If you have a craving for juicy finger-licking wings, you have to try these Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings. They are widely satisfying, loaded with a sticky, garlicky honey glaze, and with juicy chicken! Skip ordering takeout and make restaurant-quality wings at home! In our house, chicken wings are more than just a recipe — they’re a ritual. I love that I can pull out a package of wings, season them in minutes, and let the air fryer do the heavy lifting while I manage the chaos of family life. By the time James sets the table, Ariya is dancing around the kitchen, and Cameron is bouncing on my hip saying “baba,” the wings are golden, crispy, and ready to toss in that sweet-savory honey garlic sauce. Family meals don’t have to be complicated to be memorable, and this recipe proves it every time.
These are easy to whip up and easier to devour! Great if you want a tasty dinner or are considering feeding a crowd and want a party starter. This is a great party snack or main dish, whichever you choose. Check out these teriyaki wings that are made in the slow cooker for another tasty dish.
What Is This Recipe?
Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings are a faster, lighter take on a restaurant-style favorite. Instead of deep-frying, the wings crisp up beautifully in the air fryer with just a touch of butter and seasoning. Then they’re coated in a homemade sauce made from honey, garlic, and soy sauce that simmers into a sticky glaze.
The result? Juicy chicken inside, crunchy edges outside, and a glossy, flavorful coating that clings to every bite. Whether you’re serving them as an appetizer, a game-day snack, or even the main dish with sides, these wings always bring that crave-worthy balance of crispy and saucy.
Recipe Highlights
- Minimal Ingredients are needed for this recipe. All items are easy to find, and won’t break the bank.
- You do not need to fry the chicken deep. The air fryer makes less of a mess and creates a “healthier” recipe.
- The wings are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside when you bite into them.
- You can make a lot of wings for a Netflix party, game day snacking, or a few for a weeknight lazy dinner!
Ingredient Breakdown: What They Do
Green Onions & Sesame Seeds (optional garnish): Add freshness and a hint of texture
Chicken Wings (1.5–2 lbs): Use drumettes and wingettes for even cooking. The high fat content in wings helps them crisp naturally.
Salted Butter: Adds richness and helps the seasoning stick. Unsalted butter can be used with a pinch of salt.
Honey Garlic Seasoning Blend: Layers extra depth into the wings before the glaze even hits. Brands like Frank’s Stingin’ Honey Garlic work well, but any similar blend gives you that base flavor.
Minced Garlic: Fresh is best for that pungent, aromatic hit, but garlic powder can sub in a pinch.
Honey: The star sweetener that caramelizes into a sticky glaze.
Soy Sauce: Adds umami and salt balance. Sub with tamari, liquid aminos, or coconut aminos if needed.
Variations & Substitutes
Here are a few options to consider for modifying certain aspects of this recipe.
- Add in some crushed red pepper flakes for a nice kick of heat to the wings. Or even a few spots of sriracha in the sauce.
- Feel free to swap the chicken with cauliflower florets for a meatless wing.
- Coconut aminos can be used in place of soy sauce.
- Add in some lemon zest to the glaze for a nice zesty twist to the sauce.
- You can adjust the sauce anyway you would like, add less honey to lighten the sweetness.
- You can use chicken drumsticks in place of wings.
Make Ahead & Storage Tips
Sauce Storage: The honey garlic glaze can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to a week. Reheat gently before tossing wings.
Make Ahead: Prep wings by seasoning them earlier in the day. Keep in the fridge, then air fry just before serving.
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for 3–4 days. Re-crisp in the air fryer at 375°F for 4–5 minutes.
Freeze: Cooked wings freeze well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight and reheat in the air fryer until hot and crisp.
Serving Suggestions
Not sure how to serve up these glazed wings?! Eat as a party food, or you can serve with roasted veggies, coleslaw, pasta salad, or any other popular sides you like at your home.
If you want to have more of a party vibe, you can pair carrots and celery sticks with ranch or blue cheese dressing dips.
Helpful Tips
Make sure, before you start, you prep your wings and trim them as needed. Then pat them dry with a paper towel to help them become crisper as they cook up.
Leave space between each piece of chicken in the air fryer. That way it ensures you get an even cook on the chicken in all areas. If you crowd the air fryer, it will leave uneven spots, and your chicken won’t get as crispy.
Cook your chicken with the glaze for a few extra minutes if you want a more blackened and charred look to the wings.
Make sure to taste your glaze once you whip it up. This will help ensure you like the flavor if you need to add less or more of each ingredient.
You can make a double batch of the sauce and use one for wings and the other for dipping, if you prefer.
For this recipe, I used my COSORI 6.8Qt Air Fryer—and it’s been a game-changer in my kitchen. It has a wide basket that’s perfect for getting everything crisp without crowding, and the presets make it super easy for quick dinners. If you’re looking for a reliable air fryer that can handle any recipe like a pro, here’s the exact one I use in my Amazon store. It’s big enough to cook for the whole family, but compact enough to not hog counter space. I use it almost daily!
FAQs For Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
Can I make these wings without an air fryer?
Yes, but you’ll sacrifice some crispiness. Bake at 425°F on a wire rack set over a sheet pan for about 40–45 minutes, flipping halfway. Broil for the last 2–3 minutes if you want extra crunch. The sauce works exactly the same.
What’s the secret to crispy wings in the air fryer?
The trick is drying the wings really well with paper towels before seasoning. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness. Also, don’t overcrowd the basket. If the hot air can’t circulate, you’ll steam instead of crisp. For best results, cook in batches.
Can I make Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings spicy?
Absolutely. Add 1–2 teaspoons of crushed red pepper flakes or a splash of sriracha into the honey garlic glaze while it simmers. This creates a sweet-heat profile similar to spicy Asian chicken wings you’d order at a restaurant.
Can I use frozen wings?
Yes, but thawing first is ideal. If cooking from frozen, add about 5–7 minutes to the air fryer time and check that the internal temp hits 165°F. Tossing with seasoning works better once the wings are thawed and patted dry.
Is this recipe keto-friendly or low carb?
The wings themselves are naturally low carb, but the honey adds sugar. For keto, swap the honey with a sugar-free honey substitute or a monk fruit/maple blend. The wings stay sweet and sticky without the carb count.
What dipping sauces go best with honey garlic wings?
Ranch and blue cheese are classics, but they also pair beautifully with garlic aioli, spicy mayo, or even tzatziki. Ariya likes hers dipped in plain sour cream (because kids, right?), while James swears by ranch.
How long do Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings stay crispy?
Best texture is within the first 15 minutes out of the air fryer. If you’re serving at a party, keep them warm on a low oven setting (200°F) uncovered so they don’t steam.
Can I double this recipe?
Yes, but don’t cram too many wings in at once. Make them in two or three batches and keep cooked wings warm in the oven while the rest cook.
Troubleshooting Tips
- Wings aren’t crispy: Likely overcrowded or not patted dry enough. Cook in smaller batches.
- Sauce too runny: Simmer longer until it reduces and coats a spoon.
- Wings overcooked: Use a thermometer — pull at 165°F.
Variations & Substitutions
- Spicy Honey Garlic Wings: Add chili flakes or cayenne.
- Teriyaki Honey Wings: Replace soy sauce with teriyaki for a sweeter glaze.
- Garlic Parmesan Wings: Skip the honey glaze and toss wings in garlic butter with grated parmesan.
- Maple Garlic Wings: Sub honey with pure maple syrup for a fall flavor.
Leftover Ideas
- Shred leftover wings and add to fried rice or stir fry.
- Use them as a topping for baked potatoes or loaded nachos.
- Chop and toss into a salad for a protein punch.
- Ariya likes cold leftover wings straight from the fridge — and honestly, I don’t blame her.
Budget Breakdown
- Chicken wings (2 lbs): ~$8–10
- Honey: ~$2 for ½ cup
- Garlic, soy sauce, butter, seasoning: ~$2–3
Total: About $12–15 for 4 servings, or roughly $3–4 per person. Cheaper than takeout wings, and you control the ingredients.
Lighten-Up Version / Lower Calorie
- Use an air fryer with minimal butter (swap half with olive oil spray).
- Swap honey with a sugar-free honey substitute.
- Serve with raw veggies instead of carb-heavy sides.
This cuts calories while keeping flavor intact.
My Personal Kitchen Notes
- Drying really matters: I found that the crispiness doubled when I really took my time patting the wings dry with paper towels. Even 30 extra seconds makes a big difference.
- Butter trick: Using melted butter as a binder for the seasoning worked better than oil. It clung to the chicken more evenly, which gave a richer flavor once cooked.
- Seasoning flexibility: I tested Frank’s Stingin’ Honey Garlic seasoning and a plain garlic-herb blend — both worked. The glaze adds so much flavor that the dry rub can be adjusted to what you have on hand.
- Glaze thickness: The sauce reduces more quickly than you expect. I had to stir constantly and pull it off the heat right when it hit that syrup stage — wait too long and it gets tacky fast.
- Batch cooking: In my 6.8 qt air fryer basket, about 12–14 wing pieces fit without crowding. Anything more and they steamed instead of crisping. For a party, I’d plan to cook in two batches.
- Extra glaze tip: I liked brushing some glaze on halfway through the final 2-minute “sticky” air fryer stage instead of tossing them all at once — it caramelized beautifully and gave a restaurant-style finish.
- Serving garnish: Sesame seeds added crunch, but the chopped green onions gave the best balance with the sweet sauce. Fresh cilantro also tested well for a brighter finish.
Final Thoughts
These Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings are proof that family-friendly food doesn’t have to take hours. From weeknights with the kids to weekend get-togethers, they hit that sweet spot between comfort food and restaurant quality. Quick to make, easy to customize, and loved by all ages, they’ve earned a permanent spot in our rotation — and I think they’ll find one in yours, too.
Other Air Fryer Recipes To Try:
Air Fryer Honey Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 1 1.5-2 pound package chicken wings, cut into drumettes and wingettes, with the tip removed
- 5 Tablespoons salted butter divided
- 1-2 Tablespoons honey garlic seasoning blend
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- ½ cup honey
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- Chopped green onions optional garnish
- Sesame seeds optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and dry the wing pieces well with a paper towel.
- Toss the wings with 1 Tablespoon of melted butter and then rub the honey garlic seasoning blend all over the chicken wings.
- Place the wings in an even layer in the air fryer and cook for 7-9 minutes per side or until they reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit internally. You may need to cook them in batches so that you don’t overcrowd the air fryer.
- While the wings are cooking, melt the remaining salted butter in a medium-sized saucepan.
- Add the minced garlic and saute in the hot butter until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in the honey and soy sauce and bring to a simmer.
- Simmer for 5-7 minutes or until thick and syrup-like.
- When the wings have cooked, toss or dip them in the sauce until well coated.
- Return to the air fryer for 1-2 minutes or until sticky and slightly charred.
- Serve hot, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, optional.
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