Easy Baked Chicken Wings

No mess, no fuss, no deep frying, this baked chicken wings recipe is almost too easy. Tossed only with salt before baking in a hot oven, the wings cook up golden and crispy. Enjoy them with one of our irresistible sauces. Each is made with three ingredients or fewer (we told you it’s easy!). Choose from spicy sriracha buffalo, tangy maple-mustard, or sweet-and-sour orange sauce made with sherry vinegar and brown sugar.

These wings always disappear fast, so double or even triple the recipe. They're perfect for entertaining and a must for game day; these homemade wings may well become a household favorite.

Key Tips for Crispy Baked Wings

Pat them dry: Just like when searing a piece of meat, it's important to pat these wings dry with paper towels before baking. It will speed up the browning process and help the fat to render as efficiently as possibly in the hot oven.

Skip the foil: While baking on a layer of foil or parchment makes for easier cleanup, we prefer to roast these wings directly on the baking sheet; the direct contact with the hot metal ensures the skin gets as crispy as possible for an almost-fried taste. If you'd rather not be left with a pan to scrub, line the baking sheet with foil—rather than parchment—before adding the wings.

2 More Ways to Sauce Your Wings

Our Sriracha Buffalo sauce is built into the recipe. It's an easy twist on the classic flavor profile, but for something less spicy, we've got two more homemade sauces that come together with ease:

Maple-Dijon: Sweet and tangy, our maple-Dijon sauce is honey mustard's grown-up sibling. To make it, whisk together 1/4 cup pure maple syrup and 3 tablespoons grainy Dijon mustard. Toss with wings and serve with lemon wedges.

Sweet-and-sour orange: This three-ingredient sauce requires a bit of simmering, but it's worth it for its punchy, complex flavor. First, combine 1 cup sherry vinegar and 1/3 cup light brown sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer, whisking to dissolve sugar, and cook until reduced to 1/4 cup. Meanwhile, cut one orange in half, then slice thinly into half moons. Pour hot sauce over wings and orange slices and toss well.