Crispy Baked Chicken Wings

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken wing sections, flats and drumettes (910 g)
• 2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder (8 g)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (5 g)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (3 g)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (2 g)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (1 g)
• 1 tablespoon neutral oil (14 g)
• 1/2 cup buffalo sauce, for serving (120 g)
• 2 celery stalks, cut into sticks (100 g)
• 1 cup carrot sticks (110 g)
• 1/2 cup ranch-style dip, for serving (120 g)

Instructions

1. Heat oven. Set a rack in the upper third and heat oven to 450°F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with parchment, or fit it with a lightly oiled wire rack. Heat the pan while preparing wings.
2. Dry wings. Pat wings very dry on all sides with paper towels. Place them in a large bowl, removing loose feathers or bone fragments first.
3. Make seasoning. Whisk baking powder, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and pepper. Drizzle oil over wings, add seasoning, and toss until each piece is evenly coated with no powdery clumps in the bowl.
4. Arrange pan. Place wings in one uncrowded layer on prepared pan. Leave space between pieces. Put larger drumettes near outer edges and smaller flats closer to center for more even roasting.
5. Roast and turn. Roast for 12 minutes. Turn each wing with tongs, keeping pieces spaced apart. Roast 8 to 10 minutes longer, until skin is deeply browned and dry. Add one or two minutes if needed.
6. Serve wings. Transfer wings to a platter. Toss only the portion being eaten with buffalo sauce, if desired. Serve plain wings with celery, carrots, and ranch-style dip; refrigerate unsauced leftovers for easier reheating and good texture the next day.

Notes

• Separated wing sections cook more evenly than whole wings. If starting with whole wings, divide flats and drumettes, then reserve tips for stock.
• Do not substitute baking soda for baking powder; it can leave an unpleasant flavor in this dry seasoning blend.
• Sauce only wings headed to the table. Plain wings stay firmer after storage and reheat more cleanly in an oven or air fryer.

Nutrition Facts