The best way to reheat chicken wings is in the air fryer. It is so quick & easy to warm up leftovers while making sure they are juicy & do not dry out. Air frying is hands-down my favorite way to reheat wings & once your try it you will never do it any other way.
Learn how to reheat chicken wings in the air fryer easily with the recipe I share here today. I have done this many times on all sorts of home cooked recipes & fast food chicken.
Take any of my best Chicken Wing Recipes, & enjoy those leftovers. They come out hot, crispy, & delish every time! It's so easy, my kids do it themselves.
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Reheating Boneless & Bone-in Wings
The only ingredient needed is the leftover chicken wings. No oil or avocado spray needed.
This method works on any cut or type. You can reheat breaded, plain/naked wings, sauced, boneless, bone-in, skinless, skin-on, & gluten-free wings in the air fryer.
Whether homemade, store-bought frozen wings and those from your favorite restaurant (Buffalo Wild Wings, Church's, Wingstop, & KFC) all are best reheated in the air fryer.
How to Reheat Wings in the Air Fryer
Below I outline the step by step instructions plus the ideal cooking times & temperatures when air frying. After one bite, you will agree reheated wings are so yummy!
My top reason for loving this method is that I can cook two things at once if I need to. If your model is big enough like my Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer add a side dish too.
I like to throw in some frozen crinkle fries in the air fryer first. Then when they are almost done, add the wings to reheat. Easy peasy weeknight dinner idea.
TOP TIP: Use paper liners to help with clean-up, especially if your wings are sticky and saucy. They work great in basket-type air fryers and in those with square or rectangular trays. NEVER PUT A LINER IN AN AIR FRYER WITHOUT FOOD ON IT TO HOLD IT DOWN - that is a fire hazard.
Time & Temperature to Reheat Wings
Below are the ideal times and temperatures for warming up flats & drumettes so they are hot & crispy in minutes.
Begin by preheating your air fryer to 365°. Set the timer for 5 minutes, on your air fryer.
Once it is ready, add the wings to warm them. Make sure to not overcrowd your basket or tray - as seen below. You want the air to move around all surfaces of the wings so they can cook and crisp up evenly.
HINT: For extra-crispy skin or breading on your wings, reheat at a higher temperature, 380°-400°F. Watch carefully so nothing burns. We love ours extra crispy on certain thick-breaded chicken.
Here I am warming up a few Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wings to enjoy for lunch. The low temperature ensures the honey & peppers do not burn when reheating.
Boneless vs Bone-in Wings
Here are the recommended cooking times for reheating boneless & bone-in wings. The temperature is the same for both, but the times are a bit different.
- BONELESS WINGS - 8-12 minutes
- BONE-IN WINGS - 5-7 minutes
Also, keep in mind the size of your wings, some may be smaller or larger than average. Please adjust up or down by 2-3 minutes if needed. All cooking times are best estimates.
FAQ
Yes, here is all the reasons why & what I tested to make this recipe a keeper! Here is why I recommend this method for warming up chicken wings:
- Fast & easy to cook plus quick cleanup
- Wings come out hot & crispy (not chewy, soggy or dried out)
- Works for boneless & bone-in wings
This recipe for reheating wings works for any kind. That includes those with sauce on them. NOTE: Keep in mind, some sauces may burn, especially those with a high sugar content so watch them carefully.
Since you are reheating wings, I will assume there is some sort of fried/baked breading, or coating on the skin. The natural fats from the chicken meat or skin should help with the air frying. Therefore, you do not need to spray your leftover chicken wings before reheating them.
So many leftovers come out so good when warmed up this way. Reheating pizza in the air fryer is the easy. And I recommend reheating ribs in the air fryer too to keep they tender.
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RECIPE NOTE: this recipe was originally published March 2023. It has been updated to include alternate times and temperatures in the recipe card, nutritional information, concise steps, more FAQs, AI summary tools, and tips for republishing in 2025.
How to Reheat Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 pound cooked chicken wings any kind of leftovers
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 365°. Set the time for 5 minutes.(see Boneless vs Bone-In section below for alternate times)
- Once the air fryer is preheated, add the leftover wings to warm them. Make sure to not overcrowd your basket or tray.Flipping or tossing them is not needed in a short amount of time. But if you wish to flip them, do so when they are halfway done cooking.
- Once the timer ends, the wings are reheated. They should be hot and crispy. Check to be sure the internal temperature of the meat is 165°.
- Use tongs to carefully remove the hot wings to a plate. Serve and enjoy.
- ALL TIMES ARE AVERAGE AND BASED ON MEDIUM-SIZED BONE-IN AND BONELESS WINGS (FLATS AND DRUMS)
Notes
- For extra-crispy skin or breading on your wings, reheat at a higher temperature, 380°-400°F. Watch carefully so nothing burns. We love ours extra crispy on certain thick-breaded chicken.
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- BONELESS WINGS - 8-12 minutes
- BONE-IN WINGS - 5-7 minutes
- The calories etc are based on 1 pound of leftover wings in 4 servings - sauce, breading, seasoning etc are not included, just the meat itself as a guide only.
Nutrition
More Wing Recipes
Here are similar recipes here on the blog for any chicken wing fan:
cheri says
This worked out great.