TRULY CRISPY OVEN BAKED CHICKEN WINGS WITH HONEY GARLIC SAUCE

By PineyCook

Ingredients

• Crispy Wings:
• 4 lb/ 2 kg chicken wings, cut into wingettes and drumettes (Note 1)
• 2 tbsp baking powder (NOT BAKING SODA / BI-CARB SODA!!)
• 3/4 tsp salt
• Oil spray

Details

Adapted from recipetineats.com

Preparation

Step 1

Crispy Wings
If you are organised enough, uncover the chicken wings and leave them in the fridge for a few hours to dry out. Otherwise, use a paper towel to pat the wings dry.

Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions.

Preheat oven to 250F/120C.

Line a baking tray with foil, then place a rack (like a cooling rack) on the foil. Spray the rack with oil spray.

Place wings in a large bowl or in a ziplock bag. Add the baking powder and salt, then toss to coat evenly.

Place the wings on the baking tray in a single layer with the skin side up. They should just fit snugly. They will shrink when they cook because the fat renders out so don't worry if they look too snug.

Place wings on the lower middle oven rack and bake for 30 minutes.

Move wings up to the upper middle rack and increase the oven temperature to 425F/220C.

Bake for 40 - 50 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through.

Remove baking tray from the oven and let it stand for 5 minutes.

Toss wings in sauce of choice or serve it on the side to dip / drizzle on the wings, then serve.

NOTES
1. See below for step by step photos for how to cut chicken wings.

2. You will notice once the wings come out of the oven that they are smaller than usual. This is because the fat under the skin melts off (renders out) while baking in the low oven.

3. The wings will not bake to a dark golden brown unless you leave them in for 1 hr+. They bake to a golden brown. You will know they are done because the skin will be lovely and crispy.

4. The recipe for the wings is from Cook's Illustrated "Meats Book" cookbook. The sauce recipes are my own.

5. To reheat: Allow to cool, then cover and refrigerate. The skin will wrinkle and soften. Preheat oven to 200C/390F. Spread wings out on tray, skin side up, and bake for 5 to 8 minutes or until the skin puffs up so the wrinkles smooth out and becomes crisp again.

6. SAUCES:
* Honey Garlic Sauce: Mix together 4 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tsp white vinegar (or sub with any other vinegar except balsamic), 2-3 garlic cloves, minced. Use for dipping OR tossing.
* Honey Mustard Sauce: ¼ cup Dijon mustard, ¼ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup honey
* Ranch Dipping Sauce: Mix ⅓ cup mayonnaise, ⅓ cup sour cream, 2 tbsp milk, 1 tsp lemon juice, ¼ tsp EACH dried dill, parsley, chives, onion and garlic powder, salt & pepper to taste.
* Spicy Creamy Dipping Sauce: ¾ cup mayo, ½ tso garlic powder, ⅛ tsp paprika, 3-4 tbsp sriracha, salt & pepper
* Pink Sauce: ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce, 2 tbsp ketchup, 2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp sriracha (or other hot sauce)