You can make chicken wings in so many different ways, there are thousands of recipes. Whether you want super crispy chicken wings, baked chicken wings, hot wings, or sweet barbecue wings, there is a recipe for everything.
One thing about making wings is that they are easy. You can toss them in a large bowl of sauce or your favorite breading and bake, broil, grill, boil, or fry them.
Most people like crispy wings. But you do not necessarily have to fry them to make them crispy. Crispy baked wings are easy to make and do not require hot oil. To make your chicken wings crispy without frying, toss them in breading and bake chicken wings on a rimmed baking sheet at a high temperature.
You could also use an air fryer. Whether you use an oven or air fryer, simply add your favorite homemade wing sauce once they are done.
1. Fry chicken wings
Let's face it, for the crispiest chicken wings, you have to fry them in oil. But deep frying can be messy, dangerous, and not exactly a healthy choice. There is a lot of saturated fat in oil when deep frying.
However, you can make perfectly crispy chicken wings healthier by removing the skin or using healthier oils like coconut oil. You get incredibly crispy skin with way less fat. Also, let fried wings drain on a paper towel before serving.
2. Air fry chicken wings
The next best way to get them extra crispy is to cook chicken wings with an air fryer. That way, you do not have to use any oil to fry them because the hot air does it instead. One easy chicken wings recipe just calls for salt and pepper. Then, just toss whole chicken wings into the fryer and you have fried chicken in minutes.
3. Baked chicken wings
Every baked chicken wings recipe calls for you to bake wings at a high temperature so you can get crispy skin without the oil. One tip is to bake chicken wings on a wire rack. They bake up nice and golden brown on both sides without soaking up the fat. You can also get that fried taste from cooking wings in an instant pot before broiling them.
How to serve wings
- Buffalo sauce like Franks Red Hot Sauce for buffalo chicken wings. Buffalo wings are a favorite for game time, parties, or just a family dinner. You can also add cayenne pepper for extra spicy chicken wings.
- Crispy baked chicken wings with lemon pepper and celery sticks.
- Garlic pepper chicken wings recipe with garlic powder, onion powder, ground black pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Extra-coated wings with chili powder and blue cheese dip.
- Boiled chicken wings with a simple spice rub on a bed of rice.
- Cooked wings with a variety of sauces always get 5 stars.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use baking soda instead of baking powder?
Because baking soda is three times stronger than powder, you should use one-third of the amount that your chicken wings recipe calls for. For example, if it calls for one teaspoon, use 1/3 teaspoon. Then, add one part acid like vinegar or lemon juice for every half part of baking soda because the baking soda reacts with the acid.
How do I know if my wings are fully cooked?
You need to check the temperature with a meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer. It should be 165 degrees F when they are done. You do not want them to overcook though, so you can take them out of the heat when they are 160 degrees F because they continue cooking for a few minutes.
Are baked homemade wings healthy?
When wings are deep-fried, they soak up all the oils and fats. So, baking them in the oven or air frying them will make them much healthier. Each chicken wing has about 100 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 20 grams of protein. Boiling them is another way to make them healthier. This way, the fat is boiled off and you can toss it in a spice rub for a 50-calorie snack.
Tips and Tricks
- Instead of Frank's hot sauce, you can use your favorite hot sauce.
- To air-fry wings to crispy perfection, make sure you use aluminum-free baking powder. It will give it a crispy coating. Aluminum baking powder leaves a metallic aftertaste.
- For baked chicken wings, make sure the oven rack is in the upper middle position for extra crispy baked wings.
- Give your delicious wings a slightly sweet flavor with added smoked paprika and brown sugar.
- You only need a few ingredients in a spice rub before cooking whole wings in the oven.
- The nutrition, calories, and fat contents for any of our recipes are estimated.