Crispy BBQ Chicken Wings with Ranch (Printable)
Crispy wings glazed in tangy BBQ sauce, paired with creamy homemade ranch dressing. An easy crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.5 pounds chicken wings, separated at joints, tips removed
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
05 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
→ BBQ Sauce
07 - 0.5 cup barbecue sauce, gluten-free
08 - 1 tablespoon honey
09 - 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
→ Ranch Dressing
10 - 0.5 cup mayonnaise
11 - 0.25 cup sour cream
12 - 2 tablespoons buttermilk
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
14 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
15 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
16 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
17 - 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
18 - 0.25 teaspoon salt
19 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
20 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
→ Garnish and Serving
21 - Celery sticks
22 - Carrot sticks
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and position a wire rack on top.
02 - In a large bowl, toss chicken wings with olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until evenly coated.
03 - Arrange wings in a single layer on the wire rack. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crispy and golden brown.
04 - While wings bake, combine barbecue sauce, honey, and apple cider vinegar in a small saucepan over low heat. Warm and stir until smooth.
05 - Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, dill, chives, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, and lemon juice in a bowl. Refrigerate until serving.
06 - When wings are cooked, transfer to a large bowl and toss with warm BBQ sauce until well coated.
07 - Transfer wings to a serving platter and serve immediately with ranch dressing, celery sticks, and carrot sticks.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- These wings achieve that perfect balance of crispy exterior and juicy interior that even restaurant wings sometimes miss.
- The homemade ranch elevates everything, making store-bought versions seem like distant, pale imitations of the real thing.
02 -
- Overcrowding the baking sheet will steam your wings instead of crisping them, turning what should be a touchdown into a fumble.
- Heating the BBQ sauce slightly before tossing with wings helps it adhere better than applying cold sauce to hot wings.
03 -
- For truly spectacular wings, let them sit uncovered in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours after seasoning to dry the skin out even further before baking.
- Reserve a few tablespoons of the BBQ glaze to brush on just before serving for an extra layer of flavor and that appetizing shine that makes people reach for them first.