If you’re craving chicken that’s crispy and drenched in sweet and spicy hot wing sauce, these air fryer Nashville hot chicken wings are for you! This Nashville-style dish is perfect for lovers of spicy food, and it’s an easy recipe to cook in the air fryer.
Air Fryer Chicken Wings
These delicious chicken wings are crispy, juicy, and drizzled with a homemade hot sauce packed with flavor. Inspired by classic Nashville hot chicken, the seasoning mix turns these wings into something special.
Keep in mind that Nashville wings are supposed to be spicy! So if you aren’t a fan of spice, I’d recommend going for something a little more mild.
Why You’ll Love this Nashville Hot Chicken Recipe:
- Sweet & spicy: These air fryer chicken wings have a winning combination of sweet and spicy that is simply irresistible!
- Classic taste: This traditional hot chicken recipe will take your taste buds on a trip to Nashville, Tennesee without leaving the comfort of your home!
How to Make Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Wings
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- Place chicken wings, buttermilk, buffalo sauce, and cayenne in a bowl and toss to combine. Then marinate in the fridge.
- Remove chicken wings from the marinade and pat dry.
- Combine flour, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika in a bowl. Then toss wings in the mixture to coat.
- Place wings in the Air Fryer basket and cook.
- Combine hot sauce ingredients, and brush directly onto the wings.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken: I’m using chicken wing portions (where the flat and drummette are separated), but you could use whole wings if you prefer.
- Buttermilk: Helps tenderize the chicken wings. It also keeps them moist and helps balance out some of the spice.
- Buffalo Sauce: Adds a bit of spice and sweetness that pairs well with the other flavors in the breading and sauce.
- Cayenne: The main source of spice in these wings – just like in traditional Nashville Hot Chicken. If spice isn’t your thing, feel free to reduce the amount as much as needed.
- Flour: Helps coat the chicken wings so they become crispy.
- Spices: Garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika add even more flavor to the chicken wings!
- Butter: Helps thin the sauce so it coats the chicken wings smoothly.
- Brown Sugar: Adds just a hint of sweetness – trust me, it’s delicious!
Nashville hot wings are spicier and sweeter than Buffalo wings, and they are brushed in a thin coating of sauce rather than doused in it. This helps Nashville hot chicken maintain a crispier texture than Buffalo wings.
Yes, they absolutely are! These wings have a super spicy kick, so be sure to reduce the cayenne if you’re not a big fan of spice.
While you can safely cook chicken wings from frozen, I do not recommend it. The wings will release additional liquid as they thaw, causing the breading to become soggy and unappetizing. Allow frozen chicken wings to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before marinating and cooking.
You can bake Nashville hot chicken wings, but they will not get quite as crispy as they do in the air fryer. To bake them, set the wings on a wire rack set in a baking sheet. Lightly brush or spray them with olive oil, then bake in a 400°F oven for about 40 minutes, or until 165°F internally. Brush with sauce and serve.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
To ensure your chicken gets nice and crispy, place your chicken pieces in a single layer in your air fryer basket. This will give the wings enough room to allow the air to reach every inch, so they’ll cook evenly and you’ll get deliciously crispy chicken wings every time!
Make Ahead Instructions
The chicken wings can be marinated up to 24 hours in advance. Place them in a tightly sealed Ziplock bag in the refrigerator until ready to bread and air fry.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover Nashville hot chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, bring the wings to room temperature (about 30 minutes), then preheat your air fryer to 390°F and cook the wings for 5-6 minutes, flipping halfway through, until 165°F internally.
Freezing Instructions
Freeze Nashville hot chicken wings in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Make It A Meal
While Nashville hot chicken wings are great as an appetizer, consider turning them into an easy weeknight meal by pairing them with french fries, a side salad, or macaroni salad. Or, go more traditional and serve them with a slice of white bread and bread and butter pickles.
Tips for the Best Nashville Hot Chicken
- Season the flour well for the best flavor. Make sure that the chicken is well-coated.
- Use any vinegar-based hot you like if you’re not a fan of Buffalo sauce.
- Don’t omit the brown sugar from the sauce; it adds a LOT of flavor!
- Brush the chicken wings with the sauce while they’re still hot. This will allow the sauce to soak into the chicken and keeps the breading crispy.
- If air frying in batches, keep the chicken warm and crispy on a wire rack set in a baking sheet in a 200°F oven until ready to serve.
I hope you enjoy these air fryer Nashville hot chicken wings! It’s a great recipe jam-packed with flavor and spice. It’s so good, that having seconds won’t make you think twice!
If you’ve made this recipe, please be sure to let us know by leaving a star rating or a comment below. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Wings
If you’re craving crispy chicken that’s drenched in sweet and spicy hot wing sauce, these air fryer Nashville hot chicken wings are for you!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total Time : 2 hours 35 minutes
Marinade Time: 2 hours
Servings: 4 people
Instructions
For the Chicken Wings
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Place the chicken wings, buttermilk, buffalo sauce, and 2 tablespoons cayenne in a large bowl and toss to combine. Cover and place the chicken in the fridge to marinate for 2 hours. If you’re pressed for time you can skip the marinating but it really makes the chicken tender and juicy.
1 pound chicken wing portions, 1½ cups buttermilk, ¼ cup Buffalo sauce, 4 tablespoons ground cayenne pepper
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Remove the chicken wings from the buttermilk marinade and pat them dry with a paper towel.
1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
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In a large bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Add the chicken wings to the flour mixture and toss to combine.
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Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray and place as many chicken wings as will fit in the basket– you don’t want to overcrowd the basket.
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Spray the chicken wings with olive oil spray and cook at 385 for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken wings and then cook them at 400F for another 8-10 minutes, or until they are crispy and the internal temperature registers 165F on an instant read thermometer.
For the Hot Sauce
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Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. If the sugar does not dissolve, microwave the mixture for 30 seconds and then stir. Set aside until the chicken wings are ready.
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ cup Buffalo sauce
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Brush the cooked chicken wings with the sauce and enjoy immediately.
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These chicken wings are best enjoyed immediately but they can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days.
Notes
- Buttermilk: If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make your own by pouring 1½ cups of milk, removing 1½ tablespoons, and adding 1½ tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar. Stir to combine and let sit for 5 minutes before using in the recipe.
- Season the flour well for the best flavor. Make sure that the chicken is well-coated.
- Use any vinegar-based hot you like if you’re not a fan of Buffalo sauce.
- Don’t omit the brown sugar from the sauce; it adds a LOT of flavor!
- Brush the chicken wings with the sauce while they’re still hot. This will allow the sauce to soak into the chicken and keeps the breading crispy.
- If air frying in batches, keep the chicken warm and crispy on a wire rack set in a baking sheet in a 200°F oven until ready to serve.
Storage: Store air fryer Nashville hot chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Facts
Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Wings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 462
Calories from Fat 234
% Daily Value*
Fat 26g40%
Saturated Fat 12g75%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Cholesterol 87mg29%
Sodium 1527mg66%
Potassium 441mg13%
Carbohydrates 41g14%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 11g12%
Protein 19g38%
Vitamin A 3558IU71%
Vitamin C 5mg6%
Calcium 140mg14%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.