BBQ Chicken Wings seasoned in a bold and flavorful Cajun spice blend and slathered in a savory BBQ sauce. They're baked perfectly then broiled for the right amount of caramelization.
These BBQ Chicken Wings are so simple and makes our weeknight and even weekend dinners a breeze. This recipe is very manageable and requires hardly any effort which is a plus but more importantly it's a family favorite which makes it easy to incorporate into our weekly dinner rotations.
They're so tender and the smokiness from the Cajun spice blend makes this the perfect recipe to have for Memorial Day, July 4th or Labor Day if you do not have a grill but you're craving the flavor profile similar to grilling.
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken wings (fresh or frozen)
- BBQ sauce (store bought or homemade)
Cajun Spice Blend
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cayenne
- Red pepper flakes
- Smoked paprika
- Dried thyme (or other dried herb such as oregano if not parsley)
Recipe Essentials
- Baking pan
- Parchment paper
- Baking rack (optional)
How to make BBQ chicken wings
It's important that the chicken wings are completely dry before adding them to the oven to bake.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Either place the chicken wings on top of the parchment paper in a single layer, or place a baking rack on top of the parchment paper then add the chicken wings in a single layer.
- Pat dry the chicken wings with paper towels and season them generously with the Cajun spice blend, black pepper, and kosher salt.
- Place the wings on the prepared baking sheet and bake until they're done. Slather the wings with your favorite BBQ sauce and place under the broiler for 2 - 3 minutes.
- Remove the chicken wings from the broiler and serve with your favorite side dishes.
Recipe Tips
- If chicken wings are frozen, thaw in cold water, or place in the fridge to thaw.
- Whether you wash your chicken or not, it's important that the chicken wings are completely dry before baking them in the oven.
- If using a baking rack, spray the rack with cooking oil first to prevent the wings from sticking.
- The chicken wings are completely done and safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees which can be checked with an internal meat thermometer.
How to store leftovers
- Like most meats, these BBQ chicken wings should not be left out for a long time.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container and place them in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- You can also store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To prevent the wings from sticking together in the freezer, add them in a single layer with parchment paper between each layer.
Serve with these side dishes
Pair these BBQ chicken wings with these side dishes:
Herb Garlic Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Crispy Oven Roasted Broccolini
You may also like these other chicken recipes
Garlic Herb Whole Roasted Chicken
Cajun Spatchcock Chicken Recipe
Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Breast
Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breast
Connect with me on Instagram and Pinterest for more recipe ideas.
Thanks for visiting,
~Cree
📖 Recipe
BBQ Chicken Wings
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
- 3 lbs chicken wings (fresh or frozen)
- ½ tablespoon kosher salt (or less)
- 1-½ cups BBQ sauce (your favorite store brand or homemade)
Dry Rub Blend
- 2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (more or less depending on how much of a kick you like)
- ½ teaspoon cayenne (more or less depending on how much heat you like)
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon dry herb (either thyme, oregano, or parsley)
Instructions
Cajun Spice Blend
- Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside
Chicken Wings
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper and placing a wire baking rack on top of the parchment paper if you have one.
- Wash and pat dry the chicken wings with paper towels and season generously with the Cajun spice blend, black pepper, and kosher salt.
- Arrange the chicken wings in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and place in the preheated oven to bake until they're done - about 45 minutes. (Check done-ness by inserting an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken wing when it registers at 165 degrees - it's done).
- Remove the chicken wings from the oven and slather with your favorite BBQ sauce and place under the broiler for 2 -3 minutes until you just begin to see caramelization. (Do not walk away from the oven when the wings are under broiler as this can result in your wings burning).
- Remove the wings from the broiler and serve with delicious sides.
Notes
- If chicken wings are frozen, thaw in cold water, or place in the fridge to thaw.
- Whether you wash your chicken or not, it's important that the chicken wings are completely dry before baking them in the oven.
- If using a baking rack, spray the rack with cooking oil first to prevent the wings from sticking.
- The chicken wings are completely done and safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees which can be checked with an internal meat thermometer.
- Use caution when putting parchment paper under the broiler. I've never had any issues but thought I would note it here. I've read that some parchment paper can only withstand oven temperatures up to 425 degrees.
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