Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Ras El Hanout Spice
Juicy inside, crispy outside, and full of bold North African flavor. These chicken wings are tossed in a homemade ras el hanout spice blend and cooked to perfection in the air fryer. They’re quick, easy, and totally addictive, perfect for parties, game nights, or a simple dinner.
What is Ras el Hanout?
Ras el hanout is a fragrant North African spice blend with warm, sweet, and spicy notes, commonly used in Moroccan cooking.
Ras El Hanout Spice Ingredients
For the Ras El Hanout Spice Mix: Cumin, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cayenne, and black pepper create a warm, earthy, slightly sweet blend. Adjust the heat with cayenne.
For the Chicken Wings: Pat wings dry, coat with oil, and toss in the spice mix for flavor and crispiness. A splash of vinegar tenderizes and balances richness.
Optional Finishes: Top with cilantro, parsley, lemon, or a drizzle of yogurt sauce for brightness.
Ras El Hanout Variations
- Smoky: Add 1 tsp smoked paprika for a deeper, smoky flavor.
- Citrusy: Mix in 1 tsp dried orange or lemon zest for a bright, fragrant twist.
- Sweet: Stir in 1 tsp brown sugar or a pinch of nutmeg for a subtle sweetness.
- Garlicky: Add ½ tsp garlic powder for a savory, punchy flavor.
Keesha’s Tips & Tricks
- Dry Those Wings: I always pat them down with paper towels first. Dry wings = crispy skin. It’s a must for that golden finish in the air fryer.
- Don’t Crowd the Basket: Give them space to breathe! A single layer lets the hot air do its thing and gets every wing nice and crisp.
- Flip Halfway Through: Halfway through cooking, I flip them to make sure both sides brown evenly; no soggy bottoms here!
- Check for Doneness: always check the internal temp hits 165°F. That’s when I know they’re juicy inside and crisp on the outside.
How to Store Air-Fried Chicken Wings
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3–4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 4–5 minutes. For longer storage, freeze up to 1 month, thaw overnight, and reheat until crispy.
What to Serve With Ras El Hanout Chicken Wings
- Oven-Baked Jollof Rice: Tomato-rich and perfect with warm spices.
- Sukuma Wiki: Garlicky greens for fresh balance.
- Jamaican Rice and Peas: Creamy coconut rice with beans to mellow the heat.
- Jamaican Fried Dumplings: Golden, fluffy bites for scooping up flavor.
FAQs about Ras El Hanout Chicken Wings
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
Looking for more chicken recipes? Try Honey Balsamic Chicken Breast, Chicken Skewers, or the rich and flavorful Chicken Mafe. Each one is simple, delicious, and full of variety.
AIR-FRIED CHICKEN WINGS
Ingredients
- 10 Chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon Ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon Ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
Instructions
- In a large plastic zipper bag, mix the cumin, ginger, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, cayenne, salt, black pepper, vinegar, and olive oil.
- Add the chicken to the marinade, close the bag and massage the bag until the chicken is well coated with the marinade. Allow to marinate for 1 hour in the fridge.
- Grease the air fryer basket with olive oil.
- Arrange the well-coated chicken wings in the air fryer. Air fry at 400ºF / 200ºC for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken wings reaches at least 165ºF / 74ºC. Flip the chicken wings halfway through cooking.
- Remove the chicken wings from the air fryer and serve immediately.
