Hot wings are one of those recipes everyone assumes needs a deep fryer. It doesn't. An air fryer or regular oven will get you the same crisy skin and tender bite, minus the pot of oil you have to babysit, cool down, and figure out how to dispose of.
Here's how to make a batch of THC-infused wings at home, no fry station needed.
Ingredients
- 3lbs chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon oil (avocado or vegetable, for coating)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, divided
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder, divided
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons cannabis-infused butter
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup vinegar-based hot sauce (like Frank's)
Directions
- Prepare the chicken wings by cutting at the tip and a the joint.
- In a medium bowl, mix the flour with 1 tsp each of salt, pepper, and garlic powder, plus the paprika and 1/4 tsp cayenne (add more if you like heat). Stir to combine.
- Coat the wings in the flour mixture and let them rest on a wire rack for 5 minutes. This gives the coating a chance to set so it doesn't slide off during cooking.
- Toss the coated wings with the tablespoon of oil. This is what replaces the deep fry here. It's a thin layer, just enough to help keep the coating crisp and brown instead of drying out.
- Cook using either method below, until the wings hit 165°F internally.
- While the wings cook, melt the cannabis-infused butter and regular butter together in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Stir in the hot sauce and remaining 1/2 tsp each of pepper and garlic powder.
- Add the cooked wings to the skillet and toss until evenly coated in sauce.
Air Fry Method
Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Arrange the wings in a single layer, leaving space between each one so air can actually circulate. Crowding the basket is the most common reason wings come out soggy instead of crispy. Cook for 20-24 minutes, flipping halfway, until the interal temperature reaches 165°F and the skin is golden and crisp. Work in batches if your basket is small. It's worth the extra few minutes.
Oven Method
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet and arrange the wings in a single layer on the rack. The rack matters here. It lets heat move around the whole wing instead of just the top, so the skin crisps evenly instead of steaming on one side. Bake for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway, until the internal temp is 165°F and the skin is crisp.
A Note on Dosing
Cannabis-infused butter potency varies a lot depending on how it was made and how strong the starting material was. Before you toss a whole batch of wings in sauce, taste a small amount of the finished sauce first and give it time to kick in before eating more. Edibles hit slower and can hit harder than people expect. Start low, go slow, and keep the finished wings well out of reach of kids and pets.
Deep frying is usually the suggested route, but it's not doing anything the air fryer or oven can't. Both methods get you crispy skin and juicy meat without the mess, the extra oil, or standing over a hot pot the whole time. It also saves a whole bunch of added calories! Pick whichever one fits your kitchen setup and get to tossing.
