If you're having a small Thanksgiving this year or you just want something different, try these quick and easy air fryer turkey wings. They are amazingly flavorful!
These air fryer turkey wings are extremely easy to make, no brining or stuffing needed. You don’t need any fancy ingredients; these turkey wings use regular spices and are air fried to perfection. You won’t believe just how crispy and insanely delicious they are!
If cooking a full-sized turkey has always seemed daunting, this is a great alternative. It takes less than an hour to make compared to making a regular Thanksgiving turkey. And if you've been sitting on the fence about getting an air fryer, this is the perfect time to get one. You can even put it on your holiday wish list or get it during sales.
And if you need a chicken recipe to try in the air fryer, try this crispy skin baked chicken drumsticks. They are so unbelievably crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!
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Ingredients Used
- Turkey wings: You can get them in your grocery store near the chicken section. They are usually sold in packs of 2 or 4 wings. If you get them from the meat section in an Asian or Hispanic store, they might come chopped into smaller pieces.
- Spices: smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, dried oregano, lemon pepper, and salt.
- Olive oil spray.
Which air fryer do I use?
You can use any conventional air fryer in the market though you might have to do more batches if your air fryer is small.
My favorite brand is Ninja Air Fryer. You can also use a Ninja Foodi, which I've really come to love as it crisps up so fast!
How To Make This Recipe
- Preheat your air fryer to 350 F. While that's warming up, wash your turkey wings and leave them out to dry. Measure out all of the spices, mix them together, then spray each turkey wing with olive oil. Rub your spice mix liberally over each turkey wing, making sure you get all those folds and layers.
- Set each turkey wing in your air fryer in a singular layer and bake them for 20 minutes on one side. Then flip each wing and continue cooking for 15-20 more minutes on the other side. Let it cool down when done and enjoy!
Storing and Reheating
Store any leftover turkey wings in an airtight container in the fridge. These can keep for up to 4 days after you cook them. You can also seal them in freezer bags and store them in the freezer until you're ready to eat them. Be sure to let the wings thaw naturally before you reheat them again.
You can reheat the turkey wings in an air fryer at 350F and cook for 5 minutes. Increase the heat to 400 degrees and cook them for 5 more minutes to crisp up the skin.
These turkey wings can also be reheated in the oven. Just wrap them in aluminum foil and place them on a rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack. Set the oven to 275F for about 20 minutes.
Tips when making air fryer turkey wings
- Do not stack your wings in the air fryer. To get a nice crispy skin, each of the wings needs to have room enough to cook evenly. It is best to cook the wings in batches if you have to.
- To make ahead, rub the turkey wings with the spices and leave them in the fridge overnight. Then pop them in the air fryer the next day when you're ready.
What can I eat this recipe with?
You can eat these air fried turkey wings all by themselves with some delectable sauces such as spicy mayo or garlic chili oil.
During the holiday season, they pair very nicely with holiday side dishes.
Some favorites are:
- Cauliflower Mash with Sour Cream
- Cauliflower Rice And Sausage Stuffing
- Stir-fried Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
- Sauteed Green Beans and Mushrooms
Recipe
Air Fryer Turkey Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lbs turkey wings
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1.5 tsp garlic powder
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp lemon pepper
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350F.
- Wash turkey and let it dry.
- Mix all the spices together.
- Spray the turkey with olive oil spray and liberally rub the spice mix all around the turkey and inside the folds.
- Bake for 20 mins on one side, then flip and bake for 15-20 minutes on the other side.
Notes
- Do not stack your wings in the air fryer. To get a nice crispy skin, each of the wings needs to have room enough to cook evenly. It is best to cook the wings in batches if you have to.
- To make ahead, rub the turkey wings with the spices and leave them in the fridge overnight. Then pop them in the air fryer the next day when you're ready.
I am trying to abstain from pork, when I cook greens sometimes I use smoked ham hock. It was so nice finding an alternative using turkey wings. I was able to get these done and popped in the freezer ready for a big pot of collards or kale. I was a bit heavy handed with the cayenne pepper. No worries it will season the greens. Yum
I'm glad you enjoyed this, Florence. And yes, it will season the greens very nicely!
I never had turkey wings before moving to Maryland. These were on sale at the store, and we finally got a Ninja Foodi last Christmas. They’re currently on their first 20 minutes and they already smell amazing!
I’m preparing these for my lunch this week, and can’t wait to try them.
Let me know how it turns out, Amber!
They look amazing! I have just linked them to my air fryer chicken thighs.
Thank you, Denise!
My wings are in the air fryer; they smell delicious. I can’t wait to eat them (all 4 of them)!
Thanks,
Jessie
I hope you enjoy them!
Delicious!!! Made it for dinner and my toddler (23 month old) approves!!!
Yay! It's a huge favorite with my kids too!
I made these the other night and they were really good and crispy. I didn't have any lemon pepper so I added some Adobo. I usually slow cook my wings, so this was a nice change. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome, Beth!
Followed directions used my own seasonings' came out perfect. Thank you for sharing
I'm glad you made it work for you, Sena. Thanks for the feedback!
Teenage boy approved! Will def be making again!! Thanks!!
My 11yr old son gobbles this up pretty fast, too. Thanks for your feedback, Ceri!
My turkey wings came out great. I seasoned and left them in the refrigerator overnight before cooking them and they were very tasty. I would definitely recommend this recipe.
Thank you for your review, Shay. Marinating overnight is an awesome idea!
O.M.G.!!!!!! These were AMAZING. Seasoning and time were PERFECT. I have prepared these 3 different times in one week. I made a big batch of the Seasoning and use it on just about EVERYTHING!!
Thank you so much for your review, Cynthia! I agree, the seasoning is a keeper. I use it on everything too 😀
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