A perfect entree or appetizer for football games, parties, weeknights or anytime you crave a crispy wing
Crispy, juicy and delectably addictive oven baked wings in under an hour. These wings are a household and party favorite. Family and friends will be amazed no-frying necessary or added oil required. A simple dry brine with common pantry ingredients leads to the perfectly crisp skin and flavor packed juicy wing.
This recipe is a great make-ahead meal for weeknights and parties. The wings can be left to dry brine overnight (24hours) in the fridge before baking. The sauce (optional but highly recommended) can be made up to a week in advance. Simply store in the fridge and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop before serving.
How do we get crispy juicy chicken wings without frying?
The secret ingredients are aluminum-free baking powder and salt. The two act as a power couple to get crispy skin as well as flavorful juicy meat. The baking powder creates a chemical reaction with the skin by increasing the pH level. This aids in drying the skin as well as helps break down the skin proteins and increase browning. The result after baking at 425F is a crispy crunchy exterior. The second key ingredient, salt also helps draw out moisture on the skin but more importantly gets absorbed by the meat. The salt penetrates below the skin and helps flavor the meat. Through the process of osmosis the salt helps the meat retain moisture aka juiciness during baking, and breaks down the protein structures for a final tender juicy interior.
Why you will love these wings
- Easy Clean-up
- Less than an Hour
- Makeahead Options
- Weeknight Friendly
- Perfect for Parties
- Low-fat and high protein
- No Frying
- Sauce and Flavor Adaptable
Sauce Options
- Classic Buffalo Wing Sauce
- Sweet Spicy Wing Hot Sauce (recipe below) 👇
- Garlic Butter Parmesan
- Asian Honey Sesame Sauce
- BBQ Sauce
- Chipotle lime Sauce
Easy 45 Minute Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
A perfect entree or appetizer for football games, parties, weeknights or anytime you crave a crispy wing. Make-ahead and baked in under an hour with minimal clean up thanks to the no-frying dry brine method.
Ingredients
Dry Brine
Sweet Spicy Wing Sauce
Instructions
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Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean up. Place a baking rack on top of the foil lined sheet and spray with cooking spray. Note: You may need to line an additional sheet depending on wing size and quantity.
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Dry the wings with a paper towel and place in a large bowl. Coat and toss the wings in the seasoning mix until coated. For optimal flavor, place wings in the fridge uncovered for 1 to 24 hours. I prefer at least 8 hours for optimal crispiness and flavor. Note you can bake right away but the wings may not be as crisp and juicy.
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Preheat the oven to 425F and roast for 35-40 minutes in the center or upper middle rack. Rotate pan halfway through.
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After the second flip, begin making the wing sauce. In a small sauce pan, add the brown sugar, honey, and hot sauce. Whisk and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Make sure to stir frequently until all the sugar melts. Once the sauce is smooth, turn off the heat. Note this sauce can be made 7 days advance. Simply, store in the refrigerator and reheat when needed.
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Once wings reach 170F, remove wings from the oven and serve as a plan or toss in my sweet spicy wings sauce.
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Wings will store well for up to 4 days in the fridge. Simply reheat in the oven or air fryer for 15 minutes at 350F.
Note
1.If using regular salt reduce the amount of salt by half.
2. Smoked paprika can be a great addition if you like a smokey flavor but is not necessary. Omit if you like a more classic wing flavor.
3. If you prefer a spicier sauce add an additional tablespoon or two. For a more sweet sauce reduce the hot sauce by half.
