Getting crispy, flavorful chicken wings that aren’t dried out is quite a feet for an air fryer. It’s even more of a challenge to do it without adding any oil. And if you are a procrastinator like me and never remember to defrost them, it’s near impossible. However, the Rotisserie Basket that comes with the Vortex Plus allows you to do just that.
And it’s the perfect way to cook my father-in-law’s Cuban Style Chicken Wings, which are my all time favorite. They aren’t doused in a sauce, but rather they are just sprinkled with 2 of my favorite Cuban Seasonings, Adobo and Sazon Completa. But unlike his recipe, you don’t have to thaw, marinade, or slave over a hot grill to get them. The Vortex Plus turns his recipe into a quick, fast, and delicious way to turn frozen chicken wings into a Cuban Party!
Air Fryer Cuban Chicken Wings from Frozen
Recipe by Lana Horruitiner-Perez adapted from Santiago Perez
- 12 Chicken Wings, frozen (I used the bagged wings that you find in the frozen food section.)
- 1 Tbl Adobo Seasoning
- 1 Tbl Sazon Completa
- 2 Tbl Water
- 1 tsp Salt
Equipment: Vortex Rotisserie Basket
Place 12 frozen Chicken Wings into a large bowl. Rinse off with warm water and drain, just to get the ice off.
Sprinkle 1 Tbl of Sazon Completa, 1 Tbl Adobo, and 1 tsp Salt onto the wings and toss so it is coated. Add 2 Tbl Water and toss again and set aside. (This may seem like a lot of seasoning, but some will be left in the bowl so it’s just to make sure you are getting a good coating.)
Remove all but the bottom drip tray from the Vortex Plus. Close the door and press “AIRFRY” button and adjust the temperature to 375 degrees. Press the “+” or “-” button above the “TIME” display until the time reads 35 mins. Press “START”. (The Vortex Plus will display “ON”. This is the preheating stage and it will take 2 -4 mins.)
In one hand, hold the Rotisserie Basket that comes with the Vortex, and rotate the lid until the tab aligns and it slides off. Add the Chicken Wings to the basket one at a time, lock the lid in place, and lay horizontally in the bowl until the oven is ready. (It helps to hold the basket over the bowl to catch any drips.)
When the Vortex Plus beeps and displays “ADD FOOD”, you can then open the door and add the Basket using the Rotisserie Fork that comes with the oven. Use one hand to press in the red latch on the inside of the frame. This will push back the rotisserie knob so you can set the Basket all the way to the back of the rack. Release the red latch and the knob will automatically engage the pin at the end of the Basket. Close the door. (You do not need to press any buttons. Once you close the door, the oven will start again.)
Once the oven is done cooking it will beep and display “COOL”. (This is a cool down mode that lasts a few seconds. DO NOT open the door yet.) When the oven display reads “OFF” then you can open the door and use the FORK to remove the Basket. You need to press the red latch to disengage the pin on the Basket. Place the Basket back in the cleaned bowl. This is a good tip to keep you from touching the Basket.
With good oven mitts, twist open the lid and pour the Chicken Wings into the bowl and then serve.
Tip to Clean the Basket
The best way to clean the Basket is to use a kitchen dish scrub brush. This worked much better than a sponge.
Lana Under Pressure 
Can you use this recipe with a regular air fryer?
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Absolutely! You would just have to change the time. This is my first air fryer so I’m not sure how you would convert it, so you might have to play around with time.
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When you first used the Vortex did you notice any odd plastic odor coming from it?
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Not at all.
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Is it noisy when it’s running?
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Great question. It sounds a tad louder than a microwave but definitely not as loud as the oven hood. In my next video I’ll make sure to get a good sound on it so you can hear.
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Have you cooked frozen chicken breasts in the basket? (Good videos!!)
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Thank you so much! I haven’t yet, but it’s on my looking list of things to try.
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What temperature did you set the air fryer to?
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Oh my goodness, I just realized I forgot to add that. Thank you for asking. It’s 375.
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Your thoughts on cooking frozen chicken tenders (plain unbreaded uncooked) in the Vortex rotisserie basket using the same method as the wings or something similar? I stuck three in with some wings I was cooking using your recipe and they turned out just fine. But I can’t find a recipe for cooking tenders this way.
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Hi. If they aren’t breaded you could do them in the basket just like the wings. I haven’t tried it yet but I do think they might need a little oil and to watch they don’t overcook. They can get dry fast.
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To begin, I recently purchased the Instant Pot Vortex. However, I haven’t used it yet. So I made this recipe in my convection oven and roasted the wings at 425 degrees for 40 minutes.
I always start my skin-on chicken by dry brining the pieces (thighs, wings, etc.) for 6-8 hours. I sprinkle then with a generous amount of kosher salt and put them on a rack on top of a flat pan and put them in the refrigerator uncovered. The brining pulls the moisture from the chicken so the skin will get crispy when roasted. Do not worry, it won’t be salty. After 6-8 hours, remove from the refrigerator and pat them dry.
I followed your instructions regarding the seasoning with the addition of ancho chili powder. My goodness… the flavor was off the charts! I had to purchase them specifically for this and am I glad I did.
I’ll be giving this a try in my Vortex soon!
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Do you not use the rotissere feature? Just cook them in the basket but no turning?
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The basket turns on AirFry mode. You might have to press “Rotate” if you didn’t use that function previously.
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I made these in my oven set on convection bake at 425 for 45 minutes. I flipped the wings after 25 minutes. These are the most flavorful wings I’ve ever had. I have made them three times now and do not dip them or sauce them. I don’t want to mask the fantastic flavor.
I have also been using the spices on other chicken and shrimp dishes. What a fantastic recommendation.
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That makes me so happy that you like them so much! It id one of my favorite seasonings to use on just about everything. One of my all time favorite dishes is called pollo a la plancha which id just grilled chicken but the way we do it is deboned chicken sprinkled with Adobo seasoning, then cooked in a pan but the key is to use something heavy to press it down as it could. Then flip and cook three other side. Amazing! Im trying to recreate that in the Vortex/Omni. Thanks for sharing it really macys me happy when people enjoy the flavors of my culture. Happy Holidays! ❤😊
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Can you sent me that recipe?
nstabile@ameritech.net?
Thank you!
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Absolutely!
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I am very disappointed. Since I’ve tried this recipe, I make it three times a week and I’ve gained 8 lbs. This is your fault. I’m going to a Cuban wing detox center but doubtful it will help 🙂
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Hahaha. There’s a reason why you here of losing weight with a Mediterranean diet or a Keto diet. But you never hear fo the magical weightloss Cuban diet. That just don’t exist, lol.
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I just picked up my Vortex plus about an hour ago and have been browsing the web for recipes as I’m totally excited to use it! I came across your recipe, and it sounds easy and delish! I greatly appreciate your detailed instructions, especially for a newb like me!
Thank you!
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Yay! I think you will really like cooking in it. And you are very welcome. Happy cooking and stay safe.
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