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This crispy dry rub wings recipe is packed with sweet, savory, and smoky flavors from my homemade spice blend. It’s quick and easy, whether you want to bake, grill, or air fry it. Make these perfectly crispy wings for an instant hit at parties or game day!
Why Make Dry Rub Wings
This chicken wings recipe is the perfect party wings that you’ll make over and over. It has so much flavor from the best homemade spice blend and they’re no mess to eat at all.
- Crowd favorite. Everyone will love this appetizer for parties and gatherings.
- Lots of cooking options. You’ll have delicious, crispy wings hether you want to fry, grill, or bake it.
- Make-ahead and freezer-friendly. These delicious wings are easy to make ahead, perfect for making a big batch for a gathering or for meal prepping!
Ingredient Notes
All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post.
- Chicken wings. I used 3-4 lbs of chicken wings. Feel free to double this recipe if you’re making a big batch.
- Homemade dry rub mix. I used a blend of smoked paprika, chipotle powder, onion powder, salt, brown sugar, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, dried mustard powder, black pepper, dried ground thyme, and dried chives.
- Lemon herb tahini dressing. I used my homemade dressing for this recipe, but you can use any dipping sauce you like. You’ll need lemon juice, tahini, garlic, shallots, and fresh herbs, for a delicious sauce that’s ready in 10 minutes.
Recipe Variations
Make it spicy. To add more heat, add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the dry rub blend.
Use the rub on chicken breasts. You can easily use this rub on grilled chicken breasts or thighs as well.
Steps To Make Dry Rub Chicken Wings Recipe
Step One. Combine all dry rub ingredients in a small mixing bowl and set aside.
Step Two. In a large bowl, add the chicken wings and use 3/4th of the dry rub recipe and fully coat each piece.
Step Three. Use your hands to massage the seasoning on the wings and let them rest for a few minutes.
Step Four. Cook wings on the grill, oven, or air fryer. Follow the recipe instructions for each method and make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165º F.
Step Five. Once fully cooked through, season the wings generously with leftover seasoning mix. This final touch adds an extra burst of flavor. Serve with fresh carrots, celery sticks, and your favorite dipping sauce.
Recipe Pairings
I like to keep it simple and serve these crispy dry rub chicken wings with a side of celery and carrot sticks. It also goes really well with barbecue classics like jalapeno cornbread, parmesan crusted potatoes, spicy mac and cheese. For a healthier pairing, serve it with kale slaw, caesar salad, or an avocado corn salad.
These wings goes well with a variety of dips. Pair it with ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, cottage cheese dip, buffalo sauce, or a spicy honey mustard dip.
Tips for the Best Dry Rub Wings
- Pat the wings dry. Before applying the dry rub, make sure to pat dry the chicken wings with paper towels. This helps the wings become more crispy during cooking.
- Let the wings sit in the dry rub. Rest the wings for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator. This allows the meat to absorb the flavors.
- Place a wire rack over the baking sheet. When baking the wings, using a wire rack will ensure that both sides are perfectly crispy.
Make Ahead and Storage Tips
Store leftover crispy chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat it in an oven or air fryer at 350°F to make it crispy again.
Recipe FAQs
It’s not necessary, but letting the wings sit with the dry rub for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator can enhance the flavor.
Absolutely! Dry rubs are versatile and can be used on other meats like ribs, pork chops, steaks, and even fish.
I personally like grilling the wings to get a bit more smokiness. The oven is a great option for making a big batch in advance, while the air fryer is best if you’re cooking a small batch for a weeknight dinner.
Other delicious wings To Try
Dry Rub Wings
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl
Ingredients
Dry Rub Mix
- ½ Tbsp smoked paprika
- ½ Tbsp chipotle powder
- ½ Tbsp onion powder
- ½ Tbsp salt
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar, packed
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried mustard powder
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp dried ground thyme
- ¼ tsp dried chives
Chicken Wings
- 3-4 lbs of chicken wings, thawed completely
Instructions
- Combine all dry rub ingredients in a small mixing bowl, set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add chicken wings. Add 3/4th of the dry rub mix to the wings. Mix well with hands or with a rubber spatula. Remaining rub will be added after wings are cooked.
- Once the wings are fully cooked through, sprinkle them generously with leftover seasoning mix. Serve with fresh carrots & Celery and dipping sauce (if needed)
For The Grill:
- Preheat grill to medium heat (about 375-400º). Add the seasoned wings to the grill. Grill for about 18-25 minutes turning the wings often all around. Cook until internal temp is 165º (Grills vary greatly please keep an eye on them)
For The Oven:
- Preheat oven to 400 º. Add wings to a large baking sheet. Bake for 30 -45 minutes. or until internal temp reaches 165º F.
For The Air Fryer:
- Add to the air fryer and cook on 375º for 18-20 minutes or until internal temp reaches 165º F.
Notes
- Pat the wings dry. Before applying the dry rub, make sure to pat dry the chicken wings with paper towels. This helps the wings become more crispy during cooking.
- Let the wings sit in the dry rub. Rest the wings for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator. This allows the meat to absorb the flavors.
- Place a wire rack over the baking sheet. When baking the wings, using a wire rack will ensure that both sides are perfectly crispy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love wings and these dry rub wings might be my new favorite. I love that I can control the ingredients going into it and not worry about hidden chemicals! The taste is magnificent!