Who says meal prep can’t be just as tasty as takeout? Try these tasty Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings coated in a sweet and sour sauce!
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Why We Love These Air Fryer Chicken Wings
The best part of this recipe is that the sauce can be easily made from common pantry staples. All you need is canned pineapple juice, ketchup, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar.
Cooking the chicken wings in the Air Fryer is so simple and can be done in less than 30 minutes. You’ll have a healthier and tastier version of this classic sweet and sour-chicken take-out meal.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken: We used a mixture of chicken drummettes and flappers, but if you prefer boneless wings, you can use chicken tenderloins or chicken breast chunks.
- Pineapple: Pineapple is often found in sweet and sour sauces because of its tangy flavors, but you can also use orange juice as a substitute.
- Red Bell Pepper: You can use yellow or orange bell peppers as well.
- Soy Sauce: This will help darken the sauce and add salty, savory flavors.
- Ketchup: If you don’t have ketchup, you can use tomato paste or tomato sauce.
- Honey: You’ll need a sweetener for the sauce. If you don’t have honey, you can also use brown sugar.
- Cornstarch: The cornstarch will help thicken the sweet and sour sauce.
- Garlic Powder: You can use minced garlic, but garlic powder will work just fine.
- Olive oil: Coat the chicken with oil or spray with cooking spray so that it can get crispy in the Air Fryer.
How to Make Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings
- In a small bowl, marinate the chicken wings with the soy sauce and garlic powder.
- Then, coat it with olive oil and place the chicken in the Air Fryer and cook it until it is fully cooked and crispy.
- Meanwhile, prepare the sweet and sour sauce on the stovetop. Add the bell peppers, pineapple chunks, pineapple juice, ketchup, soy sauce, and honey to a heated sauce pot and let it simmer for a few minutes.
- Add a cornstarch slurry to the sauce to thicken the sauce.
- After the chicken cooks in the Air Fryer, top them off with the sweet and sour sauce.
Reference the recipe card below for detailed instructions.
Meal Prep Tips for Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Other cook methods: If you don’t have an Air Fryer, you can bake it in an oven at 425F until it is crispy
- To serve: Serve with a side of steamed rice or noodles. You can also use cauliflower rice if you prefer a low-carb option.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days for the best quality. You can also keep the sauce separate from the chicken until you are ready to eat the meal, then drizzle the sauce on top of the chicken.
- To Reheat: Both the chicken wings and sauce can be reheated in the microwave.
- Leftover pineapple: Use them up in morning smoothies or enjoy them as a snack throughout the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is sweet and sour chicken gluten-free?
Some traditional recipes first coat their chicken with flour, however, this recipe does not include flour and is a gluten-free recipe.
What can I serve with this recipe?
Pair it with steamed cauliflower rice or air fryer broccoli florets.
How can I make sweet and sour chicken wings without an air fryer?
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the chicken wings in the oven for 40-45 minutes at 425F until they are golden, brown, and crispy.
Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
Chicken
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Corn starch slurry
Instructions
Notes