Garlic Butter Chicken Wings

🧾Ingredient Notes

• Chicken- Use drumettes or wings, both cook the same
• Baking Powder- If you are grilling the wings, skip the baking powder. Otherwise, a small amount of baking powder will help crisp the skin. There is no substitute so if you don't have any on hand you can skip it.
• Kosher Salt and Black Pepper
• Unsalted Butter- Just like with baking you want to use unsalted butter in order to control the seasoning.
• Fresh Garlic- This recipe calls for 6 cloves of finely minced garlic. Use medium to large cloves, which is about half a head of garlic. Sorry, but garlic powder doesn't cut it in this recipe.
• Lemon Juice- Both fresh squeezed and bottled work in this recipe.
• Hot Sauce- Not wing sauce, but a tiny bit of hot sauce like Tabasco will add a flavor boost but it isn't enough to make these wings hot.

💭 Flavor Variations

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings- Add a half cup of freshly grated parmesan cheese to the sauce. Toss and serve the wings as normal.

Lemon Garlic Chicken Wings- Increase the lemon in the sauce to the zest and juice of one full lemon. Top with chives when serving.

Everything Bagel Chicken Wings- Cut the quantity of garlic in half and add 1 tablespoon of bagel seasoning.

⏲️How to Make Garlic Chicken Wings

Prep the Chicken

I recommend that you brine your chicken for at least one hour and allow it to dry overnight in the fridge.

To dry your chicken, place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Spread out the wings so they are not touching. Place in the fridge for 6 hours or leave for up to 24 hours.

This process pulls moisture from the skin and leaves a moist and juicy inside.

Season the Chicken

Blot your chicken wings dry with a paper towel. Be sure to do both sides. In a zip top bag add the baking powder, salt, and pepper. Give a light shake to mix it together.

Add your chicken wings, seal the bag, and shake it around to coat the wings evenly.

Bake

Line a rimmed baking tray with aluminum foil or parchment paper, this will make cleaning up a breeze. Place a wire rack on the pan. Lightly spray with cooking spray.

Space out the chicken wings evenly. You may need to use two baking sheets.

Place in an oven preheated to 450 F degrees. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, turning halfway through baking.

The chicken wings are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165 F degrees and are golden brown and crispy on the outside.

Garlic Butter Sauce

Add one tablespoon of butter to a small saucepan and melt over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for one minute until caramelized. Reduce to low heat and add the lemon juice, hot sauce, and salt.

Add the remaining butter and whisk until melted.

Add the cooked chicken wings to a bowl and drizzle over the sauce. Toss to coat and then move the chicken wings to a serving platter.

🥗What to Serve with Garlic Butter Wings

To cap off the perfect game day experience I like to serve my garlic chicken wings with all the favorites including beef nachos, deviled eggs, stuffed mini peppers, and onion dip.

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips for Crispy Chicken Wings

1. Brine your chicken wings for at least one hour and then drain.
2. Blot your wings dry with a paper towel.
3. Layout the wings on a baking sheet and dry out (uncovered) overnight in the fridge.
4. Sprinkle a little baking powder on them along with the salt and pepper.
5. Increase the oven temperature to 450 F degrees.
6. If wings reach an internal temperature of 165 F degrees but aren't golden on the outside broil for 1 to 2 minutes per side.

💬 Can you get crispy wings by baking them in the oven?

Yes, you can make crispy wings in the oven. Be sure they are well dried by blotting them with a paper towel. Sprinkle with baking powder and bake on a rack at high heat.