Here is a quick, flavorful, and incredibly easy recipe to spice up your game day – Spicy Dry Rub Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer. Air fryers are a fantastic way to cook wings, offering the convenience of baking or broiling but with a unique crispness that is hard to match. With the Super Bowl around the corner, there’s no better time to try out this recipe.
About this Recipe
This isn’t your average dry rub chicken wing recipe. It combines the heat and warmth of garam masala and chili powders, balanced with a hint of brown sugar sweetness. It’s a delightful mix of flavors that come together in under 20 minutes, perfect for impressing your guests with minimal effort.
Testing
I tested this recipe three times to get the perfect balance. Initially, the sweetness was too low. In the second round, I adjusted the tang and sugar levels. Finally, I amped up the spice to bring it all together.
Ingredients
Chicken Wings: The star of the dish. Fresh, refrigerated wings are best, but frozen will work as well.
Garam Masala: The key to the unique spice profile.
Amchur (Dry Mango Powder): Adds a subtle tang without moisture, perfect for a dry rub. If you won’t have amchur, just sprinkle some lemon juice on them after they are cooked.
Kashmiri Chili Powder and Cayenne: For that fruity chili flavor, bright red color, and an extra kick of heat. Substitute Kashmiri with paprika if needed.
Granulated Garlic: For a hint of garlic that balances the flavors.
Sugar: the rub is a little sweet, which is balanced by the heat and sour flavors. If you prefer a less sweet version, double the rest of the ingredients since the sugar is responsible for most of the bulk. You will have a little extra rub left over, which you can sprinkle on toward the end.
Cooking Method
For a simple recipe like this one, the Air Fryer is perfect. It offers convenience and makes getting the wings perfectly crisp so easy. If you do not have an air fryer or need to make a large batch, you can bake or broil them.
Serving Suggestions
If you are serving these for game days, you might be looking for some additional snack foods to go along with them. Pair these wings with zucchini and squash bites, deviled eggs, or other finger foods. Consider a mint summer shandy, green mango margarita, or a pomegranate margarita for drinks.
Spicy Dry Rub Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken wings
- ½ tsp amchoor
- ½ tsp cayenne or to taste
- ½ tsp Kashmiri chili powder
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp granulated garlic
- 1 tsp ground toasted cumin
- ½ tsp sea salt or to taste
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 Tbsp ghee or oil
Instructions
- Dry the chicken wings and coat with the melted ghee or oil in a large bowl.
- Combine all of the dry ingredients.
- Save 1 teaspoon of dry mix and transfer the remaining to a bowl.
- Toss well and ensure the chicken is well coated.
- Air fry at 380°F for 20-22 minutes.
- Remove and sprinkle the remaining dry rub on top. Serve warm.