Description
Achieve restaurant-quality crispy baked chicken wings at home with this foolproof recipe that uses a special technique combining baking powder and overnight refrigeration. These wings are 40% lower in fat than fried versions while maintaining perfect crispiness and juicy meat inside.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds fresh chicken wings, separated into drumettes and flats
- 1 tablespoon baking powder (NOT baking soda)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika adds extra depth)
Instructions
- Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels, spending 2-3 minutes thoroughly drying each wing.
- In a large bowl, combine the baking powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Whisk until completely incorporated.
- Add the dried wings to the bowl with your seasoning mixture and toss until every wing is evenly coated. Use your hands to massage the mixture into every crevice of the wings.
- Place the coated wings on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 8 hours or overnight (minimum 2 hours if short on time).
- Position a rack in the upper-middle position of your oven and preheat to 425°F (220°C).
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top.
- Arrange wings on the prepared rack, ensuring they don’t touch each other.
- Bake for 20 minutes, then flip each wing and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes until the skin is golden brown and audibly crispy.
- Allow the wings to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- The baking powder is crucial as it breaks down proteins in the chicken skin for a crispy texture – DO NOT substitute with baking soda
- For dairy-free option, ensure your baking powder is aluminum-free
- The overnight refrigeration step dramatically improves results by further drying the skin
- Avoid overcrowding the baking sheet to ensure proper air circulation and crispiness
- For maximum crispiness when reheating, use a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes rather than a microwave
- Store any sauces separately from the wings to prevent sogginess
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (plus 8-24 hours refrigeration)
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Appetizer/Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 pieces
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Keywords: crispy baked chicken wings, oven baked wings, healthy chicken wings, keto chicken wings, game day appetizer, crispy chicken recipe, baking powder chicken wings