These Honey BBQ Wings start with a basic BBQ rub with baking powder and are air-fried to crispy perfection. Then they're glazed with a honey bbq sauce to top them off.

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These Honey BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Wings are something else! Perfect for snacking, parties, or just a wing fest with family. You can’t go wrong with wings that aren’t hot or spicy!

Start with my homemade bbq rub recipe, plus the secret ingredient to crispy wings, and of course wings. Air fry them until crispy and then finish them with a bbq glaze. You’re going to love sharing these wings with friends and family!

The Secret Ingredient to Crispy Chicken Wings

It’s not a secret really because it’s ALL over the internet. You just need some baking powder to toss on the wings along with your spices. I read up on the WHY and you can too over on Serious Eats.

I ALSO tested this out myself with some wings while I was recipe testing. I blotted off ALL the juice on the chicken wings prior to seasoning being added. I baked air fryer some wings WITHOUT baking powder and some wings WITH baking powder. The wings WITH baking powder got crispier quicker.

Do NOT confuse baking powder with baking soda. Baking soda will give you a weird taste when you use as much as is called for here.

Do I need to Use Baking Powder on Air Fryer Chicken Wings? Even Saucy ones??

Do Honey BBQ Wings need to be CRISPY?? I think yes. I tried these wings with and without baking powder and I liked how you could tell they were crispy under the BBQ Sauce.

If you don’t have baking powder or don’t want to mess with it then by all means skip it. Just blot off all the liquid on the chicken skin and air fry as called for. Or for fun try it for yourself! Just make some of the wings WITH baking powder and some without, see which way you prefer them.

What Do I Need to Make these Honey BBQ Wings

An Air Fryer-This recipe was tested in a Cosori Max XL 5.8 Basket Air Fryer
Chicken Party Wings-wings cut into 3 parts, flats, drumettes, and tips(tips will be discarded)
Spice Rub –ingredients listed below
Honey
BBQ Sauce–Your Favorite is what you should use

BBQ sauce and Honey for glazing chicken wings.

What do I need to make the BBQ Rub?

The BEST part of these wings is that you don’t need anything special for the rub. They’re ALL pantry ingredients.

brown sugar
onion powder
garlic powder
chili powder
smoked paprika, also called Spanish Paprika
salt
pepper
cinnamon

What kind of Dipping sauce to serve with Honey BBQ Wings?

You can serve ANY creamy style dip or dressing with these wings. I just served them with an extra bowl of honey bbq sauce for dipping. My kids didn’t think they needed ANY dipping sauce. Use what you have or love!

Need more Snack Recipes?

Honey BBQ Wings in the Air Fryer

4.49 from 25 votes

These Honey BBQ Wings start with a basic BBQ rub with baking powder and are air-fried to crispy perfection. Then they're glazed with a honey bbq sauce to top them off.

Course: Air Fryer

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 14

Total Time: 24

Servings: Wings

Calories: 91kcal

Author: Laura

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Equipment

COSORI Air Fryer Max XL(100 Recipes) Digital Hot Oven Cooker, One Touch Screen with 13 Cooking Functions, Preheat and Shake Reminder, 5.8 QT, Black

Ingredients

2 tsp Baking Powder
2 TBSP Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tps chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup bbq sauce use your favorite brand, or homemade
1 TBSP honey
1 pound chicken wings cut to flats and drums, discard the tips or save for making a broth
2 TBSP oil

Instructions

assemble the spice rub by mixing the baking powder through the black pepper together, stir well and set aside
preheat the air fryer to 400° for 5 minutes
pat the chicken as dry as possible
toss with the oil
and then rub all over with the spice rub
when the air fryer is done preheating lay the wings in the basket in a single layer
set the timer to 5 minutes and air fry on 390°
when the timer goes off turn the wings over
set the timer to 5 minutes and air fry again at 390°
meanwhile, mix the bbq sauce and the honey together and set aside
after 10 minutes the wings should be almost done
turn the wings over brush with the glaze and air fry on 390° for 2 minutes
flip and repeat
test for doneness with a digital thermometer, it should read 160° in the thickest wing you have in the pan, it will rise to 165° after you take it out of the fryer
serve hot with dipping sauce of your choice