Air fryer chicken wings are going to quickly become your new favorite way to prepare wings if you haven’t already tried them. The result is the crispiest chicken wings on the outside with the juiciest of meat inside. I like to amp up that crispiness even more by brining my wings in pickle juice which truly does make that skin extra crispy and delicious. These wings are not only easy to make, but by cooking them in the air fryer they also are done in half the amount of time that it would take you to cook them in the oven. This recipe for pickle brined air fryer chicken wings will be one you will be making all year long.

I have to admit that it took me a long time to get on board with the air fryer. I just didn’t want another appliance to get out of the cabinet when I could easily cook food on the stove top or in the oven. However, I finally decided I should give it a try and now I get the hype. I knew that chicken wings were something that I knew I wanted to make first in the air fryer, and honestly I am sad I haven’t been cooking them this way all along. The air fryer plus the pickle brine truly make these wings amazing!

Speaking of the pickle brine, let’s chat about it real quick. If you are not a pickle lover, this might be a turn off for you but I promise that they wings do not taste at all like pickles, but instead the juice simply tenderizes the meat and makes that skin crisp up beautifully. If you have been here a while, you know that I always chat about saving the juice from that pickle jar to marinate your chicken and pork. It is the easiest way to brine and it also reduces food waste too!

I also love whipping up a delicious homemade wing sauce that is made with your favorite hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and butter. You can alternatively buy your favorite wing sauce at the store as well.

Some variations for this recipe:

Use BBQ sauce or any other sauce of your choice to dip or coat wings in.
Season up the wings with whatever spices you might like after the pickle brining process.
Make your own homemade ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Add any other crisp veggies to the platter for serving.
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can also cook these wings in the oven or on the grill at 400 for 25-30 minutes, turning halfway.

If you are looking for other chicken recipes you can also use this method on my perfectly grilled chicken breasts and it works like a charm every time to create the juiciest grilled bone in chicken breasts.

Ingredients:

1 Lb. Chicken Wings (can be a mix of drumettes and wingettes)
1/2 Cup Pickle Juice
1 Tsp. Salt
1/2 Tsp. Pepper
1/2 Cup Hot Sauce
1/4 Cup Butter
1 Tsp. Worchestershire Sauce
1 Tsp. Lemon Juice
Celery
Cucumbers
Carrots
Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing

Directions:

Submerge wings into the pickle juice in a large container or ziploc bag for 20 minutes.
Remove the wings from the pickle juice and pat dry with paper towels.
Season with salt and pepper on both sides evenly.
Place into a single layer in the air fryer, do two batches if needed so that you don’t overcrowd.
Cook the wings in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 10 minutes on first side and then flip and cook another 8-10 minutes until wings are golden and crispy.
While the wings cook, make your sauce by combining hot sauce, butter, worcestershire sauce, and lemon juice in a saucepan and combine. Cook until butter is melted and sauce is warmed through.
Remove wings from the air fryer and toss with the sauce or drizzle the sauce on the wings as you serve them.
Slice celery, cucumbers, and carrots to serve on the side with ranch or blue cheese dressing.

How good do these wings look? They are a must make recipe that is perfect for game day snacking and more!

Pickle Brined Air Fryer Chicken Wings

Some variations for this recipe: