Baked Dry Rub Chicken Wings

Tender, juicy baked dry rub chicken wings coated in a mouthwatering homemade dry rub. Quick and easy, naturally gluten-free!

Have you ever wondered how to bake chicken wings that are tender, juicy, and flavorful? If you have, this simple and delicious chicken wing recipe is for you.

Amazing baked chicken wings exist, healthier than the traditional deep-fried ones drenched in sodium-filled sauces. Instead, these wings are coated in a homemade dry rub of brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, cumin, cayenne, garlic, and dry mustard. The beauty of homemade dry rub is that you control how spicy, salty, or aromatic you want your dry rub chicken wings to be.

Smoked Chicken Wings are our preferred method for cooking chicken wings, but let’s face it, we don’t always have the luxury of time. Smoked chicken wings require planning because you have to brine them overnight. Then you have to be patient and wait for them to smoke until they are perfect.

Sometimes you just want a wing chicken right now! Am I right?

David and I bake chicken wings about once a week. It’s a quick and easy weeknight meal that we can throw together in just a few minutes. We usually throw a few french fries during the last twenty minutes, and supper is complete in under an hour. There’s not a drop of oil on them, except for the oil used to grease the pan. We do not miss the deep-fryer or those salty sauces. These chicken wings are so dadgum good!

Baked chicken wings are a great option to serve at a party or gathering. They are naturally gluten-free and perfect for health-conscious eaters.

What Are Dry Rub Chicken Wings?

Dry rub chicken wings are coated in a spice mixture rather than a sauce before baking in the oven. As the wings cook, the rub caramelizes on the surface to help lock in juiciness, forming a nice flavorful crust outside the wings. At the base of the crust is brown sugar, which helps the wings caramelize, while the spices add tons of flavor and aromatics to the meat.

The purpose of a dry rub is to give the meat flavor and the rub gives a crispness to the wings without frying. A dry rub is different from a marinade in that a marinade is used to tenderize the meat, whereas a dry rub does not.

Ingredients Needed to Make Dry Rub Wings

You need three essential ingredients to make this recipe: chicken wings, dry rub, and oil.

• Chicken Wings: The chicken wings can be whole or cut into drumettes and wingettes.
• Oil: It’s important to use some type of oil or cooking spray to grease the baking sheet or they will stick due to the sugar in the dry rub mixture. Oil the pan generously!

Chicken Wing Dry Rub

This recipe will produce some delicious wings. It takes only a minute or two to mix up the ingredients. There are a lot of great dry rub spice blends on the market. If you’re really in a time crunch, you can use your favorite store-bought brand.

• Sugar: Brown sugar works the best because it contains molasses which helps add in caramelization and adds great flavor. 
• Chili Powder: when I say chili powder, I am referring to a spice blend of dried chilis and other ingredients, not just hot chiles. 
• Paprika: I use sweet paprika, but to give the wings a smoky flavor you can use smoked paprika.
• Cumin: Ground cumin, but it’s actually better to lightly toast the whole seeds and grind them yourself.
• Heat: Cayenne pepper. Omit if you do not like spicy food.
• Garlic Powder
• Mustard Powder
• Kosher Salt and Freshly cracked black pepper

How To Make Dry Rub Chicken Wings

• Mix all of the dry rub ingredients together in a large bowl.
• Toss 2 or 3 chicken wings into the bowl of rub. Remove the seasoned wings and place them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Repeat until all of the wings are well coated with rub.
• Bake the wings for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and flip them over. Return the pan of wings to the oven and bake for another 20 minutes or until the wings are 165 degrees F when checked with an instant-read thermometer and are crispy and golden brown. 
• Serve wings immediately plain or with a dipping sauce.

The Secret to Making Dry Rub Chicken Wings Juicy

In addition to a well-coated wing, it is very important to flip the wings over halfway through baking. This ensures the wings cook evenly and allows the juices to distribute throughout the meat, leaving you with the juiciest chicken wings on this side of the mountain!

How Long Does It Take To Bake Chicken Wings

Many feel that cooking the wings longer makes them crispier, and that is true, but you are also drying out the meat. Be careful about overcooking the wings. And be cautious of overcooking the sugar in this rub.

Wings are done at 165 degrees F when checked with an instant-read thermometer. This usually takes about 35-40 minutes. However we

I love my Thermoworks Instant-Read Thermometer to ensure they are perfectly cooked!

Serving the Chicken Wings

Of course, no chicken wing is complete without a dipping sauce. I usually make homemade blue cheese or ranch dressing to dip these luscious wings into. Usually with a side dish of oven-baked french fries.

Tips for Making Chicken Wings

• If using frozen chicken wings, thaw them completely and pat them dry with a paper towel to prevent the wing from having too much moisture, which will produce a crispier wing.
• Use aluminum foil to cover the baking sheet for easy clean-up. 
• Use a large bowl to toss the wings with the dry rub blend. It makes it easier to coat them.
• Apply the dry rub about an hour before cooking and refrigerate for added flavor.
• Use the convection bake setting on your oven if you have one. This will circulate the hot air inside the oven and help the wings crisp up.
• Although oil is recommended sometimes there may not be enough. If the wings stick allow them to cool a little before removing them from the sheet pan. Once cooled they should come right off.

This recipe made me fall in love with chicken wings, and I am so happy to share it with you!

If you want delicious healthy chicken wings in under an hour, you have to try these baked chicken wings. I promise this recipe does not disappoint and won’t even miss that deep-fried grease!