Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings With Citrus-Garlic Marinade

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These crispy air fryer chicken wings are marinated in a zesty citrus and garlic sauce, and taste so freaking good you’ll want to make them every night! 

I’ve fallen in love with my air fryer, which -not gonna lie- kind of surprises me! 

We used to have a deep fat fryer and I hated it. It made tasty food, sure, but it also made our kitchen smell like a McDonald’s… even three days later. It was a total pain to clean. And I was always freaked out about my kids getting too near it while the food was frying, so I had to babysit it the entire time. 

Read: Weeknight Kimchi Fried Rice

When my husband brought home an air fryer for me to try, I rolled my eyes. It’s massive and takes a ton of electricity to use. But once I started experimenting with it, I quickly realized it was worth the effort to drag out of the cupboard whenever I was in the mood for crispy, tasty food. 

I don’t have to babysit my air fryer, and it’s easy to clean. I don’t worry about the safety of my kids being near it, since the outside stays relatively cool to the touch. 

The Air Fryer Makes Everything Crispy and Delicious 

And the food cooked in the air fryer! Just #swoon. Crunchy breaded fish, leftover restaurant fries brought back to life, near-perfect crostini, and more. I’ve really been enjoying trying out new air fryer recipes. 

Enter these crispy air fryer chicken wings, tossed in a citrusy-garlic marinade. I’ve made them twice in the last week, and I foresee even more in the future! 

Toss these Extra Crispy Chicken Wings in a Zesty, Citrusy Marinade Before Cooking

The marinade is simple- only a handful of ingredients. To get the best flavor, soak the chicken wings in the marinade for at least an hour, and 12 hours is probably best. 

The marinade is sweet, punchy, zesty, with a tiny kick from a ¼ teaspoon of chili flakes. It makes these crispy chicken wings addictive and flavorful, and I bet you can’t eat just one! 

Then, cook the chicken wings in the air fryer at just 15 minutes on 400*F. It’s so much less than baking, less greasy than frying, and ten times as crispy and delicious! 

Read: Extra-Crispy Melty Cheesy Chorizo Potato Skins

A word on the recaito in this crispy chicken wing marinade

Recaito is a Puerto Rican flavor base (which is sometimes swapped with Puerto Rican sofrito), made by blending cilantro, garlic, onion, and green pepper. It adds a big punch of fresh flavor to this marinade, and I really recommend it- but if you can’t find it, swap in the same amount of freshly chopped cilantro, instead. 

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Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings With Citrus-Garlic Marinade

Crispy air fryer chicken wings ready in 15 minutes after marinating, and the air fryer cooks them to crackly perfection with less grease!

Author: Ruthy Kirwan

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken drumsticks and wings
• 1 cup lime juice
• 1 ⁄4 cup brown sugar
• 4-5 cloves garlic minced
• 1 ⁄4 cup fresh cilantro leaves roughly chopped
• 1 ⁄4 teaspoon chili flakes
• 1 ⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 ⁄2 teaspoon ground allspice

Instructions

Prep Ahead:

1. Mix the lime juice and brown sugar in a resealable freezer-safe bag and shake or stir until the brown sugar has dissolved.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and the chicken and store in a resealable bag or container.
3. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months or the fridge for up to 1 week.

Prepare From Prepped:

Sheet pan instructions:

1. If frozen, thaw in the fridge overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 400*F.
3. Spread the chicken on the sheet pan in an even layer, leaving a few inches of space between each of the chicken wings.
4. Place in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is completely cooked through, no pink remains when it’s cut open, and registers at least 160*F with a meat thermometer.

Air Fryer instructions:

1. Spread the chicken thighs side by side on the bottom of the air fryer.
2. Cook at 400*F for 12 minutes or until the chicken is crisped and browned on the outside.
3. Transfer to a plate and serve hot.

Make From Fresh:

Sheet pan instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400*F.
2. Mix the lime juice and brown sugar in a large bowl until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Add the seasonings and the chicken to the bowl and toss to coat, then transfer the contents of the bowl to a sheet pan, spreading into an even layer, leaving a few inches of space between the pieces of chicken.
4. Place the pan in the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the chicken is completely cooked through, no pink remains when it’s cut open, and registers at least 160*F with a meat thermometer.

Air Fryer instructions:

1. Mix the lime juice and brown sugar together in a large bowl until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Add the seasonings and chicken to the bowl and toss to coat.
3. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes in the fridge. You can marinate for up to 12 hours.
4. Spread the chicken thighs side by side on the bottom of the air fryer.
5. Cook at 400*F for 12 minutes or until the chicken is crisped and browned on the outside.
6. Transfer to a plate and serve hot.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

If you’re making it from fresh on a sheet pan, follow the instructions below. The image with this recipe shows the baked chicken wings with wilted arugula, which I added as a last minute addition- it makes a really deep, flavored addition and is fabulous when you toss all of it on even more fresh, leafy greens once it’s out of the oven.