Pepper
- 3 tablespoons Cornstarch, optional
- olive oil spray, instead of nonstick spray for air fryer
Honey Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Butter
- 4 cloves Garlic
- ½ cup Honey
- 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh Parsley, to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Blot Chicken Wings dry with a paper towel. Separate the chicken wing flats and drumettes at the joint with a sharp knife.
- In a large bowl, mix together 1 tbsp Oil, 1 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder, 1 tsp Salt, and 1/4 tsp Pepper, and stir. Place 2lbs wings in bowl and toss with spice mixture until coated. Sprinkle 3 tbsp Cornstarch over Wings and toss to thoroughly coat.
- Place the seasoned Chicken Wings in the pre headed air fryer basket, skin side down, Wings not touching.
- Close the air fryer and bake Wings for 10 minutes. Flip the Wings and spray with olive oil spray (if desired, I dont), and cook for another 8 minutes, until they appear golden brown (should reach 185°F internal temperature).
- While Wings are cooking, mince 4 cloves Garlic and chop Parsley. Set aside. In a medium size pan, add 2 tablespoons Butter and melt on medium heat. Add minced Garlic and sauté for about 1 minute.
- Add in 1/2 cup Honey and 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce and stir while it simmers, for about 3 minutes. Sauce will thicken. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Remove Wings from air fryer when done, and add to Honey Sauce, and toss cooked wings to coat. Remove to serving plate or tray.
- Garnish with chopped Parsley, chopped green onion, or your favorite garnish. Serve with ranch Dressing to dip, or your favorite sauce, along with your favorite sides and snacks.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
