The king of all finger foods, Crispy Baked Chicken Wings are brilliantly crispy, perfectly seasoned, and easier to make than you imagine!
If you crave Buffalo wings but hate the mess of frying, you’ll LOVE LOVE LOVE this ridiculously easy Crispy Baked Chicken Wings recipe! Using meatier drumettes and wings seasoned with garlic, onion, and chili powders, these little gems bake up perfectly juicy, extra crispy (thanks to a genius hack!), and ready to dip in your favorite Buffalo Sauce!
The Genius Hack for the Best Chicken Wings!
It’s easy to get super crispy wings by frying, but they’re messy, time-consuming, and loaded with greasy calories! Are they worth it? I mean, yeah…but there IS a better option!
Oven-baked buffalo wings give you the same tender, juicy taste with that shattering crunch that makes you drool! And they’re EASY to make! The secret to their super crispness is a dusting of baking powder and Kosher salt on the chicken before cooking. Baked chicken wings are also way lower in calories, and cleanup is a breeze!
Other Brilliant Buffalo Chicken Recipes
- Buffalo Chicken Deviled Eggs – creamy, spicy, wonderful! Add a “kick” to your appetizer game!
- Buffalo Chicken Dip in a Crock Pot – 5 ingredients to a perfect dip, and the slow cooker does the work!
Ingredients
Chicken: Chicken wings and drumettes give you just the right amount of meat-to-skin ratio for this delicious, dippable finger food!
Seasoning: Garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder add so much flavor to these wings!
Secret Ingredients: Baking soda and Kosher salt will make the skin super duper crispy, and the baking soda does not leave an aftertaste!
Sauce: Serve (or bathe) these chicken wings in your favorite homemade or store-bought Buffalo sauce!
How to Make Crispy Chicken Wings in the Oven
STEP ONE: The night or morning before cooking, rinse the chicken wings and pat them dry with paper towels. In a large bowl, mix the baking soda and salt. Add in the chicken and toss it until all of the chicken is evenly coated.
STEP TWO: Arrange the wings in a single layer on a platter or baking sheet. Place, uncovered, in the fridge for 12-24 hours.
STEP THREE: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place a wire rack on top of a baking pan and set aside. In a small bowl, mix the garlic, onion, and chili powders. Toss the cold-dried wings in the spice mixture. Arrange the wings in a single layer on the wire rack. Bake for 15 minutes.
STEP FOUR: After 15 minutes, remove the wings from the oven and turn each one over. Then, return them to the oven to bake for another 15 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Remove the wings from the oven. Transfer them to a large bowl, pour in the wing sauce, and toss to coat. (Or you can serve the buffalo sauce on the side for dipping.) Serve warm with carrot sticks, celery, and blue cheese dressing or ranch for dipping. OH MY GOODNESS! So crispy and tasty!!
Tips for Success
- These baked wings are low-carb and gluten-free!
- You can make these chicken wings in the air fryer, but you have to work in smaller batches.
- Buffalo wings are a game day essential, but they also make a fun family dinner or casual appetizer.
- Chicken wings are traditionally served with Buffalo sauce and bleu cheese dressing, but there are no limitations to sauce options – use what you love!
- For the best wings, allow the skin to cold dry in the fridge after being coated in baking soda overnight. It’s the secret to extra crispy wings!
- This recipe isn’t just for wings! Legs, thighs, tenders – just be sure the internal temp reaches a safe 165 degrees F before eating.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Chicken Wings?
The length of time it takes to cook chicken wings varies from method to method. Lower temperatures mean longer cooking times and a less crispy finish. Higher temps cook up faster and crunchier.
- Oven Baked: 450 degrees F for about 30 minutes will deliver crispy wings.
- Grilled: On medium-high heat, grill wings for 25-30 minutes.
- Air Fried: Set at 400 degrees F, wings will need to cook for 20-30 minutes. (Don’t crowd the air fryer.)
- Pan (or Deep) Fried: With the oil in the pan or deep fryer at 375 F, buffalo wings will fry up in 10-12 minutes. Turn every couple of minutes until the juices run clear.
What is Buffalo Sauce?
Buffalo sauce is a tangy, zippy sauce that originated at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York, back in the 1960s.
The core ingredients in Buffalo sauce are butter and hot sauce (like Frank’s Red Hot). Other ingredients like Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, and white vinegar add a spicy complexity to this versatile American favorite!
Other Choice Chicken Wing Recipes!
- Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
- Jalapeno Lime Chicken Wings
- Baked Chili Rub Wings
- Root Beer Chicken Wings
- Jerk Chicken Wings
- Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
*This post originally posted on 01/15/2018.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings cut into drumettes & wings, tips discarded
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 cup Buffalo sauce (I used Fank's)
- Carrot sticks for serving
- Celery sticks for serving
- Blue cheese dressing for serving
- Ranch dressing for serving
Instructions
- Rinse the chicken wings, pat dry with paper towels, and place in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle the wings with baking soda and salt and toss until evenly coated. Arrange the wings on a platter (or baking sheet) in a single layer. Place, uncovered, into the refrigerator for 12-24 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet and set aside. (This setup will allow fat and liquid to drip off to the pan below.)
- In a small bowl, mix together the garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the wings and toss to coat. Arrange the wings in a single layer on the wire rack.
- Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and carefully each wing over. Return the baking sheet to the oven. Cook for an additional 15 minutes.
- Remove the wings from the oven. Transfer them to a large mixing bowl and toss buffalo sauce or serve the buffalo sauce on the side for dipping. Serve warm with carrots, celery, blue cheese dressing, and ranch dressing for dipping.
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