Ancho baked chicken wings are tossed in the most tantalizing spice rub, baked until juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside then dunked in creamy, cool Avocado Ranch!
Crispy Baked Chicken Wings without the hassle, mess and heart attack of fried wings – can I get a hallelujah?! These super EASY Ancho Baked Chicken Wings with their layers of smoky, spicy seasonings can be completely prepped ahead of time then baked when it’s Game Time! The Big Game is almost here which means football FOOD! I’m not hugely into football but I am hugely into football food. Do you have a favorite?! From my Bacon Jalapeno Popper Dip, to my Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs to my Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Meatballs, to my Carne Asada Fries, it’s hard to pick a favorite – and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed in any of those choices, but just like you need a ball to play football, you neeeeeed wings to watch football and these Ancho Baked Chicken Wings will fly off the plate! These Ancho Baked Chicken Wings are a spin off of my Buffalo Hot Wings. Whenever I make those wings, I have to pry my hands away from devouring the spice rubbed chicken wings before they are enveloped in the Sauce. They are so addicting without the sauce that my husband Patrick actually prefers his wings with just the spice rub because not only are they favor bursting, but then they stay nice and crispy. So naturally, I knew just what had to be done: to create an oven baked chicken wings recipe with the most dynamite McCormick® Spice rub ever so the wings stay crispy and are stand-on-their-own-addicting without a sauce. Done and done. Buuuuuuuut, we do get to dunk them in creamy Avocado Ranch. Yes, yes and yessssssss. These flavor exploding Ancho Baked Chicken Wings are the perfect snack for the Big Game that don’t sacrifice any flavor thanks to McCormick® spices – winning! These oven Baked Chicken Wings are unintentionally gluten free and healthier with less fat and less calories than deep fried wings but intentionally lick-your-fingers-delicious. You can have your oven baked chicken wings and your Bacon Ranch Cheese Ball too.
How To Bake Chicken Wings (Tips and Tricks!)
There is absolutely no reason to fry chicken wings when the results are this delicious!
- Do I need to rinse my chicken wings? YES! You want to make sure your rinse your chicken wings and then squeeze and pat them VERY DRY with paper towels. The drier the wings, the crispier they will get. You can even refrigerate your wings for up to 6 hours on a baking rack for the skin to dry out even more. If you do refrigerate the wings, be sure to bring them to room temperature before baking. This should only take about 15 minutes on the counter. 2. What should I use to bake them? Line a regular size baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup and then top with a baking rack. Spray baking rack with nonstick cooking spray – don’t forget this step or your wings will stick! The baking rack elevates our chicken wings so the air can circulate under the wings for crispier skin! It also lets the fat drip off the chicken instead of sitting in it which leads to crisper skin. 3. What’s in the spic rub? Once our chicken is patted dry, we toss them in a glorious spice rub consisting of McCormick® Gourmet Ancho Chili Powder, McCormick® Garlic Powder, McCormick® Onion Powder, McCormick® Gourmet Smoked Paprika, McCormick® Ground Cumin, McCormick® Salt, McCormick® Pepper, brown sugar to balance the heat and the secret ingredient, baking powder – more on that later. The results are layers of dynamic flavor with just the right amount of kick. 4. What is Ancho Chile Powder? Ancho Chile Powder comes from ground dried poblanos and is more mild than cayenne or chipotle powder but still has a deep rich, smoky, mild sweet heat. I use it in several of my recipes such as my Blackened Fish Tacos and my Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili, so I promise your McCormick® Gourmet Ancho Chile Powder will not go to waste. 5. How Long to Bake Chicken Wings? We bake our wings on the upper middle rack for 40-50 minutes at 400 degrees F. The high heat allows the fat to render, the chicken to cook and the skin to get crispy. Our wings will already be crispy after baking but for even crispier skin, we move the oven rack 6-8″ from broiler and broil away to desired crispiness. Just watch closely so they don’t burn! 6. Can you prep these oven baked wings ahead of time? YES! Prepare the chicken up to baking then refrigerate them for up to 6 hours until you’re ready to bake. When it’s go time, let them rest on the counter for 15 minutes then proceed to bake them. Eazy peazy! 7. What goes with Ancho Baked Chicken Wings? I’m so glad you asked! I serve them with my intoxicating delicious Avocado Ranch! It’s chilled, tangy, creaminess is the perfect complement to the crunchy spicy baked wings. It’s also as simple as throwing all the ingredients in your blender!
How does baking powder make chicken wings crispy?
I consider myself a wings connoisseur from my Baked Honey Buffalo Hot Wings to my Chinese Baked Chicken Wings to my Chipotle Lime Wings and now these Ancho Baked Chicken Wings. Although their flavor profiles vary widely, they all utilize the same fool-proof technique that starts with a spice rub of McCormick spices that includes baking powder – and don’t worry, you won’t be able to taste the baking powder! The simplified science behind baking powder NOT BAKING SODA is that baking powder is composed of an acid which raises the pH level in the chicken, which draws moisture to the surface of the chicken skin where it evaporates. The heightened pH level also causes the peptide bonds in the skin to break down which accelerates the browning process so your chicken can get nice and crispy! Now are you ready for crispy chicken wings without the breading or constant tending of deep frying? But WITH tantalizing robust seasonings baked to crispy golden deliciousness? Then it’s time for healthier Ancho Baked Chicken Wings! They will be the MVP of your Game Day, so you can stomach whoever wins Day. It’s as simple as that. As delicious as this….
Look for more Game Day and Party Recipes?
Stuffed Buffalo Chicken Dip French BreadSlow Cooker Beef BrisketCheesy Italian Meatball SlidersCheesy Chili Dip (no velveeta!)Pizza PinwheelsSlow Cooker Korean Meatballs
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