Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings

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, like my Easy Baked Chicken Thighs, the skin is just SO crispy! No deep fryer needed, which means these wings are much less oily than takeout wings! It’s not a fried chicken or a stir-fry recipe. 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 wings recipes, check these ones out: Baked Chicken Wings Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Wings Recipe, and Crispy Baked Chicken Wings Recipe.

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 – If you don’t have olive oil, you can use vegetable oil or melted butter. But I really recommend olive oil because it’s a better quality oil and also it’s more flavourful. 
• Black pepper – I like and recommend freshly ground pepper. I used a grinder pepper to ground some black peppercorns. You can also use white pepper. I I like a lot of spice, so I used a ton of black pepper.  
• Salt – I use kosher salt. You can also use Chinese salt. 
• Parsley or green onions – for garnish

ps: I want to make this recipe low-carb, for this reason I didn’t use cornstarch or potato starch to make it. 

Instructions

Prep the Oven and Equipment

1. Preheat the oven to 425 F degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. You can also use a cast iron skillet if you prefer. Then, place a cooling rack on top of the sheet.

Prep the Chicken Wings

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

Bake and Serve

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

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.

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.

• Cauliflower rice
• Broccoli Salad
• Broccoli Kale Slaw
• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mayo Mustard Dressing
• Sweet Potato Arugula Salad
• Easy Couscous Salad

Watch the Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings Web Stories here.