Copy Cat Hooters Wings in the Air Fryer

Craving those crispy, spicy wings from Hooters but don’t want to leave home? Now you can make your own Copycat Hooters Wings in the Air Fryer with this easy recipe! These hot wings are crispy, flavorful, and perfectly seasoned, all while using less oil than traditional deep frying.

Hot wings are by far one of my favorite pub foods, and it seems every place has their own twist. Back in the day, I always loved the hot wings at Hooters. Then one day, I thought, “what if I made them at home in the air fryer?” and these Air Fryer Copy Cat Hooters Wings were born.  

I love my wings hot.  Like buffalo hot.  In fact, that whole burning your mouth is one of the things I love about wings.  I know, I sound nuts and I probably am, but that’s beside the point. I used to be all in on ranch dressing with my wings, but now I order both ranch and blue cheese dressing and always extra celery. That cool crisp celery, creamy dressing, and an ice cold beer! are just what hot wings need! 

Copycat Hooters Wings

If you love the hot, buttery wings at Hooters, you’re going to love this copycat recipe. These wings are coated in a seasoned flour mixture, dipped in a rich, spicy butter sauce, and then cooked in the air fryer until golden brown. Whether it’s game day, a family gathering, or a late-night craving, these wings hit the spot without all the mess of deep frying.

If you love these wings, you’re sure to enjoy my Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli, Texas Trash Warm Bean Dip, and Big Mac Meatballs.

Hooters Wing Recipe

This Hooters Wing Recipe captures the same crispy texture and bold flavor of the original. The wings are seasoned with a blend of flour, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, then coated in a buttery hot sauce mixture featuring Louisiana Hot Sauce. The best part? Cooking them in the air fryer means less oil and easier cleanup, making it a healthier option than deep frying.

Serve these delicious wings with celery sticks and your favorite dipping sauce—Buttermilk Ranch or bleu cheese dressing. They’re perfect for a Super Bowl party, family dinner, or anytime you’re craving restaurant-style hot wings at home.

Ingredients in Copycat Hooters Wings in the Air Fryer

For complete ingredients and instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the full printable recipe.

• Chicken Wings and Drummies – Use a mix of wings and drumettes, thawed and patted dry with paper towels.
• Flour – Forms the crispy coating.
• Salt & Black Pepper – For seasoning. Kosher salt works best for this recipe.
• Cayenne Pepper & Paprika – Adds heat and color to the wings.
• Garlic Powder – Enhances the flavor.
• Butter – Melted and combined with hot sauce for that signature coating.
• Louisiana Hot Sauce – Hooter’s uses Louisiana Hot Sauce to give the wings their signature heat. Frank’s Red Hot Sauce would be a good substitute.
• Kosher Salt – Enhances the seasoning.

Making Hooters Wings in the Air Fryer

This air fryer chicken wings recipe comes together quickly and easily. The wings are coated, chilled, dipped, and air-fried to perfection.

Pat the wings dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. Coat the wings in this flour mixture and place them on a baking sheet.

Refrigerate the wings for one hour to help the coating stick.

In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add Louisiana Hot Sauce, garlic powder, black pepper, and kosher salt. Stir until well combined.

Dip the refrigerated wings in the warm butter sauce, then coat them again in the flour mixture for extra crispiness.

Place the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure not to crowd them. Set the air fryer temperature to 400°F and cook for 10 minutes. Flip the wings over and cook for another 10 minutes, until they are golden brown and crispy.

The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F.

Love it? Pin it!

If you love this Copycat Hooters Wings in the Air Fryer recipe, make sure you don’t lose it! Pin it to your favorite Pinterest recipe board before you go!

Substitutions

When it comes to making substitutions, don’t be afraid to adjust the ingredients to suit your taste:

• Hot Sauce – Swap Louisiana Hot Sauce for Frank’s Red Hot Sauce or another favorite wing sauce.
• Flour Mixture – If you prefer a low-carb option, try using almond flour or a keto-friendly coating.
• Oven Method – No air fryer? Bake the wings on a baking sheet at 400°F for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Dipping Sauce – Swap bleu cheese dressing for ranch or even a spicy buffalo sauce for extra heat.

FAQs About Air Fryer Hooters Wings

• What temperature do you cook Hooters wings in the air fryer? Set the air fryer to 400°F and cook the wings for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Can I make these ahead of time? Yes, coat and refrigerate the wings for up to 24 hours before cooking.
• Can I freeze Hooter’s wings? Yes! Bread the wings, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze. Transfer to a freezer bag and cook from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

Tips & Tricks

• Patting the wings dry before flouring. It removes excess moisture and helps the flour to stick.
• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket for even cooking. Place wings in an even layer.
• Flipping the wings halfway through cooking time ensures the wings are golden brown on both sides.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 3-4 minutes.
• Please note that air fryers and cooking times can vary.  Chicken needs to have an internal temperature of 165° Fahrenheit (75° Celsius.)

More Air Fryer Recipes to Love

If you love this Copycat Hooters Wings in the Air Fryer recipe, try these other air fryer appetizer favorites: Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli, Air Fryer Edamame, and Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks, , air fryer zucchini fries, and these easy air fryer wonton chips, too! Of give these Bacon Wrapped Shrimp or these Air Fryer Soft Pretzel Bites a try.

So, if you love the wings at Hooters like us, make them at home, right in your air fryer! A lighter option to fried wings. Let me know what you think!

This recipe was originally posted on August 20, 2019. It has been update to improve user experience and reshared on March 21, 2025.