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This dry rub recipe will give your regular chicken wings so much irresistible flavor!
Inspired by the famous Buffalo Wild Wings dry rub recipe, these naked wings are coated in a bold blend of dry spices and baked until golden brown and crispy.
Yes, I said baked! And the simple blend of dry spices gives these wings tons of flavor.
So if you’re looking for a lighter way to enjoy chicken wings without frying or heavy sauces, you’ve found your soulmate recipe.
What’s in the Buffalo Wild Wings Dry Rub Recipe
Here is the spice blend that we’ll use to make the best dry rub for chicken wings:
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Kosher salt
- Brown sugar
- Chili powder
- Paprika
- Cumin
- Black pepper
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Cayenne pepper
How to Make Dry Rub Chicken Wings
Brine the Wings
I’m listing this as an optional step in the recipe card because sometimes you just want wings and you want them now.
But I do recommend brining the wings in chicken broth before baking them.
Brining means soaking the chicken in a salty liquid to seal in the juiciness and enhance the flavor. In this case, our salty liquid is chicken broth.
Brining is really the secret to the best wings! You can brine chicken for days, but even if you only have an hour, it’s worth it.
To brine chicken wings, simply place them in a large mixing bowl and cover them with chicken broth. Then, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate it.
Make the dry rub
It couldn’t be easier to mix up the dry rub. Just put all of your seasonings into a bowl and whisk them together. That’s it!
Prepare the chicken for baking
If your chicken was in a brine, pat it dry with paper towels. Put the chicken into a mixing bowl and coat it with canola oil.
Then, throw in that homemade seasoning blend. Coat the wings really well and then arrange them on a baking sheet.
To make clean up easier, you could line the baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Bake the wings
Baking wings for 45 minutes at 425 degrees should yield crispy skin with juicy meat, just like if you fried it.
Enjoy these delicious wings right out of the oven, no need to toss in any sauce!
How to Serve Dry Rub Chicken Wings
- Classic Celery and Carrot Sticks: Serve these dry rub wings with traditional celery and carrot sticks on the side. The cool and crunchy veggies provide a refreshing contrast to the bold flavors of the dry rub.
- Blue Cheese or Ranch Dip: Serve the wings with your favorite dipping sauce like blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing. The creamy and tangy dip helps balance the heat and intensifies the overall taste experience.
- Add a Sauce: Layer the flavors by tossing the wings in your favorite sauce like buffalo sauce or BBQ sauce. The combination of dry spices and smoky flavor of sauce adds great complexity to this chicken wing recipe.
- Quesadillas or Tacos: Repurpose the dry rub wings by incorporating them into quesadillas or tacos. Add shredded cheese, lettuce, and a drizzle of lime for a zesty and satisfying meal.
- Avocado Salsa: Prepare a fresh avocado salsa with diced tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lime juice. Spoon the salsa over the dry rub wings for a burst of freshness that complements the spices.
- Macaroni and Cheese: Serve these crispy chicken wings alongside a comforting bowl of macaroni and cheese. The creamy and cheesy pasta provides a comforting contrast to the bold and spicy dry rub flavors. It’s like giving your taste buds a big hug.
- Fruit Skewers: Balance the heat of the dry rub wings with a side of fruit skewers. Choose a mix of sweet and tangy fruits like pineapple, mango, and watermelon for a refreshing palate cleanser.
Can you make dry rub wings in an air fryer?
Absolutely! Follow the directions in the recipe card for preparing the wings.
Then, arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook them for about 20 minutes at 400 degrees, flipping once during cooking.
Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to make these crispy wings in batches.
How to Store Leftover Dry Rub Wings
Store any leftover wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat them in a warm oven for 2-5 minutes to restore their crispy texture.
When you make this Buffalo Wild Wings dry rub recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!
For more wing recipes, try these:
For more copycat recipes, try these:
- Starbucks Grilled Cheese at Home
- Snickerdoodle Cookies (Crumbl Copycat)
- Blackened Chicken Tenders Recipe (Popeyes Copycat)
Baked Dry Rub Wings Recipe (Buffalo Wild Wings)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. chicken wings
- 2 Tbsp. canola oil
- 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 Tbsp. onion powder
- 1/2 Tbsp. kosher salt
- 2 tsp. brown sugar
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. cumin
- 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 32 oz. chicken broth for brine, optional
Instructions
- Optional step: brine the chicken. Place wings in a large bowl and cover with chicken broth. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour and up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients in small bowl.
- Pat wings dry with paper towels and place them in a large mixing bowl. Coat them in canola oil. Pour in the dry rub mixture and toss to coat the chicken.
- Arrange wings on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 45 minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from baking pan. Serve warm.
Michele says
I am trying this recipe tonight, I’ve been brining them in the chicken broth since yesterday afternoon, there are just four of the seasonings that I am leaving out