This Air Fryer Coca-Cola Chicken Wings is one of my favorite recipes from my university days because of how easy it is, as the air fryer does most of the heavy lifting! My kids are also perpetually in love with chicken wings, so this finger-licking-good dish is always snapped up in seconds!
The wings are tender and succulent with a heavenly crispy coating that you can’t get enough of. The marinade is the solid foundation that makes all the difference. The combination of light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, sugar, and a can of Coca-Cola might sound unusual, but it’s the secret to creating wings that are both sweet and savory.
The fizzy, sweet, and slightly tangy qualities of Coca-Cola work wonders when combined with the savory goodness of chicken, adding a delightful sweetness and depth of flavor that perfectly complements the savory chicken, and also helps tenderize the chicken, resulting in a mouthwatering and succulent bite.
Then comes the magic of the air fryer, achieving a satisfying crunch but with significantly less oil and fewer calories. Ever since discovering air fryers a few years ago, I never cease to be amazed at what these machines can do, and how little I’ve used my oven since getting one. And for this recipe, since we aren’t going for KFC or Korean-style deep-fried chicken wings, the air fryer will do for quickly cooking these wings, but be careful not to overcrowd the air fryer which will disrupt the air circulation and result in uneven cooking!
Feel free to experiment with the marinade to suit your taste preferences. You can add a touch of heat with some red pepper flakes or a bit of smokiness with paprika. If you prefer a tangier profile, a splash of apple cider vinegar can do wonders. So let’s get to it!
Watch How To Make It
Air Fryer Coca-Cola Chicken Wings
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 kg mid-joint wings
- 12 cloves garlic
Marinade
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dark soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 can Coca-Cola
- 1/2 tsp salt
- ginger chopped
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, add chicken and all the marinate sauce. Mix and massage the chicken. Let them marinate for at least 30 minutes.PRO TIP: Pat dry the chicken wings before marinating for better flavour penetration. You can also marinate them overnight in the fridge for maximum flavour.
- Place the marinated chicken wings and garlic cloves in the air fryer basket and cook them at 180°C degrees for 8 minutes. Then, flip the wings, brush them with the marinate sauce and cook for an additional 8 minutes until they are golden brown and cooked through. Adjust the cooking time if needed, depending on the size of your wings and the desired crispiness.PRO TIP: Avoid overcrowding by arranging the chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer, leaving space between each wing. Overcrowding can prevent proper air circulation, leading to uneven cooking and potentially drier wings.
- Garnish the wings with chopped cilantro for added freshness and presentation. Then, serve!