Dry Rub Chicken Wings

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These ultimate dry rub chicken wings have a crispy coating, tender juicy meat, and a bold flavor. The irresistible seasoning is sweet and savory, with an optional kick of heat. Bake or air fry these delicious party wings on Super Bowl Sunday and watch them disappear.

📌 Dry Rub Chicken Wings

Dry rub chicken wings served on a plate with carrot and celery sticks.

🧑🏼‍🍳 Why this Recipe’s a Keeper

If you’re a fan of restaurant-style chicken wings, you’re in for a real treat. Like our crispy air fryer chicken wings and baked BBQ chicken wings, these dry rub chicken wings are party favorites you can make at home. Here’s why this mouthwatering recipe’s a keeper:

  • Easy Simple Recipe: The wing dry rub is assembled with basic pantry staples. Once coated in seasoning, the wings are ready to cook. There are no messy wet sauces to deal with, making the cooking process cleaner.
  • Baked not Fried: Unlike buffalo chicken wings which are deep fried, these tasty appetizers are oven roasted or air fried. They have a fabulous crispy texture.
  • Convenience. With this recipe, there’s no need for advance planning. While marinating can enhance flavor, the dry rub can be applied just before cooking. This makes these dry rub chicken wings a perfect impromptu meal or snack.
  • Make-Ahead Dry Rub: The dry rub is a well-crafted recipe. Prep the seasoning in advance so it’s ready to go. Store it in an airtight container in the pantry.
  • Optional Kick of Heat: This wing dry rub is sweet and savory. Perfect for everyone. But cayenne pepper will give them a kick of heat!
  • Classic Party Appetizers: This irresistible party food is a game-day tradition. Dry rub chicken wings can be served with a variety of flavorful dipping sauces, and enjoyed with a carbonated beverage.
  • Ideal for Tailgating: Make dry rub chicken wings in advance. Reheat them on the grill during tailgating. They’re full of robust flavor. Because these wings are not breaded, there’s no concern about a soggy coating.
  • Tasty Lunch or Dinner: When paired with sides like coleslaw, veggies, baked mac and cheese, or crispy oven fries, dry rub chicken wings can be served as a healthy main dish.
Overhead view of dry rub wings on an appetizer plate with a side of crunchy raw veggies.

🛒 Ingredients

Fresh Poultry

  • Chicken Wing Portions: This is the best type to use as the flats and drumettes are already separated. At your local market “chicken wing portions” might be labeled as “party wings.”

Chicken Wing Dry Rub

  • Olive Oil: Serves several purposes. Helps bind the dry rub ingredients together, and is a sticking agent that helps the dry rub adhere to the wings. The rich moisture also acts as a protective layer during cooking so the wings don’t burn.
  • Brown Sugar: Slightly moist from molasses, it assists with browning and crust formation on the wings while also adding a touch of sweet.
  • Garlic Powder: Adds a rustic savory flavor to the seasoning mix.
  • Onion Powder: Perks up the mixture with a sweet and savory flavor.
  • Smoked Paprika: Adds vivid color and a smoky umami flavor to the dry rub mix. But if desired, you can use cayenne pepper instead.
  • Kosher Salt: This tasty seasoning amplifies the flavor of the other ingredients while also pulling out moisture from the chicken wings. This helps develop browning and a seared crust that will seal in the remaining moisture so that the chicken is tender and juicy.
  • Ground Mustard Powder: Adds aromatic, sharp tangy heat with savory undertones. Because it’s acidic, it helps tenderize the chicken.
  • Chili Powder: Provides the dry rub with a rich red hue while adding a delicious kick of heat. Spiciness can be mild to moderate depending on the amount of cayenne pepper in the chili powder blend.
  • Red Pepper Flakes: Add texture, color and subtle heat.
  • Ground Black Pepper: Adds rustic flavor with a bit of spiciness.
  • (Optional) Cayenne Pepper: For a tasty kick of heat.
Ingredients for dry rub chicken wings recipe: chicken wing portions, olive oil and spices.

📖 Recipe Steps

Cook dry rub chicken wings in a conventional oven or in an air fryer. The choice is yours. Below are recipe instructions for both cooking methods.

Oven Roasting Method

RECIPE PREP: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place a metal baking rack over a rimmed sheet pan and put it aside. Don’t rinse the chicken. Just pat the wings dry between paper towels.

  1. Add chicken wings and oil to a large bowl. Toss well to coat.
  2. Add all the spices to small bowl. Mix to combine. Sprinkle the seasoning over the wings. With your hands, toss and rub the all pieces until they’re fully coated in wing dry rub.
  3. Arrange the wings skin side up on the wire rack that’s over the baking sheet. Leave space between the pieces so they can properly brown and crisp in the oven.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes. Flip pieces over and roast an additional 15 minutes. For extra-crispy wings, flip them again and roast a few minutes longer. Transfer dry rub wings to a plate and serve while hot.

⏲️ KITCHEN TIP: For quick clean-up, line the baking tray with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

How to make dry rub chicken wings at home in the oven.

Air Fryer Method

RECIPE PREP: Preheat air fryer to 350°F. Don’t rinse the wings. Just pat them dry between paper towels.

  1. Place chicken wings in a large bowl. Pour olive oil over the pieces and toss well to coat.
  2. Create the wing dry rub: add the spices to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken. With your hands, toss and rub the wings until fully coated in the dry rub mix.
  3. Arrange the wings inside the air fryer basket. Stand them upright on their ends, leaning against one another and the sides of the basket. But don’t overcrowd the basket. If needed, cook in batches.
  4. Air fry the dry rub chicken wings for about 35 minutes, or until golden and crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.

🍽️ HOW TO SERVE PARTY WINGS: Garnish the wings with a sprinkling of flaky salt and sliced green onions or freshly-chopped Italian parsley. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce(s).

Hand lifting a dry rub chicken wing from an appetizer platter.

👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe FAQ

These are the most commonly-asked questions when making the BEST dry rub chicken wings and the most helpful answers for recipe success.

Can I use frozen chicken wings for this recipe?

It’s recommended to use thawed chicken wings for better seasoning absorption. Thaw them in the fridge overnight before applying the dry rub.

What are chicken wing flats?

Also called wingettes, these are small, flat, oblong pieces of the chicken wing encased in skin that have meat held between 2 slender bones.

What are chicken wing drumettes?

Also called chicken drums, these portions look like mini versions of chicken leg drumsticks. They have a large center bone that’s perfect for holding and dipping. Drumettes contain more meat than chicken flats.

How many chicken wings in a pound?

There are 4 to 5 whole wings in a pound. But keep in mind, chicken wing portions are whole bone-in wings that have been divided into 2 parts – flats and drums. So there are 8 to 10 “portions” in a pound.

How many pounds of chicken wings per person?

As an appetizer, you’ll need 1 pound chicken wings per person, or 1 1/ pounds for hearty eaters. To serve a party of 8, I recommend prepping 10 to 12 pounds of wings to make sure there’s enough for everyone.

Do I need to pat dry the chicken wings before applying the dry rub?

Yes, patting the chicken wings dry with paper towels before applying the dry rub helps ensure better adherence and promotes a crispier texture during baking or air frying.

Do I need to marinate dry rub chicken wings before cooking?

While you can marinate dry rub chicken wings for 30 minutes to an hour in the fridge to enhance the flavor, marinating is not required before cooking.

How can I make sure the dry rub doesn’t burn during baking or air frying?

Monitor the cooking process closely. If you notice the dry rub getting too dark, tent the wings with foil. This will help prevent excessive browning. The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the wings have a crispy exterior.

Should I let the chicken wings rest before serving?

Allowing the chicken wings to rest for a few minutes after cooking will help the juices to redistribute, ensuring a moist and flavorful result. This step is optional, but recommended.

Dry rub chicken wing being dipped into ranch dressing.

🥣 Dipping Sauces for Chicken Wings

For the best-tasting dry rub chicken wings, serve them with a deeply flavorful dipping sauce. Below are classic recipes that belong in your collection. To save them for later, pin your favorites to Pinterest.

Rate This Recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Flavor testers rated this the BEST dry rub chicken wings recipe. They greatly enjoyed the perfectly-flavored seasoning, and the golden crispy texture of the skin with a crusty, dry rub bark. It had their tastebuds tingling.

If you agree this recipe’s a keeper, give it a 5-star rating in the comments. Then be a recipe hero. Share it with friends. 📌 Pin it to Pinterest.

Gold Line: Sprinkles of Inspiration | confettiandbliss.com
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Dry rub chicken wings served on a plate with carrot and celery sticks.

Dry Rub Chicken Wings


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Description

These restaurant-style, dry rub wings are irresistibly delicious. Perfectly seasoned with a sweet/savory rub, they’re cooked until golden and crisp in the oven or air fryer. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.


Ingredients

Scale

Fresh Poultry

1 pound chicken wing portions (chicken party wings, 1st & 2nd sections)

Wing Dry Rub

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/8 teaspoon black ground pepper
  • Optional: 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (for a kick of heat)

For Garnishing and Serving

  • Maldon Sea Salt Flakes
  • Green onion, sliced (or fresh Italian parsley, chopped)
  • Dipping sauce

Instructions

Oven Method

RECIPE PREP: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place a metal baking rack over a rimmed sheet pan and put it aside. Don’t rinse the chicken. Just pat the wings dry between paper towels.

  1. Add chicken wings and olive oil to a large bowl. Toss well to coat.
  2. Add all the spices to small bowl. Mix to combine. Sprinkle the seasoning over the wings. With your hands, toss and rub the all pieces until they’re fully coated in wing dry rub.
  3. Arrange the wings skin side up on wire rack placed over a baking sheet. Leave space between the pieces so they can properly brown and crisp. 
  4. Bake for 20 minutes. Flip wings over and cook 15 minutes more. For extra-crispy wings, flip the pieces again and roast a few minutes longer.
  5. Transfer dry rub wings to a plate. Garnish with flaky salt and sliced green onion or freshly-chopped Italian parsley. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

Air Fryer Method

RECIPE PREP: Preheat air fryer to 350°F. Don’t rinse the wings. Just pat them dry between paper towels. 

  1. Place chicken wings in a large bowl. Pour olive oil over the pieces and toss well to coat. 
  2. Create the wing dry rub: add the spices to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Sprinkle the seasoning over the chicken. With your hands, toss and rub the wings until fully coated in dry rub mix.
  3. Arrange the wings inside the air fryer basket. Stand them upright on their ends, leaning against one another and the sides of the basket. But don’t overcrowd the basket. If needed, cook in batches.
  4. Air fry the chicken for about 35 minutes, or until golden and crisp on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside.
  5. Transfer dry rub wings to a plate. Garnish with flaky salt and sliced green onion or freshly-chopped Italian parsley. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

For easy clean-up: If baking the wings, line the baking tray with aluminum foil. If air frying the wings, line the basket with an air fryer (parchment paper) liner. 

How many pounds of chicken wings per person? As an appetizer, I recommend 1 pound chicken wings per person, or 1 1/ pounds for hearty eaters. To serve a party of 8, I recommend prepping 10 to 12 pounds of wings to make sure there’s enough for everyone. It’s always best to have more than not enough.

  • Prep Time: 5 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 Minutes
  • Category: Appetizers
  • Method: Oven / Air Fryer
  • Cuisine: American
Gold Line: Sprinkles of Inspiration | confettiandbliss.com

Dry Rub Chicken Wings 👉🏻 Join the Convo

What’s your favorite method for cooking dry rub wings – the oven or air fryer? What are your favorite occasions for serving these party favorites? Share your thoughts on this game-day appetizer in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.

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