My husband and son, like most guys I know, are crazy for chicken wings! Buffalo, sweet & spicy, BBQ wings, you name it, they want them. However, their favorite are Cajun Chicken Wings.
There is a place in the next town over, right next to my daughters dance school, that offers about 30 flavors of wings, among them a Cajun wing flavor. It was love at first bite years ago! Whenever my husband takes her to or from dance there is a 99% chance he is coming home with an order of those wings!
With the advent of air fryers, making chicken wings at home is just so easy! I mean sure oven baked chicken wing recipes are great, as are traditional fried wings. BUT the easy of air frying wings is insane! Add isn't it great not using (and disposing of) all that oil??!!
I made these Cajun wings in it a few times and now my husband keeps saying that mine are better than the take out wing joint. He is not sure how he feels about that lol!
**For comparison, the first two photos of chicken wings shown here above were air fried (the very top photo was the second batch - the second batch is always crispier), the wing photo below was oven baked. Both ways taste great in my opinion.
Table of Contents
Tips
- You can use all Cajun seasoning if you like or make your own. Some Cajun spice brands are very salty. I order often from The Spice House and I combine a bag of their Cajun Seasoning with a bag of their Salt-Free Cajun Seasoning to get the taste we enjoy. Look for other brands of low salt or no salt and do a combo as well for the best eating experience.
- If air frying, the second batch a (and third if making more) cook faster and crisper vs the first batch since the air fryer is so hot. Second batch is alwasy the tastiest IMO. Just keep an eye on them.
- Always flip carefully with tongs or a long spoon halfway through cook time for best cook.
Ingredients
- chicken wings
- avocado or olive oil
- Kosher salt & black pepper
- onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, baking powder
- Cajun seasoning
Variations
- Choose to simply use Cajun seasoning (it's salty so no need for additional salt). Or make your own seasoning blend, which I show in the recipe card.
- If you enjoy a dry rub on your wings, you can also air fry, fry or bake your wings plain (lightly seasoned with S&P) and then toss them in a slightly wet Cajun seasoning mixture. Cajun Rub For a dozen wings, place 3 TBS of Cajun seasoning in a medium bowl, add ¾ TBS olive oil to it and combine it well until it 's just a bit wet and crumbly. Set aside. Once your wings are cooked, toss them roughly in the mixture & enjoy!
- Add in dried thyme and or oregano to rub mixture for a more authentic Cajun seasoning recipe (I am just not a fan of those bits on my wings so I leave them out).
- For a "hotter" flavor wing, add in some cayenne pepper.
OPTIONAL - To take these wings OVER THE TOP! Make a quick pan sauce of 1 stick butter, 2 TBS Cajun seasoning, 2 TBS garlic paste, a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of honey. Cook till it begins to bubble. You may just lose your mind 🙂
I hope you and your family enjoy these delicious chicken wings as much as my family & I do!! XO - Colleen
Chicken recipes you may enjoy
Originally posted in October, 2012. Updated May, 2024 with new images, recipe card, etc.
Cajun Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken wings
- avocado or olive oil
- Cajun seasoning or use the blend below
- 2.5 TBS smoky paprika
- 2 TBS kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 TBS onion powder
- 2 TBS garlic powder
- If you want more heat than the pepper and paprika, add in some cayenne pepper.
- 1.5 TBS Cajun seasoning more or less to taste
- 1 TBS baking powder this is added specifically for making air fried or oven baked chicken wings. I add this if making air fried or oven roasted chicken breasts/legs/thighs as well using this blend.
Instructions
- Pat your (separated) chicken wings as dry as you can get them. Allow them to sit at room temp for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile combine spices and baking powder together in a bowl and whisk until evenly incorporated.
- If oven baking preheat oven to 425 degrees. If using air fryer preheat at 390-400 for 4-5 minutes.
- Drizzle a very small amount of avocado or olive oil (1 teaspoon or less) onto your wings that had been patted dry. Toss with your clean hands.
- Scatter half of seasoning blend or all Cajun seasoning onto the wings and toss. Then sprinkle the 1.5 TBS Cajun seasoning on and toss again.
- For oven - Place wings on a cooling rack or wire rack over a parchment paper lined baking sheet and place in oven, bake for 45-60 minutes, turning halfway through.
- For AF - Place as many as will fit - without crowding - don't let wings touch. and air fry for 20 minutes, turning halfway through. Repeat (remember the second batch will crisp more so check after 17 minutes or so for doneness).
- Enjoy!
Jersey Girl Cooks says
These look great! I think I will have to make them during a Sunday football game.
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