Lynn's Baked Chicken Wings



Baked Chicken Wings is my friend, Lynn's, favorite family quick meal.  The quality of the chicken wings that you buy is extremely critical to this recipe.  This meal takes just a little planning because you need to have some thawed chicken wings, but it is extremely quick and easy to make.  Serve with a side of quinoa with almonds and celery or a salad.  Leftovers (if you should happen to have any!) are great reheated or cold.

When I asked Lynn about her favorite "30-minute or less meal" was this is what she said, "This is one of my family’s fun meals, the recipe that I make when I am tired or short on time.  It is also one of our favorite meals, our version of “Friday Night Pizza”.  I serve it with oven baked fries.  There are two secrets to this recipe: 1) Purchase good quality wings from Whole Foods or a local ranch  (do not use grocery store wings as the flavor will not be the same) and 2) Remember to thaw the wings ahead of time (to quickly thaw if you have forgotten, you can place them in a ziploc bag and soak in a sinkful of water for a couple of hours)."

Ingredients:

3 pounds of good quality chicken wings  (this amount will feed 5 adults)

Toss 3 pounds of chicken wings, patted dry with a paper towel, with the following:

2 Tbl dehydrated onions

2 Tbl dehydrated garlic (6 crushed garlic cloves – as many as a head!)
2 Tbl paprika (or 1 Tbl paprika, 1 Tbl smoked paprika)
¼ tsp chili powder (or Lynn uses 1 or 2 tsp of crushed chili peppers - they like things spicy)
2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper

Mix dry spices together in a large bowl.  Pat dry the chicken wings with a paper towel and place in bowl with spices.  Toss until chicken wings are well coated.  Let rest for a few minutes, if in a hurry, to a few hours to marinade (place in the refrigerator).

Lay the wings next to each other on parchment paper on a cookie sheet,  spaced about 1” apart.  Bake at 425 F for 30-40 minutes, until cooked golden and crisp.