These Dry Rub Chicken Wings are crispy, juicy and so tasty. They will satisfy your taste buds thanks to our homemade spice blend. Season chicken wings with this easy blend and then cook them in the oven or air fryer. They will be a hit either way.
These are the best dry rub wings you will ever make with a little sweet, salty, and slightly spicy flavor profile. They will become your favorite game day appetizers!
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What Is A Dry Rub?
It is a dry mixture of spices and dried herbs. It is rubbed on raw ingredients like chicken and meat before they are cooked.
Dry rubs are a great way of seasoning chicken wings. It is even better to let them rest in the rub mixture overnight (or at least 30 minutes) in the fridge. The spices will penetrate the chicken this way and you will have the tastiest wings as a result.
Although dry rub is known as the perfect method for wing recipes, it is not limited to it. We use this seasoning for chicken thighs, chicken breasts and chicken legs too. It works great when you don't have time to marinate chicken but still want to have flavors on it.
A dry rub is not the same as a marinade. As the name suggests, it is dry. Unlike a marinade, it doesn't contain any wet ingredients. So a rub doesn't add moisture to the chicken. It is not used to tenderize the meat, either.
The best thing about homemade dry rub is that you have the control. Add more chili powder or cayenne pepper if you want to make it spicier, increase the amount of sugar if you want the wings to get a little sweeter or skip sugar if you don't want any sweetness.
About The Ingredients
Today we will make the best dry rub chicken wings recipe with a few simple spices. And it is so easy to prepare. Who buys store bought chicken seasonings when you can make your own spice blend at home in a minute?
To make these delicious dry rub wings, here are what we need:
Chicken wings: We use party wings, which are already separated into drumettes and flats. Wing tips are not included. If whole chicken wings are what you can find, you can use them too or learn how to separate chicken wings at the joints with a sharp knife and then use them.
Olive oil: It helps the dry rub stick on the chicken better. It also helps the skin of the wings crisp up and get a nice golden color.
Brown sugar: It helps balance the salty, savory, and even spicy flavors while helping the surface of the meat caramelize.
Spices: Use a combination of paprika, chili powder (or cayenne pepper), onion powder, garlic powder, dried oregano and thyme, salt and pepper. You can add a little cumin too if you want. Also, check out our homemade chicken seasoning recipe.
Optional Add-Ins:
Flour: If you add some flour, it will coat the chicken and give it a more breaded texture.
Baking powder: It is a great addition if you want to give the wings a crispier texture. It also helps color the wings more evenly. And don’t worry, you won’t taste it at all! You already know this hack from our baking powder chicken wings.
How To Get The Rub Mixture To Stick On The Wings
Two crucial steps help the spices for chicken wings stick well. If you don't know how to season chicken wings, please keep the following two tips below.
The first is to pat the chicken dry using paper towels. This absorbs any moisture that the spices could absorb. If the dry spices absorb moisture, they clump and eventually fall off.
The second is to use a little bit of olive oil in a dry rub chicken wings recipe. The oil will naturally stick to the meat. Then, the spices will easily stick to the oil. A fatty coating will also help you distribute the rub over the entire piece of meat effortlessly.
Can You Leave Dry Rub On Wings Overnight?
Yes, you definitely can. Leave the dry rub for chicken wings to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. But you can leave it on overnight if you’d like.
This will add even more flavor.
How To Make Dry-Rubbed Chicken Wings
Make the chicken wing rub: Simply toss together all of the dry ingredients in a small bowl. Just whisk them together so the flavors blend together nicely.
Prepare the chicken: Pat the wings dry and add them to a large mixing bowl. Add the oil and give them a couple of tosses so that they are well coated. The better they are coated, the better they will stick.
Add the dry seasoning for wings. Sprinkle the dry rub over the wings and massage them onto the meat.
Then cook them either in the oven or in air fryer.
In The Oven
Preheat your oven to 400ºF (200ºC). Then, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Then, top the sheet with an oven-safe cooling or roasting rack. Spray it with cooking spray or brush it with olive oil.
Place the chicken wings onto the roasting rack or cooling rack. Then, let them bake for at least 20 minutes. Flip them over and leave them to bake for another 10 minutes.
In The Air Fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF (200ºC), but you can leave this quick step for later.
Place the dry rubbed chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Leave them to air fry for roughly 20 minutes in total. After the initial 15-minute cooking period, turn them over and let them cook for another 5 minutes.
How To Reheat Them
You can reheat the air fried or baked dry rub wings either in the oven or in the air fryer. Preheat your oven or air fryer to 350 F degrees. Reheat the chicken wings for 10 minutes in the oven and for 5 minutes in air fryer.
Serving Suggestions
We often serve these rub chicken wings with celery sticks and carrots on the side. You can serve them as they are or with a creamy sauce like blue cheese dressing or ranch dressing.
If you are a fan of buffalo wings, then make a buffalo sauce and pour it over the wings. Alternatively, you can serve your favorite BBQ sauce or teriyaki sauce on the side.
Also, we love to pair these wings with fries, air fryer artichoke, oven roasted kernel corn, grilled halloumi cheese, Greek yogurt deviled eggs and Greek yogurt coleslaw too.
Tips
- Pat drying the chicken wings is crucial in this recipe, so don't skip it.
- When applying the dry rub on the wings, be generous. It is better to use your hands when doing this.
- If you have time, let the dry rubbed chicken wings rest in the fridge for 30 minutes or 1 hour. This will help the rub penetrate the wings.
- Make sure the wings are placed in a single layer.
- Measure the chicken wings with a meat thermometer if you want. They need to reach an internal temperature of 165 F degrees.
- You can cook these dry rub wings in the oven or in air fryer. Please find the full instructions in the recipe card.
- This dry rub can be used on chicken, beef and pork. It is even great on vegetables when roasting them.
- If you are planning to use frozen chicken wings, thaw them overnight in the fridge and then follow the recipe.
FAQs
Ideally, dry rub is applied on wings before they are cooked. So the rub forms a thin crust on the skin when cooking. That being said, you can sprinkle extra rub over the fried or baked chicken wings if you really want.
Our answer is no. The main reason for marinating chicken is to tenderize the meat. Chicken wings really don't need this, they are naturally soft and juicy. What they need is some flavors. So we think dry rubbing is better for chicken wings that marinating them.
As always: If you make this recipe, let us know what you think by rating it and leaving a comment below. And post a pic on Instagram too—tag @give_recipe so we can see!
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📖 Recipe
Dry Rub Chicken Wings
INGREDIENTS
Dry Rub For Wings:
- 1 tablespoon paprika smoked or sweet
- ½ tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons light brown sugar packed
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼- teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Wings:
- 2 pounds chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon oil olive oil or vegetable oil
INSTRUCTIONS
To Make The Dry Rub:
- In a small bowl, mix together all the ingredients with a fork or a small hand whisk. Put it aside.
Instructions For Oven:
- Preheat the oven to 400 F / 200 C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Place an oven safe cooling rack over it. Spray it with cooking spray or brush it with oil.
- Pat the chicken wings dry and place them in a large bowl.
- Pour olive oil over them and toss with a spatula. This oil will help the seasoning stick on the wings.
- Sprinkle the dry rub mixture over the wings and massage it into all the wings. You can wear gloves if you want.
- Place the chicken wings on the prepared cooling rack and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, flip each wing over and bake for another 10 minutes.
Instructions For Air Fryer:
- Pat the chicken wings dry and place them in a large bowl.
- Pour olive oil over them and toss with a spatula. This oil will help the seasoning stick on the wings.
- Sprinkle the dry rub mixture over the wings and massage it into all the wings. You can wear gloves if you want.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 F (200 C) for 5 minutes.
- Place the wings in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Make sure to leave some space so that they cook properly.
- Set your air fryer for 20 minutes in total. After 15 minutes, flip them over and put them back in the air fryer.
NOTES
- Pat drying the chicken wings is crucial in this recipe, so don't skip it.
- When applying the dry rub on the wings, be generous. It is better to use your hands when doing this.
- If you have time, let the dry rubbed chicken wings rest in the fridge for 30 minutes or 1 hour. This will help the rub penetrate the wings.
- Make sure the wings are placed in a single layer.
- Measure the chicken wings with a meat thermometer if you want. They need to reach an internal temperature of 165 F degrees.
- You can cook these dry rub wings in the oven or in air fryer. Please find the full instructions in the recipe card.
- This dry rub can be used on chicken, beef and pork. It is even great on vegetables when roasting them.
- If you are planning to use frozen chicken wings, thaw them overnight in the fridge and then follow the recipe.
- Nutrition information is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
NUTRITION
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Mary says
Excellent flavor. I put sweet thai chili sauce on at the end to glaze a bit. Delicious. Instruction tips were very helpful too
Micky Crmn says
I just wonder why you don't suggest mixing the oil with the spices for a better cover
Zerrin & Yusuf says
Hi Micky,
We find sprinkling the spices over oiled chicken and then rubbing them easier. That's why.