Easy and Crispy Cajun Chicken Wings
I absolutely love these dry-rub style Cajun chicken wings! With just a few ingredients, you can make these in the air fryer or oven for wings that come out crispy and juicy every single time. Toss them with your favorite Cajun/Creole seasoning, like Tony C's or Slap Ya Mama, and serve them with hot sauce for extra flavor. You're going to love this recipe!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds party chicken wings (900 grams)
- 1 Tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder, NOT baking soda! (15 grams)
- 1/4 cup salt-free Cajun seasoning, divided, more to taste (40 grams)
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt, I use Morton, more to taste
- Neutral oil or cooking spray, for greasing
- Louisiana hot sauce, for serving
Equipment
- Wire rack
- 1 sheet pan
- Air fryer optional
Instructions
Prep the Wings
- Dry the wings super well with paper towels. You want them to be as dry as possible so the wings get crispy! (You can also dry them out in the fridge overnight. See Recipe Notes for more details.)
- Then, place the wings in a large bowl. Add the baking powder, half of the Cajun seasoning, and the salt. Toss until the wings are well coated, being sure to get the seasoning in all the nooks and crannies.
Oven Directions
- To bake the wings, preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or tin foil. Then, place an oven-safe wire rack on the prepared sheet pan. Grease the rack generously with neutral oil or cooking spray.
- Place the wings skin-side up in a single layer on the wire rack. It's ok if they're touching a little on the sides, they will shrink as they bake!
- Bake the wings for 25 minutes. Then, flip the wings and bake them for another 20-25 minutes until they are crispy on the outside and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part. Remove the wings from the oven and let them rest for about 5 minutes to get even crispier.
Air Fryer Directions
- Grease the basket of an air fryer with neutral oil or cooking spray. Then, place the wings skin-side up in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Spray the tops of the wings with just a little neutral oil or cooking spray. It's ok if they're touching a little on the edges, they will shrink as they cook!
- Fry the wings at 375°F (200°C) for 10 minutes. Then, flip the wings and fry them for 6-8 more minutes until they're crispy on the outside and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part. Rest for about 5 minutes.
Toss & Garnish
- Transfer the cooked wings to a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining Cajun seasoning with a pinch of salt, and toss until the wings are well-coated. Taste and add more seasonings, if needed. Serve with Louisiana-style hot sauce and enjoy!
Notes
If you can't find party wings, that's totally fine. Just keep in mind that you'll have to break down the whole wings before you make this recipe!
Dry all sides of the wings really well. You want them to be as dry as possible so they crisp up instead of steam. If you have time, you can also dry the wings on a wire rack overnight in the fridge. Place the wire rack on a sheet pan to prevent cross-contamination and leave the wings uncovered so they dry out.
The secret to crispy baked wings is baking powder. Make sure you’re using fresh, aluminum-free baking powder. Not baking soda! Otherwise, the wings will come out with a bitter, metallic aftertaste.
For Cajun/Creole seasoning, I like either Tony Chechere's or Slap Ya Mama. I always get the salt-free version so I can control the salt levels. If you're using the regular versions, leave the added salt out of the recipe!
If your air fryer is small like mine, you may need to work in batches. Just place the cooked wings on a wire rack and keep them warm at the lowest setting of your oven. Mine is 170°F (77°C).
For extra crispy wings, broil them skin side-up for 1-2 minutes. Just don’t broil them for too long, or the wings will dry out.
This recipe will make about 24 wings, depending on the size.
Serving: 1chicken wing, Calories: 60kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 18mg, Sodium: 70mg, Potassium: 43mg, Sugar: 1g, Calcium: 40mg, Iron: 1mg
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