Name: Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 765 min
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)

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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!

crispy baked chicken wings tossed in buffalo sauce with recipe name at the bottom

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

bowl of chicken wings next to a bottle of buffalo sauce, baking soda, and seasonings

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.

baking soda and salt sprinkled over chicken wings in a bowl

STEP TWO: Arrange the wings in a single layer on a platter or baking sheet. Place, uncovered, in the fridge for 12-24 hours.

baking soda coated chicken wings on a platter after being chilled for 12+ 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.

seasoned cold dried chicken wings on a wire rack over a baking sheet

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.

crispy baked chicken wings on a wire rack over a baking sheet

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!!

buffalo sauce being poured over baked chicken wings on a platter

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.

dry rub backed chicken wings on a platter with celery and carrot sticks

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.

crispy baked chicken wings on a plate with celery and carrot sticks and a bowl of blue cheese dressing

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!

close of up a crispy baked chicken wing with buffalo sauce being dipped into blue cheese dressing

Other Choice Chicken Wing Recipes!

*This post originally posted on 01/15/2018.