Chicken wings marinated in Coca-Cola for an hour in the fridge, dipped in barbecue sauce, rolled in breadcrumbs and air-fried on two levels at 180 °C / 350 °F for 30 minutes. A rack in the basket fits twice as many wings. Three bottles and a bag of crumbs, nothing to chop. Serves 4.
Instructions
- 1
Put the wings in a bowl and pour the cola over them so they are covered. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
60:00 - 2
Lift the wings out of the cola and let them drain.
- 3
Dip each wing in the barbecue sauce all the way around.
- 4
Roll it in the breadcrumbs right away and press so the crumbs grab onto the sauce.
- 5
Lay the first layer of wings in the air fryer basket.
- 6
Set a rack over them and lay the second layer on the rack.
- 7
Air-fry at 180 °C / 350 °F for 30 minutes until the crumbs are golden and crisp on both levels.
30:00 - 8
Serve hot.
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Notes from our kitchen
The acid in the cola tenderizes the meat and its sugar browns the crust, so the wings come out juicy under the crumbs. Roll in the crumbs straight after the sauce while it is wet, or they fall off. Some air fryers come with a double-layer rack; otherwise one costs a few dollars online. With the rack in, both layers brown evenly and you cook 1 kg in one go. Without a rack, cook in two batches in a single layer.
Variations
- Panko crust. Use panko instead of fine breadcrumbs for a coarser, louder crunch.
- Spicy. Stir a spoon of hot sauce into the barbecue sauce before dipping.
- Oven. Bake on a rack over a sheet pan at 200 °C / 400 °F for about 35 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the wings taste like cola?
No. The cola is a marinade that gets drained off. It leaves tender meat and a little sweetness that helps the crust brown; the flavor you taste is the barbecue sauce and the crumbs.
Can I marinate longer than an hour?
An hour is enough. A few hours is fine too, but there is no need to go longer: the acid keeps working on the surface of the meat.
What if my air fryer has no rack?
Cook in two batches in a single layer, about 30 minutes each. Stacking the wings without a rack blocks the air and the crumbs stay pale where the pieces touch.
Why did the crumbs fall off?
The sauce dried before the crumbs went on. Dip and roll one wing at a time, press the crumbs on, and set the wing in the basket without shaking it.
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