These Bang Bang Chicken Wings are baked to golden perfection and then tossed in the most addictive sweet, spicy, and creamy sauce. Seriously, this sauce is so good, you’ll be tempted to put it on everything—no judgment here. These wings are baked, not fried, yet perfectly crispy every time thanks to the overnight baking powder method.
Mix things up and add a batch of garlic parmesan chicken wings too!
Why Our Recipe
- Crispy, oven-baked wings that are just as good as fried (without the mess!).
- A sweet, spicy, and creamy Bang Bang sauce you’ll want to put on everything.
- Includes a shortcut method for when you’re short on time but still want amazing wings.
Need wings for game night? Dinner? Just because? This recipe’s got you covered. Even though our overnight method is tried-and-true, if you’re short on time, we’ve included a quick cheater method to get crispy wings without the wait. Just be prepared for the fight over the last wing!
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken Wings: Drumettes and flats are the way to go. If for some reason your wings are whole, just use a sharp knife to separate them at the joint and remove the tips.
- Baking Powder: This is the secret to super crispy skin in the oven. Make sure you’re using aluminum-free baking powder. Baking soda won’t work the same!
- Salt and Pepper: Just your basic seasonings to enhance the flavor of the wings.
- Paprika: Adds a little smoky depth and color to the wings. Smoked paprika works too if that’s your thing!
- Mayonnaise: The creamy base of the Bang Bang sauce. Regular mayo works perfectly, but you can sub it with light mayo.
- Sweet Chili Sauce: This is where the sweet and tangy magic happens. You’ll find this in the Asian foods aisle of most grocery stores.
- Honey: A touch of extra sweetness to balance out the spice. You can replace with sugar if you need to.
- Sriracha Sauce: The heat in your Bang Bang sauce! Adjust to your spice tolerance—start with 1 teaspoon and work your way up.
- Salt: Just a pinch to tie all the sauce flavors together. Adjust to taste.
The Science of Baking Powder
Baking powder is an essential ingredient in crispy baked chicken wings. Since baking powder is alkaline (has a pH higher than 7), it helps break down the proteins in the skin of the chicken wings and helps get rid of extra moisture, which allows the skin to become crispier when cooked. The result? Perfectly crispy wings straight from the oven. Science for the win, y’all!
Just make sure you’re using aluminum-free baking powder! Aluminum can leave a weird metallic aftertaste, and nobody wants that ruining their wings. Plus, aluminum-free varieties tend to brown more evenly, so your wings will look just as good as they taste.
Pieces of the Wing
Fun fact: There are three parts to a chicken wing: the drumette, the flats, and the tips. When you purchase chicken wings, you typically get a mix of the drumettes and flats.
Occasionally, you might get whole wings, which means all three parts are still connected. It’s rare, but it can happen (we got them that way with our grocery order!). If you end up with whole wings, you’ll need to butcher them yourself and discard the tips.
Short on Time? The Cheater Method
Let’s be real, refrigerating wings for 12-24 hours isn’t always gonna happen. That’s why we’ve got this shortcut that still gives you crispy, golden wings without the wait. Here’s the deal: bake the wings low and slow to dry them out, then crank up the heat to get that perfect crisp.
Preheat your oven to 250°F and bake the wings for 45 minutes to an hour. Take them out, crank the oven up to 425°F, and once it’s ready, pop the wings back in. Bake for another 30-45 minutes, until they’re crispy and hit an internal temp of 165°F. Boom—crispy wings in no time!
Serving Suggestions
Bang Bang Chicken Wings are the ultimate crowd-pleaser, and there are so many fun ways to serve them up! Here are some ideas to make your wings the star of the table:
As an Appetizer: Pile them on a platter with some carrot and celery sticks on the side. Add a little bowl of ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping—classic and irresistible.
Make It a Meal: Turn your wings into dinner by serving them alongside crispy fries, a fresh green salad, or even some steamed rice to soak up that sauce.
Party-Style Spread: Whip these up for game night, potlucks, or any gathering. Serve them on a big tray with plenty of napkins (trust me, you’ll need them!). Bonus points if you add extra Bang Bang sauce on the side for dipping.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Reheat using your oven at 375 degrees F. Spread the wings on a baking sheet, and heat for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. This helps maintain their crispy texture.
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