Western

Air Fryer Soy-Garlic Chicken Wings

Crispy and flavourful chicken wings marinated in soy sauce and garlic, cooked conveniently in the air fryer.

30 min total 10 min hands-on Serves 2

About this recipe

Air Fryer Soy-Garlic Chicken Wings is a western snack for 2 that leans on the air fryer to do the work while you tidy up. It’s built around chicken, and it takes about 30 min total but only ~10 min of hands-on work — the rest is waiting. We sized it for a small household and ranked it on OneToCook by how much of it you already have in the fridge.

Good to know

Contains sesame Contains soy Contains gluten

* Dietary flags are derived from the listed ingredients — always check labels and your own needs for allergens.

Ingredients

500g chicken wings
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp sugar
pinch white pepper
1 tsp cooking oil

Equipment

air fryer

Method

1

Mince or finely grate the garlic. In a bowl, combine soy sauce, minced garlic, sesame oil, sugar, white pepper, and 1 tsp cooking oil. Mix well.

~5 min
2

Add the chicken wings to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Let it marinate for at least 10 minutes (or longer if time permits).

~10 min
3

Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (350°F) for 3 minutes.

~3 min
4

Arrange the marinated chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded.

~2 min
5

Air fry for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the wings are golden brown and cooked through. Cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer model and wing size.

~20 min

Cook something else →

Smart swaps

Out of something? Try one of these.

Chicken: pork, prawns, or firm tofu — keep pieces thin so they cook fast.
Soy sauce: tamari (gluten-free) or, in a pinch, a mix of Worcestershire sauce and water.
Garlic: garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push.
Sesame oil: use sparingly — a tiny bit of tahini, or just skip it; it’s a finishing flavour.

Cook's notes

Smash each clove with the flat of your knife first — the skin slips off and it minces in seconds. How to mince garlic →
Slice chicken thinly across the grain — it cooks faster and stays tender. How to slice chicken thinly →
Do your chopping first (mise en place). With everything prepped, the actual cooking here is only about 10 min.

Storage & leftovers

Crispy bits soften in the fridge. Keep leftovers airtight for up to 2 days and re-crisp in the air fryer or a hot dry pan rather than the microwave.

Frequently asked

How long does Air Fryer Soy-Garlic Chicken Wings take to make? +

About 30 min from start to finish, but only roughly 10 min of that is hands-on — the rest is cooking or resting time.

How many people does this recipe serve? +

As written it serves 2. To cook for 4, roughly multiply the ingredients — but cook in batches if the pan gets crowded, so things sear instead of steaming.

What equipment do I need? +

You’ll want: air fryer. OneToCook only suggests recipes that fit the equipment you tell it you have, so you can filter these out if your kitchen is more minimal.

What can I use if I'm missing an ingredient? +

Common swaps for this dish: Chicken → pork, prawns, or firm tofu — keep pieces thin so they cook fast; Soy sauce → tamari (gluten-free) or, in a pinch, a mix of Worcestershire sauce and water; Garlic → garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push. See the full list of smart swaps above.

Can I make Air Fryer Soy-Garlic Chicken Wings ahead of time? +

Crispy bits soften in the fridge. Keep leftovers airtight for up to 2 days and re-crisp in the air fryer or a hot dry pan rather than the microwave.

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