Filipino Chicken Adobo Wings (Air fried or Grilled)

These Adobo Wings are the best chicken wings I have ever made. This adobo wings recipe will blow your mind. Adobo chicken wings air fryer or grilled, this dish is a true crown pleaser!

These adobo chicken wings are the perfect side dish for any barbecue or for a main for those busy weeknights. Just marinate, air fry, or grill and you’ve got the best chicken wings ever. 

If you love Filipino adobo chicken wings, then you need to check out my other adobo recipes like my 30-minute Chicken Adobo, Creamy Coconut Milk Chicken Adobo, or my Pork Belly Chicken Adobo.

Jump to:

• Here’s what you need to make adobo chicken wings air fryer
• How to make adobo wings
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• 9 Kitchen Essentials
• How to store and reheat adobo wings
• Top tips for success
• Related
• How to serve chicken adobo wings
• Don't miss out!
• Filipino Chicken Adobo Wings (Air fried or Grilled)
• Food safety

Here’s what you need to make adobo chicken wings air fryer

• split chicken wings

Filipino Adobo Chicken Wings Marinade: 

• white vinegar
• brown sugar
• low-sodium soy sauce
• sweet dark soy (kecap manis) 
• bay leaves 
• garlic
• black peppercorn

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make adobo wings

Prepare the chicken adobo wings marinade:

• In a large bowl or container with a lid, combine the soy sauces, white vinegar, brown sugar, bay leaves, and lightly crushed black peppercorns. 

Marinate the chicken adobo wings:

• Using paper towel, pat the chicken wings dry. 
• Transfer wings to the container with the marinade. Toss to ensure all the wings are evenly coated.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or transfer the wings and marinade to a large resealable plastic bag. Or cover it with the lid. 
• Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or overnight for the best flavor.

Air Fry the Wings:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
• Remove the chicken wings from the marinade, allowing any excess marinade to drip off.
• Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. You may need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding.
• Air fry for 25 minutes, shaking the basket or flipping the wings halfway through to ensure even cooking.

Grill the Wings:

• Preheat your grill to medium-low heat.
• Transfer the air-fried wings to the grill. Grill the adobo wings in indirect heat until the wings are crispy and have a nice char, about 40 minutes, turning occasionally to prevent burning and to ensure an even char.

Substitutions

Split Chicken Wings:

• Use drumettes or whole chicken wings. You can also use boneless chicken thighs or drumsticks if you prefer.

White Distilled Vinegar:

• Cane vinegar is traditional but can be difficult to find. I sometimes like to use apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, lime, or lemon juice. Each of these will provide the necessary acidity but may slightly alter the flavor profile.

Brown Sugar:

• Substitute with white sugar, honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar. 

Low-Sodium Soy Sauce:

• For gluten-free – use tamari or liquid aminos.

Sweet Dark Soy (Kecap Manis):

• This gives the chicken adobo wings a gorgeous glaze. It is very important. However, you can substitute with 1 tablespoon of honey at the end of cooking to get that glaze. 

Garlic:

• Fresh is best but you can substitute with garlic powder.

Bay Leaves:

• Substitute with oregano. Use 1 teaspoon of either dried herb per bay leaf.

Variations

• For extra crispiness, add baking powder. 
• If you want it to be a little spicy, add 1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes. 

Equipment

• Airtight container or large resealable bag for marinating. 
• Air Fryer or Grill for cooking or Baking sheet if baking
• Knife
• Cutting board

Cooking equipment: 

• Charcoal or Gas grill or
• Air fryer

How to store and reheat adobo wings

Storing:

The best part is the chicken wings adobo the next day. Store leftover adobo chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

Reheating:

To reheat chicken adobo wings, place the wings in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes until heated through, or reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 5-7 minutes. 

The fastest way is to reheat in the microwave for 1 minute. 

Related

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

How to serve chicken adobo wings

As a busy mom, I tend to keep things simple for dinner and stick to a protein, side, and salad or roasted vegetables. Here are some ideas for adobo wings:

• Serve with rice and a side of Garlic Braised Kale. 
• Pair with Garlic Fried Rice.
• Also, serve this with Asian Coleslaw as a refreshing side salad.

Food safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.