Cuban-American fusion recipe
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Guava BBQ Sauce
Golden air fryer wings with homemade guava barbecue sauce. A Cuban-American fusion appetizer, made without deep-frying.
- Preparation15 min
- Cooking1 h
- Total time1 h 15 min
- Servings4 appetizer servings, approximately 20–24 pieces
- DifficultyEasy
These wings combine golden air-fried skin with a lightly smoky, sweet-and-tangy guava barbecue sauce. They're great for sharing during a game or family gathering.
The key is to cook them without crowding and add the sauce only at the end. This keeps the sugar in the guava from burning and helps the surface retain its texture.
Ingredients
Check off the ingredients you have.
For the wings
For the guava BBQ sauce
Method
- Pat the wings very dry with paper towel. Toss them with the oil, garlic powder, sweet paprika, salt and pepper.
- Preheat the air fryer to 180 °C (355 °F), following its instructions. Arrange half the wings in a single layer, leaving space for the air to circulate.
- Cook for 18–20 minutes, turning halfway through. Increase the temperature to 200 °C (390 °F) and cook for another 5–8 minutes, until golden. Check that the meat reaches 74 °C (165 °F), without letting the probe touch the bone.
- Remove and repeat with the second batch. The times are approximate: adjust for the size of the wings and the air fryer model, while still checking the temperature.
- While the wings cook, place all the sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Cook over low heat for 8–10 minutes, stirring until the guava dissolves and the sauce is smooth and thick. Add a tablespoon of water if needed.
- Toss the freshly cooked wings with some of the hot sauce, just enough to coat them in a thin layer. Serve immediately with the remaining sauce on the side.
