Simple Baked Chicken Wings Recipe

Baked chicken wings is healthier and easier but still results in a juicy and tender chicken with a crispy skin. I’ve tested different methods and temperatures to figure out the best way of making baked chicken wings. 

After years of making my chicken wings the same way, I decided to test out some other methods to see if I can improve my recipe. After spending a week (yes, a week!) making countless trays of wings and bugging my family with decisions, I think I have it figured out. 

• I tested two methods: coating wings in baking powder or rubbing them in oil. For crispy skin results, baking powder was definitely the winner.
• I’ve tested both regular baking powder and non-aluminum baking powder just in case and it does matter. Use non-aluminum baking powder for best results. 
• Lastly, I’ve tested different baking temperatures and I found that 425°F is the best result because even through the skin is not as crispy, the meat in the wing is still juicy.

How To Break Down Whole Chicken Wings

When shopping for chicken wings, you can buy whole chicken wings or ones already separated into flats and drumettes. So if you don’t want to cook the whole chicken wings, you can easily break it down:

• First, pull the wing apart to clearly see where each part is attached at the joint. 
• Then, make a cut through the skin and meat between the drumette and the flat, right to the joint. Pick up the wing and move it up and down at the joint to pop the bone out of the joint. Cut through the remaining meat and skin to separate the wing. 
• Finally, do the same at the joint of the tip and the flat. And there you have it, three separate parts of the wing. (Discard tips or save for chicken stock.)

How To Make Baked Chicken Wings

• Preheat the oven to 425°F, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil to catch the drippings and place a wire rack inside the baking sheet. Rub the wire rack with some oil to prevent sticking.
• First: make sure to dry the wings with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. 
• Next: toss the wings with non-aluminum baking powder, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. 

• Bake 1: Spread chicken wings in one even layer on the wire rack and bake for 20 minutes. 
• Bake 2: Take the baking sheet out of the oven and close oven door. Flip each wing and bake for additional 15 minutes. (For small wings, bake a few minutes less and for large wings, bake a few minutes more.)

How Long To Bake Chicken Wings

• Depending on the size of wings, at 425°F wings will bake for 35-40 minutes. (If baking at 450°F, wings will take a few minutes less so check them at 35 minutes.)
• Smaller wings will be done faster and larger wings will take a few extra minutes.
• TIP: If you have a wide variety of sizes, you may want to separate the wings in two batches, the smaller ones and the larger ones, that way they will be baked more evenly. 

Best Oven Temperature For Baking Wings

I’ve tested three most recommended temperature settings and each one has its own benefit and drawback. 

• 400­°– results in the least crispy skin but the juiciest meat in the middle. Takes a few minutes longer than other cook times as well. 
• 425°– the skin is crispier and the middle is still juicy. This is the winner for me personally because I like to have juicy chicken meat.
• 450°– crispiest skin but also meat in the middle is more dry. Takes a few minutes less to cook. 
• Remember that once you coat the wings in sauce, the skin will only stay crispy for a few minutes and then it will soak up the sauce and loose the crisp. 

Serving Suggestions

• Get some celery sticks and carrots sticks to serve along the wings with spicy sauce. Celery and carrots help put out that “fire” in your mouth after biting into a spicy wing. 
• As far as coating sauces, buffalo sauce and BBQ sauce are probably the post popular ones. But there are so many wing sauces available.
• Don’t forget ranch and blue cheese to dip the wings!

More Game Day Appetizers To Make

• Baked Chicken Wings with The Best Dry Rub
• Beer Cheese Dip
• Spicy Orange Chicken Wings
• Bacon Wrapped Little Smokies
• Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Wings

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE leave a 🌟 star rating! Let me know how you liked it by leaving the 📝 comment below or share and tag me on social media @willcookforsmiles. DON’T FORGET to subscribe to my newsletter!

Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles in January 2020.