Salt and Pepper Wings

These Salt and Pepper Wings are seasoned simply with salt, freshly ground black pepper, a little fresh garlic, and sesame oil. Made in the air fryer, these chicken wings turn out crispy and juicy every time. Enjoy them as a game day or family gathering appetizer or for dinner next to a side salad.

Chicken wings are one of North America’s favourite appetizers. From sweet and spicy Hot Honey Chicken Wings to zesty Honey Butter Baked Lemon Pepper Wings, there’s a chicken wing recipe for you here on the blog. And, FYI one of my favourite chicken wings recipes is also one of my favourite air fryer recipes!

Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings

Today I’m sharing a recipe I’ve been making for YEARS. I know you’re going to love this chicken wings recipe as much as I do. Full disclosure, my husband is the one who came up with this recipe, and he is always in charge of wing night. It’s my night to sit back, crack a cold one, and enjoy whatever game is on.

He’s tried several chicken wing recipes in the past, but this is the ONE that makes extra crispy wings every time. The best part is that they take very little time to cook in the air fryer. I’m telling you they’re so delicious that the two of us can burn through 1 1/2 pounds of chicken wings in no time.

I am and always have been a crispy wing person. Don’t give me rubbery skin, soggy coating, or sauce that coats my fingers. That’s why these Salt and Pepper Wings are the BEST. They’re all flavour and no mess. One bite through the crispy skin leads to juicy chicken flavoured with just the right amount of heat.

Speaking of heat, you can change this recipe slightly according to your heat tolerance. Start with freshly ground pepper for just a little heat, add in some Chinese white pepper powder for more heat, or use some Sichuan pepper for a fiery tongue numbing sensation.

And, if you really need sauce, you can toss the cooked salt and pepper wings in barbecue sauce, wing sauce, or garlic Parmesan sauce. The sky is the limit.

Salt and Pepper: The Dynamic Duo

Depending on whether you mean the ubiquitous tabletop duo, including two popular versions of Chinese salt and pepper, has two completely different, fascinating origins.

Throughout European history (including present day), table salt or sea salt and black pepper (imported from India) was considered the essential seasoning for any dish. Together, they heighten and improve flavour without overpowering the primary ingredients.

In China’s Sichuan province, this dynamic duo is called Jiāoyán and is comprised of toasted sea salt and toasted whole Sichuan peppercorns. This fiery blend makes Sichuan cuisine incredibly flavourful and notoriously spicy.

Cantonese style salt and pepper blend includes salt, white pepper, and a third element… MSG to heighten flavours even more.

Fun Fact: Black pepper and white pepper come from the same flowering vine, Piper nigrum. The difference comes down to how it is harvested and processed.

Ingredients in Salt and Pepper Wings

For this recipe you will need an air fryer (or wire rack, parchment paper, and baking sheet), paper towel, pastry brush, and measuring spoons.

• Chicken Wings
• Avocado Oil
• Baking Powder
• Kosher Salt
• Black Pepper
• Garlic
• Sesame Oil
• Green Onions

Chicken Wings – I like to pick up the pre-cut disjointed wings as it takes all the work out of having to separate them. Also, if you’re like me and prefer the flats over the drumettes (or vice versa) you can sometimes find packs of on type of wing at specialty butcher shops.

PS: Feel free to use this method on any type of chicken that you would like. You will just need to adjust the cooking time for each type of chicken.

Baking Powder – the baking powder is the secret ingredient that will make the chicken wings extra crispy.

Avocado Oil – I prefer avocado oil for cooking because it has a high smoke point, but you can use olive oil instead.

Black Pepper – Use freshly ground black pepper OR try Chinese white pepper powder. It has an earthy, slow-burning heat and delivers a sharper, more penetrating punch than black pepper without leaving dark flecks. If using who Sichuan peppercorns, toast them whole in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant then break them up using a mortar and pestle

Salt – If you’re using table salt in place of coarse kosher salt, use half the amount listed in the recipe.

Sesame Oil – Feel free to omit the sesame oil if you don’t love the flavour.

Garlic – If you don’t have fresh garlic, you can use jarred garlic just don’t use powdered garlic.

How to Make Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings

Making wings in an air fryer is incredibly easy! Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you may need to make the wings in two batches. Spacing the wings apart ensures the hot air circulates around the wings and results in perfectly crispy wings. IMHO air fryer chicken is better than fried chicken!

To begin, preheat the air fryer to 400°F and let it heat up for 3 minutes.

Once ready, add the wings and evenly coat them evenly with avocado oil, then lay them flat in the basket. Sprinkle half of the dried seasoning over the wings and press it on, then flip the wings, lay them flat again, and season with the remaining spices, pressing to ensure they stick.

Note: If you don’t want to season the wings in the air fryer basket, you can season them in a large bowl and toss well to coat. 

Arrange the wings in a single layer without touching and cook for 12 minutes. Flip them over and continue cooking for another 10–12 minutes, until they are crispy and fully cooked.

Finally, stir the sesame oil and minced garlic together in a small bowl then use a pastry brush to coat the wings with the mixture. Return the wings to the air fryer for an additional 2 minutes. Remove them from the air fryer and garnish with chopped green onions before serving.

Oven instructions: If using the oven, preheat it to 450°F. Spray a wire rack placed over a baking sheet with cooking spray (place parchment paper on the baking sheet for easy cleanup). Bake the wings for 20 minutes, flip them over, and bake for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until crispy.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

• Use paper towel to ensure wings are completely dry before adding the oil and seasonings.
• For best flavour, season both sides of the wings evenly.
• For crispy wings and even cooking, place wings in a single layer and don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket.
• Flip the wings halfway through cooking to allow both sides to get crispy and golden brown.

Storing and Reheating the Leftovers

Salt and Pepper Wings will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F to 360°F (175°C to 182°C) for 4 to 6 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through until they are crispy and heated through to an internal temperature of 165° F (74° C).

Hi! I’m Bernice Hill, the heart and soul behind Dish ‘n’ the Kitchen. It is my pleasure to share easy to follow recipes that are delicious, nutritious, and approachable for the whole family.

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