Cilantro Lime Chili Chicken Wings in Air Fryer
These Cilantro Lime Chili Chicken Wings in the air fryer are juicy on the inside and packed with fresh flavor. A simple marinade with cilantro lime chili sauce toss in at the end. It gives these wings a delicious balance of citrusy, savory, and mildly spicy flavors.
The chicken wing recipe is made in the air fryer without deep-frying them. They’re an easy appetizer, a casual dinner, or whenever you’re craving flavorful chicken wings at home.
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Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Crispy and juicy: The air fryer gives the wings beautifully crisp skin while keeping the meat tender.
- Fresh and flavorful: Cilantro and lime add a bright, refreshing flavor to every bite.
- Easy to make: No deep fryer or complicated cooking techniques required.
- Customizable heat: Add more or less chili depending on how spicy you like your wings.
Tips for Extra-Crispy Air Fryer Wings
- Dry the wings well. Moisture is the enemy of crispy chicken skin, so pat the wings dry before seasoning.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket. Arrange the wings in a single layer. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Turn the wings halfway through. This helps them cook and brown more evenly.
- Use fresh lime. Fresh lime juice gives a brighter flavor than bottled lime juice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make These Chicken Wings Ahead of Time?
You can season or marinate the wings several hours ahead of cooking. Keep them refrigerated until ready to air fry them.
For the crispiest texture, cook the wings shortly before serving.
Can I use frozen chicken wings?
Yes. Frozen wings can be used. It is recommended to thaw chicken wings first because it allows the seasoning to coat the chicken more evenly.
How spicy are these wings?
The recipe has a moderate chili flavor without being overwhelmingly spicy. You can easily adjust the heat by changing the amount of sweet chili sauce.
These Cilantro Lime Chili Chicken Wings in the air fryer are an easy way to enjoy flavorful wings without deep-frying. The combination of fresh cilantro, lime juice, garlic, and sweet chili sauce creates a bold flavor that makes these wings hard to resist.
Serve them hot and you’ve got an easy appetizer that’s perfect for parties or a delicious weeknight meal.
Cilantro Lime Chili Chicken Wings in Air Fryer
4
servings15
minutes40
minutesIngredients
- Marinate
2 lbs chicken wings
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp paprika
- Sauce
4 tbsp butter
8 cloves minced garlic
7-8 tbsp Thai sweet chili sauce
1 lime juice
1 cup chopped cilantro
Directions
- Pat chicken wings thoroughly dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture helps the skin become crispier in the air fryer.
- Place the wings in a large bowl. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and cornstarch.
Toss the wings until they are evenly coated with the seasoning mixture.
For even more flavor, cover and refrigerate the wings for at least 4 hours. If you have more time, you can marinate them overnight for the best flavor. - Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Arrange chicken wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding the basket so the hot air can circulate around the wings.
- Cook the wings at 400°F for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy, turning them halfway through cooking.
Cooking time can vary depending on the size of the wings and your particular air fryer. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part.
For extra-crispy skin, give the wings a few additional minutes if needed. - To make the sauce, add butter into a pan. Then add minced garlic and stir fry until fragrant. Add sweet chili sauce, lime juice and chopped cilantro. Stir well then toss in cooked chicken wings to coat the sauce. Serve warm and enjoy!