
These oven-baked chicken wings turn deeply golden and crisp without deep frying. A light coating of baking powder and salt helps the skin dry out, blister, and crunch while the meat stays juicy.
Dry the wings thoroughly. For the crispiest skin, place them uncovered in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight; if short on time, pat them very dry with paper towels.
Position one oven rack in the lower-middle of the oven and another in the upper-middle. Preheat the oven to 250°F / 120°C.
Line a large baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup. Set a wire rack on top and coat the rack lightly with oil spray.
Place the wings in a large bowl or resealable bag. Add the baking powder and salt, then toss until every wing is evenly and lightly coated.
Arrange the wings skin-side up on the prepared rack in a single layer. They can sit close together, but avoid overlapping so the hot air can circulate.
Bake the wings on the lower-middle rack for 30 minutes. This low-temperature stage helps render fat and dry the skin.
Move the tray to the upper-middle rack and raise the oven temperature to 425°F / 220°C. Continue baking for 40 to 50 minutes, turning the tray halfway through, until the wings are crisp, browned, and cooked through.
Remove the wings from the oven and let them rest on the rack for 5 minutes so the skin finishes crisping.
Serve plain, toss with your favorite wing sauce, or offer sauce on the side for dipping.
Use baking powder, not baking soda, or the wings will taste bitter. For best results, choose aluminum-free baking powder and make sure the wings are very dry before coating. Sauce softens crisp skin, so toss the wings just before serving or serve the sauce on the side. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat best in a 400°F / 200°C oven or air fryer until hot and crisp.




