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Thai Chicken Wings in Air Fryer (Paleo, Whole30, Keto) Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 57 reviews

Crispy and flavorful Thai Chicken Wings cooked in the air fryer with a quick fish sauce marinade and served with a spicy jaew dipping sauce, perfect for Paleo, Whole30, and Keto diets. These wings are easy to prepare, deeply aromatic, and have a perfect balance of spicy, tangy, and savory flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken Wings

  • 1.25–1.5 lbs chicken wings (wings and drumette separated)
  • 2 tsp fish sauce
  • Less than 1 tsp white pepper
  • 1 tsp cumin powder (optional)
  • Olive oil spray

Jaew Dipping Sauce

  • 2–3 whole Thai red chili peppers (or 1 red serrano or fresno chili, optional)
  • 1–2 tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
  • Lime wedges (for serving)

Instructions

  1. Marinate the Wings: In a shallow pan or tray just large enough to hold all chicken wings in a single layer, combine the chicken wings with 2 tsp fish sauce. Sprinkle both sides of the wings with less than 1 tsp white pepper and 1 tsp cumin powder if using. This quick 10-minute marinade imparts flavor without overpowering or making the wings fishy.
  2. Flip Wings Midway: After 5 minutes of marinating, flip the wings to marinate the other side evenly. Use a timer to ensure the total marinade time does not exceed 10 minutes to avoid an overly salty or fishy taste.
  3. Dry and Prep Air Fryer: Remove the wings from the marinade and pat them dry thoroughly with paper towels. Spray the air fryer basket lightly with olive oil spray to prevent sticking.
  4. Arrange and Air Fry: Place the wings in one layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece for even cooking. Air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes on one side, then flip the wings and continue air frying for another 10 minutes or until both sides are golden and crispy.
  5. Prepare Jaew Dipping Sauce: While wings cook, prepare the jaew dipping sauce by chopping the Thai red chili peppers and mixing with chopped cilantro if using. Let the sauce rest at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to develop deeper flavors.
  6. Serve: Once wings are crispy, sprinkle the chopped chilies and cilantro over them if desired. Serve immediately with lime wedges and individual bowls of jaew dipping sauce for dipping.
  7. Pro Tip: For the best experience, serve the dipping sauce in individual bowls so each person can dip their wings, bite, and dip again, savoring the layered flavors with every bite.

Notes

  • The fish sauce marinade is very short to avoid overpowering the chicken with fishy flavor. If you prefer, skip the fish sauce and season with salt and pepper instead.
  • Patting the wings dry is essential for achieving a crispy texture in the air fryer.
  • The olive oil spray helps prevent the wings from sticking to the air fryer basket.
  • Air frying at 400°F ensures a crispy skin without deep frying the wings.
  • The jaew dipping sauce is traditional to Thai wings and adds a spicy, tangy, and herbaceous contrast.

Keywords: Thai chicken wings, air fryer wings, paleo wings, keto chicken wings, Whole30 chicken wings, spicy chicken wings, jaew dipping sauce

Find it online: https://jedentaglecker.com/thai-chicken-wings-in-air-fryer-paleo-whole30-keto-recipe/