Description

Achieve restaurant-quality crunch with this easy oven-baked chicken wing recipe. Using a dry brine technique and aluminum-free baking powder, these wings are crispy, juicy, and ready in under 45 minutes without deep frying.

Ingredients

Scale

3 lbs chicken wings (whole, separated into drumettes and flats)
2 tbsp aluminum-free baking powder
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
4 tbsp melted butter or ghee
1/2 cup vinegar-based hot sauce (e.g., Frank’s RedHot)

Instructions

Separate wings into drumettes and flats. Pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels and let them air-dry uncovered for 15-20 minutes to remove surface moisture.
In a large bowl, whisk together baking powder, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper until no clumps remain.
Add the dried wings to the spice mixture and toss vigorously to coat evenly. Drizzle melted butter over the wings and toss again to help the spices adhere.
Line a baking sheet with a wire cooling rack. Arrange wings in a single layer with space between them to ensure air circulation. Do not overcrowd.
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Bake wings in the lower third of the oven for 40 minutes.
Increase oven temperature to 425°F (220°C) or switch to broil for the last 2-3 minutes. Bake for another 10-15 minutes until skin is deep golden brown and crisp.
Remove wings and let rest for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, melt remaining butter and whisk in hot sauce.
Toss the rested wings in the sauce immediately before serving to maintain crispiness.

Notes

Ensure you use aluminum-free baking powder to avoid a metallic aftertaste. Do not overcrowd the pan, as wings need space to crisp. Sauce the wings only after baking to prevent burning and sogginess. For leftovers, reheat in an oven or air fryer at 400°F for 5-10 minutes; do not use a microwave.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 3 wings
Calories: 275
Sugar: 1
Sodium: 450
Fat: 18
Saturated Fat: 7
Carbohydrates: 2
Protein: 22

Keywords: crispy chicken wings, oven baked wings, buffalo wings, keto friendly, gluten free, easy dinner, game day food, healthy fried chicken alternative