Crisp skin, tender meat, this is the very BEST Crispy Baked Chicken Wings recipe ever. Tested and perfected for years, these chicken wings are truly crispy oven baked magic. Great for game day or a healthy, satisfying snack!

White bowl filled with crispy baked chicken wings with a bowl of hot sauce in the background.


Baked Chicken Wings

I think the Super Bowl is right around the corner…is it not? I’m always totally oblivious to what is going on in the world of football until it’s time for the Super Bowl…and then I start sniffing around for food. Because, really, that’s why everyone really watches the game…for the food, right? No? Just me?

Well, that and the commercials because there’s always one that makes me laugh for months. Like the baby with the Doritos…that’s good stuff.

Crispy Oven baked chicken wings in a bowl on a wood placemat.

And so are the wings but I have a hard time eating without guilt because wings to me….they’re like crack. And I can eat them non-stop. Take me to an “all-you-can-eat” wing joint and I’ll shut the place down.

But the one thing I hate about making chicken wings at home is the mess…when you fry them, they spatter everywhere and on everything. And it’s a sticky situation that you have going on for as long as I’m laughing at those commercials….months, I tell you.

So, I started making Oven Baked Chicken Wings YEARS ago…before it was a thing. And I was never really satisfied with the results. Because sometimes they’d start out crispy and then…not so much…more like sticky.

Which sticky can be very good like these Asian Glazed Baked Chicken Wings but when you want crispy….you want CRISPY.

Bowl of crispy chicken wings on a wood background.

How to Bake Chicken Wings

So, I took on the daunting task of doing some research and learning a bit of science about the way chicken cooks. And I learned a lot from Serious Eats and Alton Brown, a ton. Like how you need to dry out the chicken wings ahead of time so they don’t turn into a slippery, slimy mess.

And how baking powder is the magic ingredient needed to make all those little bubbles and pockets that hang onto the sauce once you toss them. I used baking soda on these Old Bay Grilled Chicken Wings and they turned out splendidly but the baking powder….that is the reason we now have the Very Best Crispy Baked Chicken Wings Recipe right here in front of us.

  1. Whisk together baking powder and salt.
  2. Place the wings in a bag or bowl, toss to combine.
  3. Arrange the wings on a baking rack over a baking sheet about 1/2 inch apart.
  4. Transfer to the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.
  5. Place the baking sheet in a 450 degree oven and bake the wings for 20 minutes. 
  6. Flip the wings and bake for an additional 30 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
  7. Serve immediately with blue cheese dressing or toss in Buffalo Sauce to coat. 

The Very Best Crispy Baked Chicken Wings are super easy to make and, virtually, mess-free.

Crispy baked chicken wings in a white bowl.

How Long to Bake Chicken Wings

Though my recipe calls for about 50 minutes of cooking time to oven bake chicken wings, your oven temperature and time can be adjusted to fit your schedule. You’ll also want to be sure to check your chicken for doneness with an instant read thermometer because some chicken wings are smaller than others. 

  • To bake Chicken Wings at 350 degrees, cook your wings for 90 minutes or until an instant read thermometer reads 165 degrees.
  • To bake Chicken Wings at 400 degrees, cook your wings for 60 minutes or until an instant read thermometer reads 165 degrees.
  • To bake Chicken Wings at 425 degrees, bake your wings for 50 minutes or until an instant read thermometer reads 165 degrees.

My preference is to bake chicken wings at the higher temperature of 425 degrees because the searing heat helps make the chicken extra crispy!

Crispy Baked Chicken Wing being dipped into a bowl of buffalo sauce.

How To Make Chicken Wings In Advance

While you may not want to BAKE the chicken wings in advance, you can certainly get the process started by coating in the baking soda and placing in the refrigerator to dry out.

You can prep your chicken wings up to 2 days in advance and then bake just before serving for maximum crispiness. If you do bake your chicken wings in advance, you can warm them up in a 425 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until they crisp up again. Toss in your sauce of choice just before serving.

What To Serve With Chicken Wings

Crispy Baked Chicken Wings are fantastic on their own, like mini pieces of fried chicken. You can dip them in some blue cheese dressing or your favorite Buffalo wing sauce for the ultimate Hot Wing or just enjoy a pile of naked wings. We like to get creative and turn them into these Honey Habanero Wings or my favorite….Garlic Parmesan Wings!

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Crispy baked chicken wings in a white bowl.

Get the Recipe: The Best Crispy Baked Chicken Wings Recipe

Extra Crispy Baked Chicken Wings are like oven magic. The BEST way to bake chicken wings so your guests will think they’re fried!
4.75 from 4 votes

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 3 1/2 pounds chicken wings

Equipment

  • 1 baking sheet

Instructions 

  • Add the baking powder and kosher salt to a bowl or zip top bag. Mix to combine.
  • Place the wings in the bag or bowl and toss to coat.
  • Arrange the wings on a baking rack set over a baking sheet about 1/2 inch apart.
  • Transfer to the refrigerator for 8 hours or overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
  • Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Flip the wings over and continue to bake for 30 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.
  • Serve immediately with blue cheese dressing or toss in wing sauce, if desired.

Notes

Total time includes 8 hours of chilling.
Serving: 0g, Calories: 240kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 19g, Fat: 17g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 82mg, Sodium: 1389mg, Potassium: 470mg, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 0g, Vitamin A: 155IU, Vitamin C: 0.7mg, Calcium: 143mg, Iron: 1.3mg