My air fryer pickle brined chicken wings are simply out of this world! It turns out, there’s a great use for all that leftover pickle juice, and it’s brining delicious chicken wings. The acid in the pickle juice tenderizes the meat so it’s incredibly moist and juicy. I then cooked mine in the air fryer so they turned out extra crispy. These wings are incredible!
Pickle Brined Chicken Wings Recipe
Don’t let that leftover pickle juice go to waste. Make my yummy dill pickle chicken wings instead! Pickle juice is excellent for brining meat. Not only does it create the juiciest chicken, but it adds delicious pickle flavor as well! I recommend using the juice from your favorite brand of pickles since it’s going to be adding a lot of flavor to the wings. With that and just a handful of spices and seasonings, I was able to create these irresistibly savory, sweet, and juicy wings!
Email This Recipe
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover pickle brined chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, bring the wings to room temperature (about 30 minutes), then preheat your air fryer to 390°F and cook the wings for 5-6 minutes, flipping halfway through, until 165°F internally.
How to Freeze
Freeze pickle brined chicken wings in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Notes and Tips
- You can use chicken drumsticks instead of wings, but the cooking time will be longer and you may want more juice for the marinade.
- While you can safely cook chicken wings from frozen, I do not recommend it. The wings will release additional liquid as they thaw, causing the skin to become soggy and unappetizing. Allow frozen chicken wings to thaw overnight in the refrigerator before marinating and cooking.
- I recommend allowing 2-3 hours for these wings to marinate, but do not leave them for more than 4 hours or they could become tough!
- To ensure your chicken gets nice and crispy, place your chicken pieces in a single layer in your air fryer basket. This will give the wings enough room to allow the air to reach every inch, so they’ll cook evenly and you’ll get deliciously crispy chicken wings every time!
- If you find your wings aren’t crispy enough, try sprinkling a little baking powder in your wing sauce.
- If you need to make this recipe in batches, keep the already-cooked chicken warm and crispy in the oven at 200°F. Just set them on a wire rack in a baking sheet until ready to serve.
Air Fryer Pickle Brined Chicken Wings Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds bone-in chicken wings
- 1½ cups pickle juice from a jar of dill pickles
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- chopped fresh dill optional, for garnish
- Dill pickle slices optional, for serving
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken wings by separating the wingette from the drumette on a cutting board with a sharp knife, if desired.2 pounds bone-in chicken wings
- In a large Ziplock bag or a sealable container, combine the chicken wing pieces and pickle juice. Remove as much air as possible and seal the bag. If you are marinating in a container, place a piece of plastic wrap over it and press it onto the wings, removing as much air as possible, before sealing it.1½ cups pickle juice
- Marinate in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Do not let it marinate for longer than 4 hours.
- When ready to cook your chicken wings, lay out a large piece of parchment paper and cover it with paper towels.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat try with paper towels. Place the dried chicken on the parchment paper.
- In a small bowl, whisk the apple cider vinegar, honey, dark brown sugar, dill, and garlic salt together until combined.2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon dried dill, 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- Dip the chicken wings, individually, into the sauce and coat well. Allow excess sauce to drip off and then place the wings in an even layer in your air fryer. You do not want your chicken to overlap so if necessary cook in batches.
- Cook the wings in your air fryer at 375°F for 10 minutes. Flip the wings over and cook for an additional 8-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 165°F.
- Plate and serve warm with fresh dill and pickles, optional.chopped fresh dill, Dill pickle slices
Notes
- Baking Instructions: Preheat your oven to 425ºF. Follow the recipe through step 7, placing the wings on a lined baking sheet instead of in your air fryer. Bake for 15 minutes, then flip and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.
How to Make Pickle Brined Chicken Wings Step by Step
Brine the Wings: Prepare 2 pounds of bone-in chicken wings by separating the wingette from the drumette on a cutting board with a sharp knife, if desired. In a large Ziplock bag or a sealable container, combine the chicken wing pieces and 1½ cups of pickle juice. Remove as much air as possible and seal the bag. If you are marinating in a container, place a piece of plastic wrap over it and press it onto the wings, removing as much air as possible, before sealing it. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours. Do not let it marinate for longer than 4 hours.
Make the Sauce: When ready to cook your chicken wings, lay out a large piece of parchment paper and cover it with paper towels. Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat try with paper towels. Place the dried chicken on the parchment paper. In a small bowl, whisk 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 2 tablespoons of honey, 1 tablespoon of dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of dried dill, and 1 teaspoon of garlic salt together until combined.
Coat the Wings: Dip the chicken wings, individually, into the sauce and coat well. Allow excess sauce to drip off and then place the wings in an even layer in your air fryer. You do not want your chicken to overlap so if necessary cook in batches.
Cook the Wings: Cook the wings in your air fryer at 375°F for 10 minutes. Flip the wings over and cook for an additional 8-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 165°F. Plate and serve warm with fresh dill and pickles, optional.
Leave a Review