These chicken wings are everything you want from a classic without the deep fryer. Crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor, these oven-baked chicken wings deliver that crave-worthy bite with way less fuss. If you’ve been looking for baked chicken wings that still feel like the real thing, this easy wings recipe is one the whole family will keep coming back to.
I’m not giving up buffalo wings. Not now, not ever. They are my game-day go-to, and in my book, they work just as well as an appetizer as they do a main course.
But I am skipping the mess and going all in on these oven-baked chicken wings that come out crispy, juicy, and honestly… just easier.
In my kitchen, these crispy baked chicken wings disappear fast.
Pile them up, dress them with my buffalo sauce, dunk them into Greek yogurt ranch, or go classic with buttermilk blue cheese.
No fuss. No regrets. Just really good wings.
Easy Baked Chicken Wings Recipe
(see the recipe card below for the full recipe)
Variations to Try
- Thai Chicken Wings: Marinate the wings for 2 hours in coconut milk, gluten-free tamari, rice wine vinegar, and a little honey. Add garlic and a Thai chili if you want some heat. Skip the buffalo sauce here. It’s rich, slightly sweet, and just a little punchy.
- Sweet Heat Chicken Wings: Toss the wings in garlic, honey, smoked paprika, and tamari, then bake as usual.
- Buttermilk Chicken Wings: A quick soak in buttermilk with a splash of hot sauce makes the wings extra tender and juicy. You can go a couple hours… or let them sit overnight if you plan ahead.
- Cajun Chicken Wings: Start with that same buttermilk marinade, then toss with Cajun seasoning before baking. Bold, savory, a little spicy. These don’t last long.
Recommended Tools
As an amazon associate, I earn from qualifying sales.
Healthy Chicken Wing Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 2 ½ pounds chicken wings or drumettes
- ½ cup buffalo hot sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter melted (preferably grass-fed)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together oil, salt, paprika and black pepper.
- Place wings or drumettes in a plastic bag and pour marinate over them. Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Remove the wings from the marinade and blot with paper towels.
- Arrange chicken on baking sheets in a single layer. Place in the hot oven and bake for 40 minutes, until cooked through.
- Meanwhile, in a small saucepan or small deep skillet, combine buffalo sauce, butter, vinegar and cayenne pepper. Cook over low heat until the butter is melted.
- Transfer wings to a large bowl and toss with sauce. Serve with desired dipping sauce.
Notes
- Store leftover chicken wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You can freeze them for up to three months.
Emma Oxley says
These look great and the ingredients are so much healthier than normal - I love the avocado oil - have to get me some of that. Looks like your boys loved them too! Great idea for game day or movie night alike
Tiffany says
The recipe sounds really good. The movie sounds cute, too. I've actually never heard of it.
jenaspacio says
Wow! This is something worth the try, I think. My friends and family say I cook the meanest buffalo wings. Would love to explore baking them instead 🙂
Dawn Gibson-Thigpen says
yum that chicken looks delish. wow.