1. Prepare the Chicken Wings: Start by patting the chicken wings very dry with paper towels. This is a crucial step for achieving crispy skin. Place the dried wings in a large bowl.

2. Season the Wings: Drizzle the olive oil over the wings. Sprinkle the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper evenly over the chicken. Toss everything together thoroughly with your hands or tongs until all the wings are well coated.

3. Preheat Your Air Fryer (Optional but Recommended): If your air fryer has a preheat function, preheat it to 375 F (190 C) for about 5 minutes. This helps ensure even cooking and crispiness from the start.

4. Arrange Wings in the Air Fryer Basket: Place the seasoned chicken wings in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd the basket; cook in batches if necessary to allow air to circulate properly around each wing. Overcrowding will steam the wings instead of crisping them.

5. Air Fry the Wings: Air fry at 375 F (190 C) for 18-20 minutes, flipping the wings halfway through the cooking time. The wings should be golden brown and crispy. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a wing (without touching bone) should register 165 F (74 C).

6. Coat with BBQ Sauce: Once cooked, transfer the crispy wings to a clean large bowl. Pour your favorite BBQ sauce over the hot wings and toss gently until they are evenly coated. Serve immediately and enjoy!