Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings

Name: Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 lb chicken wings; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1 tsp black pepper freshly ground; 2 tsp sea salt; 1 tsp parsley fresh (chopped for garnish)

Published September 15, 2020 •by Olivia

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Crispy, golden, and finger-licking good, these are going to be the best salt and pepper chicken wings you’ve ever made! Made with pantry staples, these flavourful but budget-friendly wings are going to become a staple in your household!

We love crispy chicken wings, there’s just something so satisfying about that first bite and hearing the sound of the crunch of the crispy skin. However, there seems to be a misconception that in order to get that crispy exterior, you have to either get it at a restaurant or deep fry them at home.

I’m here to tell you that you can get golden crispy wings at home just by simply baking them in the oven. No deep fryer needed, which means these wings are much less oily than takeout wings! It’s a healthier way to make wings at home and you can make them in a large batch for a party easily.

For this recipe, there are only five ingredients! We are using mostly pantry staple ingredients: olive oil, salt, pepper, and then for the garnish, we have freshly chopped parsley. However, if you prefer to skip the parsley, you are welcomed to do so. It can be difficult to have fresh herbs on hands at all times so something I like to do is have a small windowsill herb garden so times like these.

If you’re looking for more delicious chicken recipes, check these ones out: Baked Chicken Breast Recipe, Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs, and Dijon Chicken Thighs.

How to Make this Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings Recipe

Ingredients

Chicken wings – chicken wings are a delicious budget friendly source of protein
Olive oil
Black pepper – I like and recommend freshly ground pepper
Salt – I use sea salt
Parsley – for garnish

Instructions

Prep the Oven and Equipment

Preheat the oven to 425 F degrees.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Then, place a cooling rack on top of the sheet.

Prep the Chicken Wings

In a large bowl, add all chicken wings, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix everything very well to combine.
Place the wings in a single layer onto the rack on the sheet.

Bake and Serve

Bake for about 30 minutes, remove from the oven, flip them and bake for more 15-20 minutes or until they’re golden crisp.
Before serving, sprinkle with more salt and pepper if necessary and garnish with chopped parsley.

Tips to making the best salt and pepper wings

Make sure you pat dry your chicken wings before prepping them. Sometimes there’s moisture or ice crystals and the extra moisture will prevent your wings from crisping up in the oven.
Lining the baking sheet makes for easy clean up as it catches any drippings from the chicken. The cooling rack can be soaked in warm soapy water for easy cleaning. You can also spray the cooling rack with non-stick for even easier clean up.
The wire rack lets the hot air from the oven circulate under the wings and allows any excessive fat to drip off the chicken and onto the lined baking sheet so your wings don’t burn quickly or taste greasy!
If your wings aren’t golden and crispy after 45-50 minutes, you can always broil them for 1-2 minutes, making sure to keep an eye on the wings as they could burn quickly!

Frequently asked questions

Are chicken wings low carb?

These salt and pepper chicken wings are low carb! They’re also gluten-free, keto-friendly, paleo, and Whole30-friendly as well.

Can these wings be prepared ahead of time?

Yes! You can do this two ways. You can either season them then let them marinate in the fridge a day ahead of time then bake them when you’re ready to eat. Alternatively, you can bake them and store in the fridge for up to 4 days and reheat them in the oven when you’re ready to serve.

Can these wings be cooked from frozen?

I recommend you don’t cook these wings from frozen. You can use frozen chicken wings if you thaw them first.

What dipping sauce goes well with chicken wings?

Ranch dressing or blue cheese dipping sauce goes well with these wings. Also, I love eating them with avocado sauce. It’s a healthier dip for you.

What wings do I buy to bake?

Look for pre-cut chicken wings labeled “party wings” or “wingettes and drumettes.”

Why do the wings take so “long” to cook in the oven?

Chicken wings take 45-50 minutes to cook because it takes a while for the fat to render out from the chicken wings so that the skin crisps up. If you pull your chicken wings out early, even if the internal temperature says the wings are cooked, the skin will not be crispy.

Storage tips

If you have leftovers, store your chicken wings in an airtight container in the fridge. The wings will absorb moisture and get soggy if you don’t use an airtight container!

How to serve chicken wings

Chicken wings work as an appetizer or as part of a main meal! Here are some ways to serve them:

As part of a snacking or appetizer plate: serve with some cut carrots, celery, edamame, and other finger-foods alongside some dip.
As part of a main meal: I like serving chicken wings alongside some salad to keep the meal on the lighter side but fries or onion rings goes well with chicken wings as well!

Some dishes to serve with salt and pepper chicken wings

Here are some recipes you may want to serve with my wings.