If you prefer dry-rubbed chicken wing recipes, then these Cajun Chicken Wings are right up your alley! Plus, these gluten-free wings cook in the air fryer which makes them ridiculously easy to cook. Add a side of the cajun ranch dressing and you’ll be ready to start chowing down on these cajun wings in under 30 minutes!
Chicken wing recipes are perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or served as the perfect party appetizer at your next party. They’re easy to make, versatile on flavor, and always a crowd favorite.
Cajun Chicken Wings
You all know I love to cook chicken wings in my air fryer because they come out perfectly crisp every time! Dry-rubbed wings are especially perfect for cooking in the air fryer because the heat caramelizes the seasoning rub into charred perfection. These cajun chicken wings have a simple cajun rub and I’ve included an easy to make cajun ranch dressing, too!
Ingredients needed for Cajun chicken wings
- 2 pounds of fresh chicken wings and drummettes
- 1 Tbsp. + 1 /2 tsp. Cajun or Creole seasoning
- 1/2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1/3 cup ranch dressing
How to make Cajun chicken wings
In a small bowl, combine the dry rub of 1/2 tablespoon of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of cajun seasoning. Then, sprinkle the dry rub over the fresh chicken wings and rub into the skin until fully covered.
Place the dry-rubbed chicken wings into the air fryer basket. Be sure to keep the wings in a single layer inside the basket.
Cook in the air fryer at 400 degrees F. for 25 minutes – opening the air fryer every 10 minutes to flip the wings.
While the wings are cooking, prepare the cajun ranch dressing. Add 1/3 cup ranch dressing and 1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning and whisk to combine.
Once the wings have finished cooking, remove from air fryer and serve immediately with the cajun ranch dressing.
Additional cooking methods for chicken wings
- Oven-Baked Chicken Wings – Place the wings onto a broiler rack, or place a cooling rack onto a baking sheet and place the wings onto the cooling rack. Place into the oven and bake for 40 minutes at 400 degrees F.
Recipe FAQs
This depends on how big your air fryer basket is. You want the wings to be in a single layer and have at least a small space in between them so that the heat can circulate around them. You could cook between 6-12 wings at a time depending on how big your air fryer basket is.
No, as previously mentioned, you want the wings to be spaced apart and in a single layer in your air fryer basket.
I always recommend using fresh or thawed chicken wings, but if your only option is frozen I would extend the cooking time by five minutes. Also, the rub most likely will not stick to a frozen wing so you would need to season the wings midway through cooking – but be careful as they’ll be hot.
No! That’s another great feature of air fryers – your house will not smell like when cooking like it would with an oil fryer.
Recommended Kitchen Tools
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Enjoy these drinks with your cajun chicken wings!
Cajun Chicken Wings
Cajun Chicken Wings Recipe
Spicy with a hint of sweet, these Cajun Chicken Wings are dry rubbed perfection - an easy gluten-free air fryer recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds of fresh chicken wings and drummettes
- 1 Tbsp. + 1 /2 tsp. Cajun or Creole seasoning
- 1/2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 1/3 cup ranch dressing
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the Cajun seasoning and brown sugar and stir to combine.
- Rub the seasoning over the wings, covering both sides completely.
- Place the seasoned wings into the air fryer basket, keeping them in a single layer and not overlapping them.
- Cook at 400 degrees F. for 25 minutes - opening the air fryer every 10 minutes to turn the wings.
- While the wings are cooking, prepare the cajun ranch dressing. In a small bowl, add the ranch dressing and 1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning - stir to combine.
- When the wings are finished cooking, remove from the air fryer and serve immediately with the Cajun ranch dressing.
Notes
- Chicken wings should cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- I used Tony Chachere's Creole seasoning.
- Nutritional Disclaimer
Jennifer is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Wanderlust and Wellness since 2016. She creates easy, approachable gluten-free recipes for the everyday home cook; because cooking gluten-free doesn’t mean food has to be complicated or tasteless.
Stephanie
The wings turned out delicious. Followed the recipe exactly but added about a teaspoon on olive oil when I tossed the wings with the rub. Will definitely be making these again…maybe tomorrow!!
Jennifer
Glad you enjoyed them!