Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper Chicken Wings
These crispy sea salt and cracked pepper chicken wings are possibly the best wings you’ll ever make. Juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and loaded with bold peppery garlic flavor, they’re perfect because you can dress them up with your favorite sauce—making them a guaranteed crowd favorite for game day, parties, or an easy family dinner.
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl – for tossing the wings evenly with sesame oil, garlic, and seasoning. You want enough space so everything coats properly without getting messy.
- Baking sheet (large sheet pan) – this is where the wings get that golden, crispy finish in the oven. A heavier pan helps them brown more evenly.
- Aluminum foil or parchment paper – makes cleanup way easier, especially with garlic and pepper drippings.
- Cooking spray or oil brush – just a light coat so the wings don’t stick and crisp up nicely underneath.
- Paper towels – simple but important. Drying the wings well is key for getting that crispy skin instead of soggy baked wings.
- Tongs or spatula – for flipping the wings halfway through baking so they cook evenly on both sides.
- Meat thermometer (optional but helpful) – makes sure the wings hit 165°F inside so they’re perfectly cooked, juicy, and safe to eat.
- Wire rack (optional upgrade) – if you have one, placing it on the sheet pan helps air circulate and gives even crispier oven baked chicken wings.
Ingredients
- 24 chicken wings assorted
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1-2 garlic cloves finely minced
- 1½ tsp sea salt
- 2½ tsp black pepper coarse cracked
- Optional: pinch of white pepper for extra flavor
Instructions
Oven Method
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly grease or spray with cooking spray.
- Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture (this helps them crisp up).
- In a large bowl, toss wings with sesame oil, minced garlic, sea salt, cracked black pepper, and white pepper (if using).
- Arrange wings in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each piece.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
- Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serve hot with an extra sprinkle of cracked pepper if desired.
Optional Grill Method
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- Grill wings for 20–25 minutes, turning occasionally, until crispy and cooked through (165°F internal temperature).
For the best crispy oven baked chicken wings, pat the wings completely dry and let them sit uncovered in the fridge for 1–3 hours before baking. This simple step removes extra moisture from the skin, which helps them roast up golden, crispy, and restaurant-style instead of soft or soggy. It’s one of those small easy chicken wing cooking tips that makes a huge difference in texture every time.
Notes
- For the best crispy baked chicken wings recipe, always start by patting the wings very dry—this helps the skin crisp up instead of steaming in the oven.
- Letting the wings rest uncovered in the fridge for 1–3 hours is a simple restaurant-style chicken wing trick that improves texture and gives extra crunch.
- Coarse cracked black pepper is key for bold flavour—fine pepper won’t give the same strong, peppery bite in this oven baked chicken wings recipe.
- Sesame oil adds a light depth of flavour, but don’t overdo it or the wings can turn greasy instead of crispy.
- For even cooking, make sure the wings are spaced out on the pan—crowding leads to softer skin.
- Flipping halfway through baking helps achieve evenly browned, golden crispy chicken wings in the oven.
- For extra crunch, bake on a wire rack so air circulates underneath the wings.
- These wings are naturally delicious on their own, but they also pair well with sauces like buffalo, BBQ, or garlic butter for easy party chicken wings.
- Always check internal temperature reaches 165°F for perfectly cooked, juicy family-friendly chicken wings.
- These wings taste best fresh out of the oven, but they still reheat well in the oven or air fryer to bring back crispiness.
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 653kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 53gFat: 47gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 19gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 222mgSodium: 1083mgPotassium: 470mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 0.01gVitamin A: 431IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 3mg
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