Crispy baked chicken wings are so easy to make that you will wonder why you ever fried wings in the first place!
Even with the skin, these are still considered clean eating compliant too!
Later in this post, I am going to introduce you to your new best friend…the Convection setting on the oven! Believe me when I say it WILL change your life!
Once you see just how easy and delicious these chicken wings are, they will quickly become a family favorite! They are perfect for Superbowl, Parties or just laid back nights at home!
@naturaldeets Cispy chicken wings in the convection oven! 😋 Crowd favorite! #chickenwingchickenwing #convectionoven #learnontiktkok #howto #easychickendinner
♬ The Chicken Wing Beat – Ricky Desktop
How To Save Money on Organic Chicken
When we started eating organic, pasture raised chicken, it became more economical to purchase whole chickens and cut them up ourselves.
At first, the kids were disgusted watching me cut up whole chickens. But now they are used to it. I tried to teach them how to cut the chicken into pieces, but they refused to touch it and only wanted to watch. So that is a lesson for another day!
However, my son was eager to help me season the wings!
We use chicken breasts amazingly quickly. I mean, it can be used in almost any dish!
The chicken thighs are typically used in soups and fast weeknight meals. And we BBQ the drumsticks for the kids when we BBQ every Sunday night!
But the chicken wings? When am I ever going to cook only 2 wings? Even 4 wings would be pushing it.
So, I just put them in the freezer for another day. One day I realized that we had a bag full of chicken wings. At about that same time, the kids discovered a love of wings!
That sounds like a good thing, but it’s not…because I love wings too and now I have to share them!
We have always enjoyed roasted chicken in the oven, so I started experimenting. What we discovered was delicious crispy baked chicken wings that can be eaten fresh from the oven, or with BBQ sauce (for the kids) and hot sauce (for the adults).
The trick is using the convection setting on the oven…
The Oven Convection Setting
Have you ever noticed the convection setting on your oven? Often times, it is just an on/off button. Ours looks like this:
It is so simple to turn on and off that the kids often play with it and I don’t always know.
I had a convection oven for over 8 years before I finally figured out how to use it! The button was always there, but I thought it might have something to do with the self cleaning feature, or another feature that I cleary wasn’t using!
Back before kids….when I had time to google random things…I decided to figure out exactly what a convection oven was. It turns out it is a superhero in the kitchen!
It has an amazing way of making foods brown and crispy, and it cuts the cooking time almost in half!
Convection ovens are great when it comes to crisping foods. Think whole chickens, chicken wings (obviously!), chicken nuggets, salmon, and so on. Do you love those grocery store rotisserie chickens? Well your convection oven will give you an even better crispy, flavorful crust!
Because the convection oven is more efficient at pushing heat around the food, it cuts down on cooking times. It also means you need to drop the heat slightly to keep the food from burning.
For example, a whole roasted chicken takes about 1 hour at 400° in the traditional oven. In a convection oven, it cooks in about 40 minutes at 375°.
However, I have found that it does not work with pizza. It always ends up burning the pizza before the middle cooks. The same goes for certain cookies. While you are learning to use the convection oven, you need to keep a close eye on your food. It can burn quickly.
But trust me when I say that the learning curve is worth it! You will be making sure every oven you have the future has teh convection feature!
Oh, and the best part? You don’t have to preheat the oven…you’re welcome 😉
Sea Salt Chicken Seasoning
One of the best tricks when it comes to eating healthy is to learn to rely on herbs. Herbs are an easy way to add flavor to a dish without adding calories or processed foods.
Chicken wings are no exception! Below, I am sharing my favorite sea salt blend (it fits in to clean eating too!) If you want to make your own blend, just use a base of sea salt and add any herbs and seasonings that you have on hand!
Salt blend for the Best Baked Chicken Wings:
- 2 tsp Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Dried Chopped Onions
- 1/4 tsp Dried Rosemary
- 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/8 tsp Ginger
- Fresh Black Pepper
Mix all ingredients well.
Here are a couple other ideas to try:
Salmon – Sea Salt and Dill
Beef – Sea Salt, Dried Onions, Garlic, Ginger and Fresh black pepper
Beef #2 – Sea Salt, Oregano, Basil, Garlic and Paprika
How Long To Bake Chicken Wings?
Chicken wings typically take about an hour in the oven. In this recipe we use the convection setting on the oven, which cuts off about 20 minutes.
We start with at 450° for 10 minutes to start the browning. Before it starts burning, we drop the temperature down to 350° for the remaining 15 minutes.
Just wait until you see how crispy they get!
Pasture Raised Chicken
One last note before we get to the recipe. If it is in your budget (you may be surprised to find that it is!), look into purchasing pasture raised chicken.
Not only are the chickens happier and have a much more humane life, but they also have nutritional benefits. They have higher concentrations of Vitamin A and E and Omega 3 fats.
I buy my chicken from Crowd Cow HERE (affiliate link that will give you $25 off). You can also read more about Crowd Cow HERE.
Organic chicken breast at Trader Joes is $5.99 per pound. It isn’t necessarily pasture raised, just organic. At Crowd Cow, I typically pay about $12 per pound. However, drumsticks start at $7 per pound…that is just one reason I started cooking with drumsticks and thighs more often!
If you buy the whole chicken from Crowd Cow, it is closer to $8 per pound ($20 per chicken). Then you can cut it up yourself. While you are at it, teach your kids how to cut up a chicken. It’s a life skill they could use forever!
Baked chicken wings are the perfect way to show your kids that they can make and enjoy healthier versions of restaurant style foods without compromising flavor! In addition, they will learn the following:
- How to use the Convection Oven feature
- How to bake Chicken wings
- How to make seasoning salt
- How to create a crispy chicken that could be the base for multiple dishes, such as hot wings, BBQ wings or teriyaki wings
- How to be careful when putting pans in the oven and taking them out
Looking for an online cooking class designed to teach kids real kitchen techniques? check out our Apricot Kids course. Click HERE for the Deets!
Frequently Asked Questions About Making Chicken Wings
How do I make crispy chicken wings?
The skin is essential for a crispy wing! Also be sure the wings are dry before cooking. If they are not dry, the moisture will keep them from crisping quickly.
Why are there two types of Chicken Wings?
Thy type of chicken wing depends on what part of the wing was used. If you look at a raw chicken, you will see that there is a joint in the wing. When the wings are processed, they are cut at the joint and this produces the two different types of wings that you are used to seeing. When they make traditional fried chicken, they are using the entire wing, which is why it is so much bigger
How do you get sauce to stick to chicken wings?
When you see a chicken wing that is covered in sauce, it typically has a breaded coating. The flour is the secret to getting the sauce to stick to the wings. In this recipe, we are not breading the chicken, so it is not ideal for thick sauces…though I had used them and it is still delicious! This recipe really shines when it comes to hot sauce or sticky sauces like garlic ginger.
Looking for more Convection Oven Recipes to serve with the wings? Try these:
Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
Accordion Potatoes in the Convection Oven
Smashed Potatoes in the Convection Oven
How to Make Potato Cakes
How to Saute Asparagus so Your Kids Will Actually Eat It!
Virgin Mojito Recipe (Pomegranate Mocktail)
Simple Sauteed Pea Shoots
Healthy Homemade Strawberry Lemonade – The Stuff Summer Memories Are Made Of!
Baked Chicken Wings
Yield: 6 people
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
These oven baked chicken wings are crispy, delicious and healthy!
Ingredients
- 4 Pounds Chicken Wings, If using frozen, defrost first
- 2 teaspoons Sea Salt
- 1 teaspoons chopped onions, dried
- 1/4 teaspoon Rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/8 teaspoon Ginger, dried
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° and turn on your convection fan
- In a small bowl, mix the Sea Salt, Onion, Rosemary, Garlic Powder and Ginger. Mix well
- Place the chicken wings on a lined cookie sheet. Try to keep the wings from touching
- Evenly sprinkle half the salt mixture over the chicken wings. Turn them over and sprinkle the remaining salt mixture
- Place the wings in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Drop the oven temperature to 350° and cook for an additional 15 minutes
- Once chicken wings are brown, remove and let sit for 5 minutes
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6Serving Size: 6 people
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 368Saturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 126mgSodium: 2452mgCarbohydrates: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 30g
Did you make this recipe?
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FAQs
Are wings better in a convection oven? ›
Is Convection Bake Good For Chicken Wings? Convection oven chicken wings turn out great! The constantly circulating hot air cooks them fairly quickly and also crisps up the skin of the wings. (See below for additional tips for crispy wings!)
How long does it take to cook chicken in convection oven? ›Heat the oven in the Convection Roast or Convection Bake mode 400 degrees and roast the chicken for 15 minutes. Decrease the oven temperature to 350 degrees for the remainder of the cooking time, approximately 45 minutes. Baste the chicken halfway through to help crisp the skin.
Why are my chicken wings not getting crispy in the oven? ›bake on low then high – usually, the fat under the skin is part of the reason why baked wings don't get really crispy. In this recipe, we start at a low temp first which melts the fat under the skin, then we crank up the oven which makes the skin super crispy!
Do you use baking powder or cornstarch for crispy wings in the air fryer? ›Always, always (and always) use paper towels to dry off any excess moisture on the uncooked wings. Toss wings with not only salt and pepper, but also a bit of baking powder and corn starch. We've tested chicken wings with and without this trick, and results are definitely crispier with.
Does convection oven make crispy? ›On most conventional ovens, heat is usually distributed by the bottom heating element, leaving the crust without targeted heat. With convection baking, you may achieve a crispier crust thanks to the circulated hot air inside the oven cavity.
Is baking in a convection oven the same as air frying? ›Bottom Line
Air fryers and convection ovens are very similar appliances. They both work by circulating hot air with a fan, giving foods a more even, often crispier finish. The main difference comes down to size. Because air fryers are smaller, they heat up to a more intense heat more quickly.
Is It Better to Bake Chicken Wings at 350 or 400? You can bake chicken wings at both 350°F and 400°F. Baking at a higher temperature (400°F) will result in crispy skin in a shorter amount of time. A 350° F oven will still result in crispy skin, it will just take longer to crisp and cook all the way through.
What can I put on my wings to make them crispy? ›Use Baking Powder.
Baking powder will help ensure that your wings brown nicely and it also helps create that desired crispy coating.
An unexpected ingredient helps make these air fryer wings crispy without being fried – baking powder! It's very important to make sure you use baking powder NOT baking soda. It's also important to make sure the baking powder is aluminum free.
Is baking powder or flour better for chicken wings? ›Flour – Helps form a crispy coating around the chicken. Baking Powder – Forms a reaction with the skin and helps dry it out, which is crucial to a crispy skin. Cayenne Sauce – Frank's Red Hot or something similar. This is not a wing sauce, although that can be used.
Is cornstarch better than flour for crispy chicken? ›
Can I replace the flour? Cornstarch is one of our recommended ingredients for the crispiest fried chicken. Cornstarch is often used in Asian fried chicken recipes. The combination of the flour with cornstarch produces the crispiest result.
Is it better to convection roast or bake a chicken? ›Oven Setting: Roast the chicken using the convection setting on your oven, if you have it. I always use convection when roasting chicken. The chicken will cook more evenly and the skin while brown up and become perfectly crispy.
What is the best thing to bake in a convection oven? ›Convection is good for:
Cookies and muffins—especially when you have a big batch to bake at once. Pies and pastry. Casseroles—when covered they won't lose much moisture. Toasting breads or buns.
Overall, the convection oven setting is a great choice if you want a crisp, quick, product, but if you want your dish to maintain moisture or rise before it is finished baking, then stick with the conventional oven.
Is convection better for baking or roasting? ›Dishes that are baked can take longer to cook than foods that are convection roasted because convection baking is done at a lower temperature. The fan that circulates the air is the primary cause of the speed difference. Even though the temperature remains constant, heat is transmitted more quickly.