Description
Crispy Baked Chicken Wings are an easy and healthier alternative to traditional fried wings. These wings are coated with a flavorful blend of baking powder and spices, then baked to perfection until crispy and golden brown. Tossed in a tangy homemade Buffalo sauce, they make a perfect appetizer or game day snack without the mess and grease of frying.
Ingredients
Chicken Wings
- 4 pounds chicken wings, halved at joints, wingtips discarded
- 2 Tablespoons aluminum-free baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Buffalo Sauce
- 1/3 cup Frank’s Wings Hot Sauce
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon water
Other Sauce Ideas
- Honey BBQ sauce
- Ranch
- Honey garlic sauce
- BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Adjust your oven rack to the upper-middle position and preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire or cooling rack on top. Spray the rack with non-stick spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Wings: Pat the chicken wings dry thoroughly with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps to achieve crispiness. Place them in a large bowl.
- Season Wings: In a small bowl, combine salt, cracked black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and aluminum-free baking powder. Sprinkle this seasoning mixture over the wings, tossing well to evenly coat every piece.
- Arrange Wings for Baking: Lay the seasoned wings skin-side up in a single layer on the prepared wire rack. Ensuring a single layer allows hot air to circulate for even cooking and crisping.
- Bake Wings: Place the wings on the upper middle oven rack. Bake for up to 1 hour, flipping every 20 minutes to promote even browning and crispiness. The baking time may vary depending on wing size, but watch until wings are crispy and browned.
- Make Buffalo Sauce: While the wings bake, combine Frank’s Wings Hot Sauce, light brown sugar, and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature.
- Toss Wings in Sauce: Remove wings from oven and allow them to rest for 5 minutes. Transfer wings to a large bowl and toss with the prepared Buffalo sauce until well coated.
Notes
- Use aluminum-free baking powder (not baking soda) to achieve the best crispy texture without any metallic taste. Rumford brand is recommended.
- Ensure wings are thoroughly dried before seasoning to maximize crispiness.
- If preferred, try alternative sauces such as honey BBQ, ranch, honey garlic, or classic BBQ sauce for variety.
- You can prepare the Buffalo sauce ahead of time and refrigerate it until ready to use.
- For a quicker option, these wings can also be cooked in an air fryer following a similar seasoning process.
