Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Wings (any flavor!)

Mmmmm, chicken wings! They don’t call them finger lickin’ good for nothing. Every time we make them for dinner we wonder why we don’t make them more often! Chicken wings do not have to be consumed at a sports bar surrounded by big screens and local sports, promise. 

If you don’t think you love chicken wings, you probably just never found the right sauce. There are so many amazing flavor options, that you are sure to find one to love! Buffalo sauce or barbecue sauce is standard, but we are huge fans of honey garlic and salt and vinegar! No matter how you dress them, you’re going to love them! 

What does baking powder do for chicken wings?

You definitely don’t want to skimp on this one. Baking powder is an essential ingredient in crispy baked chicken wings. Baking powder raises the pH of the chicken, breaks down the peptide bonds in the skin, and with that, makes the skin more crispy. Science, y’all!

Fresh vs. Frozen Wings

We prefer to always use fresh wings, however, we know how convenient it is to keep a bag of frozen wings on hand at all times. If you’re going to use frozen wings, let them thaw in the fridge overnight before baking, and make sure to pat them dry really well. You don’t want that extra water content

What to serve with chicken wings:

Traditionally, you would want carrot sticks and celery on the side, and we are not ones to mess with tradition. There is also a hot debate on ranch vs bleu cheese as a dipping sauce. Whichever you prefer, we won’t judge.

Short on time? Try our “cheater” method:

If you are short on time making refrigeration for 12-24 hours impossible, we’ve got you covered. You can bake that at a super low temperature to dry them out before then blasting them with heat to finish cooking through.

So, rather than refrigerating your wings at all, preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for approximately 45 minutes – 1 hour. At that point, remove your wings from the oven, and increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees. Once it is at temperature, add your wings back in and bake for an additional 30-45 minutes, following the standard baking time suggested in the recipe, or until your wings are to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other delicious chicken recipes:

• Oven Roasted Peruvian Chicken
• Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
• Cajun Chicken Drumsticks
• Crispy Fried Chicken

Simple BBQ Sauce

• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 teaspoons cajun seasoning
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 3 minced garlic cloves

1. In a medium sauce pan, whisk together brown sugar, cornstarch, salt, cajun seasoning, and paprika.
2. Whisk in tomato sauce, molasses, worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and garlic.
3. Bring to a simmer over medium high heat, stirring occasionally. Let simmer 15 minutes.
4. Add prepared and cooked chicken wings to a large mixing bowl. Pour in sauce and toss to coat.

Garlic Parmesan Sauce

• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until well combined.
2. Add prepared and cooked chicken wings to a large mixing bowl. Pour in sauce and toss to coat.

Salt and Vinegar Wings

• 2 cups distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup water
• 3 tablespoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together vinegar, water, salt, and pepper until dissolved. Add in raw chicken wings and make sure they are completely submerged.
2. Let soak in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
3. Pat completely dry, then proceed with basic crispy baked chicken wing recipe.