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    Home » Recipes

    Air Fryer Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Chicken Wings

    Published: Dec 9, 2021 · Modified: Jun 14, 2023 by Alison · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe

    Take your party to the next level with these Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Chicken Wings! They’re crunchy, spicy, delicious and easy to make in the air fryer!

    Air Fryer Flamin' Hot Cheetos Chicken Wings

    If you’re a fan of Cosmic Wings from Applebee’s, you’re going to love this copycat recipe. You won’t be able to stop eating these Hot Cheetos wings. They are that good! A spicy chicken wing covered in your favorite Cheetos snacks is more then you could ever imagine! Enjoy with a cold beer or glass of wine!

    The best way to achieve an crispy and delicious coating is with clarified butter. A chef discovered that by heating up some of the liquid at room temperature until it turns into ghee (clarified butter), he could put this on any dish!

    How to Make Air Fryer Flamin' Hot Cheetos Chicken Wings

    What is Clarified Butter?

    Clarified Butter is a pure butterfat left over from the process of butter making. It’s pure butter that has had most of it’s water and milk solids removed, resulting in an amber-golden colored product where almost all impurities have been eliminated. Clarified Butter can be used as is for frying or sautéing where it’s high smoke point makes it ideal for cooking at high temperatures. It can also be blended with other fats or oils to increase their shelf life, or in some cases even used as healthy alternatives in recipes.

    How Do You Make Clarified Butter?

    Place the unsalted butter in a saucepan over low heat. As it melts, you will see white foam rising to the top of the melted butter; skim this off with a spoon. Once all of the foam is removed, the butter is ready to use.

    flamin hot cheetos chicken wings recipe

    Other Foods You Can Add Flamin’ Hot Cheetos To

    A number of Americans have found alternate uses for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, most prominently as a dipping sauce. The most common use is to take some store brand hot wing dip or ranch dressing and mix it with several handfuls of Hot Cheetos until the mixture has an orange tint. Others simply choose to eat them separately.

    Other common uses for Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are as a topping for pizza, the addition of ground beef and cheddar cheese to create “chili cheese” hot cheetos, nachos with extra jalapeno peppers (known as “comeback sauce”), tacos (with shredded chicken), chilaquiles or even macaroni and cheese.

    hot cheetos wings ingredients

    Ingredients

    20 chicken wings, thawed
    5 cups Flamin’ Hot Cheetos
    1 stick unsalted butter
    2 tbsp vegetable oil
    Salt and pepper to taste
    Red Hot sauce to taste (optional)

    How to Make Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Wings

    Clarify the Butter

    Place the unsalted butter in a saucepan over low heat. As it melts, you will see white foam rising to the top of the melted butter; skim this off with a spoon. Once all of the foam is removed, the butter is ready to use.

    Transfer the clarified butter to a measuring cup and add the vegetable oil. Mix together, allow to cool and thicken.

    Prepare and Cook the Wings

    Season wings with salt and pepper to taste or any other seasonings you’d like.

    Place wings in a single layer in an air fryer basket with enough space in between to allow air to circulate. (Might have to cook in batches depending on the size of the air fryer.)

    Cook at 390 degrees F for 20 – 25 minutes (times will vary per air fryer) and until fully cooked through flipping them halfway.

    pulse hot cheetos in food processor

    Coat the Wings

    Add Flamin’ Hot Cheetos in a food processor and pulse until crumbled.

    hot cheetos chicken wings

    how to make hot cheetos wings

    Once wings are cooked, blot dry and transfer to a large bowl. Pour the clarified butter and vegetable oil mixture over top making sure to coat all the wings. Optional: add Red Hot sauce to your liking over top of the wings and toss to coat. Add the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crumbles and toss using tongs or gloves until coated. 

    Serve hot with your favorite veggies and dips.

    Applebee's Cosmic Wings Copycat

    Recipe

    Air Fryer Flamin' Hot Cheetos Wings

    EverydayShortcuts.com
    Take your party to the next level with these Flamin' Hot Cheetos Wings! They're crunchy, spicy, delicious and easy to make in the air fryer!
    4.63 from 8 votes
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Appetizers & Snacks
    Cuisine American

    Ingredients
      

    • 20 chicken wings thawed
    • 5 cups Flamin' Hot Cheetos
    • 1 stick unsalted butter
    • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    • Red Hot sauce to taste optional

    Instructions
     

    How to Make Flamin' Hot Cheetos Wings

      Clarify the Butter

      • Place the unsalted butter in a saucepan over low heat. As it melts, you will see white foam rising to the top of the melted butter; skim this off with a spoon. Once all of the foam is removed, the butter is ready to use.
      • Transfer the clarified butter to a measuring cup and add the vegetable oil. Mix together, allow to cool and thicken.

      Prepare and Cook the Wings

      • Season wings with salt and pepper to taste or any other seasonings you'd like.
      • Place wings in a single layer in an air fryer basket with enough space in between to allow air to circulate. (Might have to cook in batches depending on the size of the air fryer.)
      • Cook at 390 degrees F for 20 - 25 minutes (times will vary per air fryer) and until fully cooked through flipping them halfway.

      Coat the Wings

      • Add Flamin' Hot Cheetos in a food processor and pulse until crumbled. 
      • Once wings are cooked, blot dry and transfer to a large bowl. Pour the clarified butter and vegetable oil mixture over top making sure to coat all the wings. Optional: add Red Hot sauce to your liking over top of the wings and toss to coat. Add the Flamin' Hot Cheetos crumbles and toss using tongs or gloves until coated. 
      • Serve hot with your favorite veggies and dips.

      Notes

      Other Foods You Can Add Flamin' Hot Cheetos To

      A number of Americans have found alternate uses for Flamin' Hot Cheetos, most prominently as a dipping sauce. The most common use is to take some store brand hot wing dip or ranch dressing and mix it with several handfuls of Hot Cheetos until the mixture has an orange tint. Others simply choose to eat them separately.
      Other common uses for Flamin' Hot Cheetos are as a topping for pizza, the addition of ground beef and cheddar cheese to create "chili cheese" hot cheetos, nachos with extra jalapeno peppers (known as "comeback sauce"), tacos (with shredded chicken), chilaquiles or even macaroni and cheese.

      Nutrition Disclosure

      Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

      Tried this recipe?Tag @everydayshortcuts or use #everydayshortcuts on Facebook, TikTok or Instagram to let us know!

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      Alison is a wife and mother of three who embraces the simple life, finding joy in easy recipes, DIY projects, life hacks, and her passion for travel. Learn more about me!

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