Description
Crispy Dry Rub Chicken Wings are irresistibly flavorful and perfectly crunchy, coated with a smoky, spicy, and sweet dry rub. This easy-to-make recipe offers two cooking methods: oven-baked or air-fried, resulting in wings that are juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside, ideal for a delicious snack or game day appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Wings
- 2 pounds chicken wings (drummettes or split wings)
Dry Rub Mix
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (enough to fully coat the wings)
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar or brown sweetener
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking
- Cooking oil spray (olive oil recommended)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Wings: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Pat the chicken wings dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure crispiness.
- Coat Wings with Dry Rub: In a large bowl or plastic bag, add the chicken wings along with the flour, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Toss or shake well until all wings are evenly coated with the dry rub mixture.
- Arrange Wings for Baking: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the coated wings in a single layer. Generously spray the wings with olive oil cooking spray to aid crisping.
- Bake the Wings: Bake the wings in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove, flip the wings over, spritz again with oil, and return to the oven to bake for another 10 minutes, until they are golden brown, crispy, and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Optional Air Fryer Preparation: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C). Prepare the wings with the dry rub as above.
- Air Fry the Wings: Place the wings in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Spritz generously with oil. Cook for 15 minutes, then flip the wings, spritz again with oil, and cook for an additional 5 minutes or until crispy and fully cooked through.
Notes
- Ensure the wings are patted dry before coating to maximize crispiness.
- Adjust the amount of flour if needed to fully coat the wings without excess clumps.
- Brown sugar adds a subtle sweetness that balances the smoky and spicy flavors; substitute with a brown sweetener if desired.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check that wings reach 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
- The air fryer method yields a quicker cook time and even crispiness, but the oven method is excellent for larger batches.
- Customize seasoning by adding cayenne pepper for more heat or dried herbs for additional flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
