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    Home » Recipes » Gluten-Free Appetizers

    Published: Apr 13, 2020 · Modified: Jun 2, 2022 by Jen Wooster

    Crispy Shawarma Chicken Wings

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    Jump to Recipe
    Chicken wings on a plate.
    Chicken wings on a plate.
    Chicken wings on a plate.

    This crispy oven-baked chicken wing recipe uses shawarma spices for a unique Middle Eastern flair. Served with our favorite garlicky lemon coriander sauce. These mild chicken wings are perfect for game day or an easy weeknight dinner.

    Crispy chicken wings on a plate with a dipping sauce.

    Please read the entire post for tips and tricks to ensure a perfect recipe every time. And don't forget to tag @peelwithzeal on Instagram so we can admire your creation!

    This post may include affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Over the last few months, we have been making a simple grilled chicken shawarma recipe. We were out of chicken breast so I used our marinade on wings and this recipe was born.

    Jump to:
    • 📖Why This Recipe Works
    • 🧾Ingredient Notes
    • ⏲️How to Make Crispy Oven-Baked Wings
    • Should You Bake Wings on a Wire Rack or Directly on the Pan?
    • 🥗What to Serve with Wings
    • 👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tip
    • 🌡️Storage
    • More Easy Party Foods
    • 📖 Recipe
    • ⭐Reviews

    📖Why This Recipe Works

    Mild but Flavorful- This recipe is full of spices but not spicy! The best mild chicken wing recipe around. And if you like mild-flavored wings, check out our garlic butter chicken wings. So good!

    Super Crispy Skin- Baking powder trick to get the wings nice and crispy without frying them.

    This recipe is also naturally gluten-free and the sauce can be made dairy-free.

    🧾Ingredient Notes

    Chicken Wings- You can use this recipe to make chicken drumsticks or chicken lollipops.

    Shawarma Spice Rub

    There is a lot of debate about what is traditional in shawarma. A Middle Eastern spice blend, of course, has many of the spices you might associate with Turkish or Arab foods. Cumin, coriander, and turmeric. And that is where recipes deviate.

    In our recipe, the shawarma spice rub contains:

    • cumin
    • coriander
    • turmeric
    • garlic powder
    • cinnamon
    • clove (just a pinch)
    • black pepper

    It is also common to see allspice, cayenne, or paprika. I find the allspice gives too much 'pumpkin pie spice' feeling when combined with cinnamon. And the paprika turns the chicken orange while being overwhelmed by the stronger turmeric and coriander flavors so we skip it.

    As for the cayenne... we love spicy foods but we liked that these wings are not spicy. It is a nice change from the typical buffalo chicken wing.

    Lemon Dip

    Greek Yogurt- You can also substitute sour cream.

    Shallot- Or substitue green onions.

    Garlic

    Cilantro - aka coriander.

    Lemon Juice

    ⏲️How to Make Crispy Oven-Baked Wings

    Making crispy oven-baked wings is easy, but preparing the chicken properly is the most important part of the process.

    Step 1-Brine Your Chicken Wings

    While not technically required, we highly recommend that you brine your chicken wings. Brining ensures the meat stays juicy, which is important when cooking such small pieces at high temperatures.

    Read more about why you should brine chicken.

    Step 2-Thoroughly Dry for Crispy Skin

    Next, line a sheet pan with paper towels and lay out the drained wings. Gently pat them dry. We recommend giving them a few extra minutes to dry out. Even if you skip the brine you need to pat the wings dry.

    Crispy wings start with dry skin. Additionally, the spice rub will adhere better to dry chicken skin.

    Step 3-Prepare the Dry Rub

    Combine the dry spices with the baking powder (NOT baking soda!) in a Ziploc-style bag or a large mixing bowl. Thoroughly coat the chicken wings with the dry rub. Discard any excess rub.

    Coating the chicken wings with spices and baking on a rimmed pan.
    How to Make Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Wings

    Step 4-Bake the Chicken Wings

    Preheat the oven to 450 F degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment (or foil) spread the wings evenly on the sheet and bake for 25-35 minutes. Turning halfway through.

    The baking powder in the dry rub begins the break down the peptide bonds on the skin and jumpstart the browning process, meaning the wings will get crispier faster.

    Wings are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165 F and the outside is brown and crispy.

    Step 5-Make Your Dipping Sauce

    While the chicken wings are baking, make the dipping sauce. The sauce gets better over time so making it in advance is also an option.

    Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Spin for 60-90 seconds. Add salt and pepper to taste.

    shawarma sauce ingredients laid out

    Should You Bake Wings on a Wire Rack or Directly on the Pan?

    I tested this recipe with the chicken wing on a wire rack and directly on the baking sheet. I found that when coated with baking powder direct contact with the baking sheet creates the crispiest chicken skin.

    There has been a lot of information lately on Pinterest and around the internet saying that baking on a wire rack yields a crispier baked wing.

    Also, the parchment paper isn't necessary it makes the clean up the turmeric from the dry rub much easier. It doesn't affect the crispiness of the wing.

    🥗What to Serve with Wings

    In addition to serving with our lemon and coriander yogurt dipping sauce, we like to add pickled watermelon radishes and carrot sticks to the mix.

    Looking to serve this for dinner? Our recommended side dishes are this Persian saffron rice and garlic green beans.

    To round out a game day party try serving with chips and this easy salsa you can make from canned tomatoes, beef nachos supreme, corn ribs, and deviled eggs (no mustard!).

    👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tip

    Layout the wings on a baking sheet and dry out (uncovered) overnight in the fridge for extra crispy skin.

    🌡️Storage

    Your chicken wing leftovers can stay in the fridge for three to four days when kept in an airtight container. You can freeze chicken wings in a ziptop bag for up to two months.

    To reheat chicken wings place them on a baking sheet and warm in a 350 F degree oven until they reach an internal temperature of 165 F degrees.

    Food Safety

    t I always suggest an instant meat thermometer. After going through several, I am totally obsessed with my Thermapen from Thermoworks.

    Remember these tips when working with raw chicken:

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Do not leave your chicken wings at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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    If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave us a rating or a comment. It helps other wonderful people connect with our food.

    📖 Recipe

    shawarma chicken wings and yogurt sauce on plate

    Crispy Shawarma Chicken Wings

    Easy and flavorful chicken wings- shawarma style! These super crispy oven-baked wings are mild but flavorful. A unique chicken wing recipe!
    Servings: 4 servings
    Prep: 5 minutes mins
    Cook: 20 minutes mins
    Total: 25 minutes mins
    5 from 20 votes
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    Equipment

    • Sheet pan

    Ingredients
      

    Chicken Wings

    • 2 lb chicken wings
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • 2 teaspoon cumin
    • 2 teaspoon turmeric powder
    • 2 teaspoon ground coriander
    • 2 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ pinch ground clove

    Lemon & Coriander Dip

    • 1 cup greek yogurt
    • 2 tablespoon shallot chopped
    • 1 clove garlic chopped
    • 2 tablespoon cilantro chopped
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • kosher salt and pepper
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 450 F degrees. (see notes for grilling instructions).
    • Using a paper towel blot chicken wings dry. Combine baking powder and spices in a ziploc bag or large bowl. Toss chicken wings in spice mixture to coat evenly.
      2 lb chicken wings
    • Prepare a large sheet pan by covering with foil and spraying with cooking spray. Place chicken on a sheet pan and bake 25-35 minutes turning halfway through. The chicken should reach 165 degrees and be crispy on the outside.
      1 tablespoon baking powder, 2 teaspoon cumin, 2 teaspoon turmeric powder, 2 teaspoon ground coriander, 2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ pinch ground clove

    Lemon & Coriander Dip

    • Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Spin for 60-90 seconds. Add salt and pepper to taste.
      1 cup greek yogurt, 2 tablespoon shallot, 1 clove garlic, 2 tablespoon cilantro, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, kosher salt and pepper

    Serving

    • Place chicken wings on a platter. Serve with dip on the side.
    Rate this Recipe

    Video

    Notes

    Grilling Instructions
    • Preheat a gas grill to medium-high heat
    • Place chicken on the grill and turn it down to medium
    • Cook chicken, flipping halfway through until chicken reaches 165 degrees (about 12-14 minutes)
    Dairy Free Lemon & Coriander Dip
    • Substitute dairy-free (plain unsweetened) yogurt 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 326kcal | Carbs: 7g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 20g | Fiber: 1g
    Author: Jen Wooster
    Course:: Appetizer, Dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine: Game Day, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
    Keyword chicken marinade, Chicken Shawarma, crispy chicken wings, game day, mild chicken wings, persian, unique chicken wing recipes, wings
    Tried this recipe?Tag us @peelwithzeal so we can see your creation!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Pauline toh says

      September 09, 2020 at 4:53 am

      Can I ask if half the recipe , cooking time i reduce ok? Then do I have to kinda marinate for an hour or so? Mine doesn’t turn out as crispy as I only use about 15-18mins. Could it be my timing or my baking powder not as fresh ? Overall it was tasty

      Reply
      • Jen says

        September 09, 2020 at 9:55 pm

        5 stars
        Fresh baking powder does matter. Cooking time will be the same regardless of the batch size.

        Reply
    2. Jen says

      May 29, 2020 at 11:22 pm

      5 stars
      Made these the other day & they were FABULOUS!! We grilled them & so I didn't add the baking powder. I also changed up some of the spices due to what I had on hand. Bottom line is that this is an amazingly versatile recipe that we are going to ear again & again!! Thanks for sharing!!

      Reply
      • Jen says

        May 31, 2020 at 8:18 am

        5 stars
        Thanks for commenting. So glad you enjoyed them!!!

        Reply
    3. Jo says

      May 18, 2020 at 4:22 am

      5 stars
      That is by far the most delicious chicken wings I've seen in some time! Shawarma flavors are amazing and love how crispy those wings turn out!

      Reply
    4. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says

      May 17, 2020 at 3:24 pm

      5 stars
      These look INCREDIBLE! I love shawarma flavors so much but I rarely make it as it's just me who likes it. I have all of the ingredients on hand and am making these tomorrow. They look crazy good!

      Reply
      • Jen says

        May 18, 2020 at 8:02 am

        5 stars
        We hope you enjoy them!

        Reply
    5. Marisa F. Stewart says

      May 17, 2020 at 2:09 pm

      5 stars
      Lucky for us we have two bags of chicken wings in the freezer. We didn't want to fry them so this recipe is ideal for them. Love the shawarma spice - it will go perfectly with that creamy dip.

      Reply
    6. Pam Greer says

      May 16, 2020 at 1:29 pm

      5 stars
      These wings are so delicious! We also use the flavorful dipping sauce for everything!

      Reply
      • Jen says

        May 17, 2020 at 8:55 am

        5 stars
        Glad you enjoyed!

        Reply
    7. Kelly Anthony says

      May 15, 2020 at 8:14 am

      5 stars
      Baked wings are one of our favorite meals to make at home. I'm excited to try a new spice blend and sauce to dip these delicious wings in.

      Reply
    8. Jacque Hastert says

      May 14, 2020 at 2:00 pm

      5 stars
      These look fantastic! I love how crispy they turn out and are loaded with flavor!

      Reply
    9. Bernice Hill says

      May 14, 2020 at 1:16 am

      5 stars
      Wow!! As I read your description, my mouth automatically started drooling! Love all these flavours and if I can get my hands on some wings, I'm definitely going to give this recipe a try. Pinning for later.

      Reply
    10. Swathi says

      April 15, 2020 at 7:26 pm

      5 stars
      Chicken wings looks crispy and delicious I love those spice rub so much versatile.

      Reply
    11. Cheese Curd In Paradise says

      April 14, 2020 at 3:46 pm

      5 stars
      The spice mixture sounds amazing and these wings look so crisp and delicious. I love the sound of that sauce with the citrus as well!

      Reply
    12. Pavani says

      April 13, 2020 at 10:37 pm

      5 stars
      Wow, your chicken wings look so crispy and love that spicy and delicious looking crust. Shawarma spice blend sounds flavorful and exotic 🙂 Beautiful recipe!!

      Reply
      • Jen says

        April 14, 2020 at 8:25 am

        5 stars
        Thanks so much!

        Reply

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    Greetings!

    picture of Jen

    My name is Jen and I am the recipe developer, writer, and photographer around here. Since being diagnosed with celiac disease over 10 years ago I have been slowly curating a recipe box full of gluten-free goodness. I adore vegetables, crave chocolate, and I am always up for an adventure.

    More About Me...

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