Garlic Parmesan Wings

by KetoFocus.com

Cheesy, crispy wings to eat with your fingers

5 Stars (1 Reviews)
Air FryerCarnivoreEgg FreeNut Free

Indulge in these irresistibly crispy and juicy Garlic Parmesan Wings. Boasting with the perfect mix of cheese and garlicky flavor, these party wings are easily prepared in an air-fryer or oven making them a welcome choice for any occasion.

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Nutrition Facts

6

Servings

392

Calories

28.7g

Fat

26.9g

Protein

2.1g

Net Carb

2.3g

Total Carbs

For a unique twist on the classic party wing, garlic parmesan wings are the perfect combination of crispy, juicy flavor. With flavors reminiscent from the restaurant known for its wild combination of wings, get that Buffalo Wild Wings taste you can make in your own kitchen!

A plate filled with party wings coated with minced parsley and grated parmesan cheese next to garlic cloves and ranch dressing.

Each wingette and drumette are tossed with a mixture of baking powder, salt, garlic powder and black pepper, which not only enhances their taste but also creates that perfect crispy texture. While salt helps to draw the moisture out of the chicken skin, the baking powder helps to brown and crisp the skin as they bake. 

To transform these party wings out of their birthday suit and into their savory party attire, a rich garlic butter sauce is brushed all over. The sauce is made with freshly minced garlic, melted butter, grated parmesan cheese, and a touch of salt.

When it comes to preparation, this recipe is incredibly user-friendly, offering both air-fryer and oven-baking options. It’s easy to achieve an even crispiness that rivals deep-fried wings when using an air fryer. But you can get that same crispy, crunchy texture with oven baked wings by using a wire rack placed over a baking tray. The method of brushing the wings with the buttery garlic mixture partway through the cooking process guarantees maximum flavor absorption while still maintaining the desired crispiness. This way your garlic parmesan wings won’t get soggy which can happen if you simply add all the sauce after baking.

Whether it’s game night, your hosting a casual get together or you just need a simple meal your family will love, these wings with garlic parmesan sauce will be a hit!

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How to make garlic parmesan wings

  1. Coat the wings in a mixture of baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Remember to pat dry the wings first – moisture is not your friend when it comes to crispy chicken skin.
  2. Bake them on a wire rack at 450°F for 15 minutes.
  3. Prepare a buttery garlic mixture with minced garlic, melted butter, parmesan cheese, and salt while the chicken wings are baking or air frying.
  4. Brush the wings with the garlic mixture, flip, and bake for another 10-12 minutes until crispy.
  5. Toss the cooked wings in the remaining garlic butter mixture. For extra crispy wings, pop the baking sheet under the broiler and broil on high for 1-2 minutes. 
  6. Garnish with freshly minced parsley and more grated parmesan if desired.

Garlic Parmesan Wings Recipe Video

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Garlic Parmesan Wings Ingredients

  • 2 ½ pounds party chicken wings
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons minced parsley

Garlic Parmesan Wings Directions

  • STEP
    1

    Prepare wings & preheat oven

    Preheat oven to 450 °F. Pat wings dry with a paper towel. Then transfer wings to a large bowl. Set aside.

    Ingredients

    • 2 ½ pounds party chicken wings (wingettes & drumettes)

    A hand patting wings with a folded paper towel.
    Quick Tip
    For ultra crispy wings, place wings on a wire rack over baking tray after patting dry. The refrigerate overnight. This will help to dry out the skin even more.
  • STEP
    2

    Mix special ingredients for a crispy, crunchy wing

    In a small bowl, combine baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, garlic powder and black pepper.

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper

    A small clear bowl with a white baking powder mixture inside. A slice parmesan sits nearby.
  • STEP
    3

    Toss the wings

    Sprinkle about of the baking powder mixture on the wings and toss or stir. Sprinkle remaining and toss again until evenly coated.

    Hands tossing a bowl with wings.
  • STEP
    4

    Initial bake

    Cover a baking tray with foil and place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet. Spray rack with cooking spray in order to keep the skin of the wings from sticking to the rack. Evenly space wings on top of the wire rack. Bake at 450 °F for 15 minutes.

    Chicken wings sit on a wire rack over a foil lined baking tray.
  • STEP
    5

    Prepare garlic parmesan sauce

    Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine minced garlic with melted butter, parmesan cheese and remaining ½ teaspoon of salt. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of mixture for the final toss.

    Ingredients

    • 6 cloves garlic, minced
    • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
    • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    A small bowl with melted butter, minced garlic and shredded parmesan next to cloves of garlic.
  • STEP
    6

    Add flavor and bake again

    Remove tray from the oven. Brush the tops of the wings with butter garlic mixture. Flip wings over (so the other side will get crispy) and brush with garlic butter mixture all over each wing. Return to the oven to bake for another 10-12 minutes or until cooked through and crispy.

    Wings coated with garlic parmesan butter on a baking tray.
  • STEP
    7

    Final toss

    Remove from oven. Transfer wings to a large bowl. Pour on reserved garlic butter mixture and toss. Sprinkle with minced parsley and dust with extra parmesan if desired.

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons minced parsley

    Golden crispy wings in a large glass bowl with minced parsley.
    Quick Tip
    For ultra crispy wings, returned coated wings to the baking tray and place under the broiler. Broil on high for additional 1-2 minutes until crispy and golden.
  • STEP
    8

    Air fryer instructions

    Preheat the air fryer to 400 ºF, when hot add a single layer of evenly spaced wings coated with baking powder mixture (making sure wings are not touching to allow for even air circulation). Bake for 16-22 minutes depending on their size, flipping the wings around the halfway mark and brushing with first coating of garlic parmesan mixture. After air frying, toss with remaining buttery garlic parm mixture.

    An air fryer set to 400 degrees.
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  • Garlic Parmesan Wings
    • Crispy party wings on a white plate next to a clove of garlic.

    Types of party wings

    Party wings are parts of chicken wings that have been separated into two smaller, more manageable pieces called wingettes (also known as flats) and drumettes.

    Wingettes, or flats, are from the middle part of the chicken wing. They consist of two parallel bones and have a flatter appearance. They have a decent amount of meat and a good skin-to-meat ratio, which makes them popular for frying and baking.

    Drumettes  are a favorite as they resemble small drumsticks. They are from the section of the wing that is attached to the main part of the chicken. Similar to a drumstick, they have a single, larger bone and a slightly more substantial amount of meat compared to wingettes. Drumettes are also popular for various cooking methods and have a meatier texture that many people prefer.

    How to get crispy chicken wings

    To get the crispiest, crunchiest wings, make sure you implement these tips:

    • Pat the wings dry. Removing excess moisture from the party wings with a paper towel will help the chicken skin get crispy while baking or air frying.
    • Let wings dry overnight. Placing in the refrigerator overnight, will help evaporate excess moisture from the skin, especially if the wings are salted prior to placing them in the refrigerator.
    • Use an crisping agent like baking powder, baking soda or cornstarch. These help to create a textured surface that gets crispy when baked or air-fried.
    • Avoid overcrowding. Space the wings out evenly on the wire rack or air fryer basket, making sure they don’t touch. This allows for the best air circulation and even cooking.
    • Cook at a high temperature. Baking the wings around 400°F to 450°F is best as it helps to render the fat and crisp up the skin.
    • Use a wire rack. This elevates the wings to allow for the hot air to circulate underneath and all around them if baking wings in the oven. Making air fryer wings, the air fryer’s design already allows this so no further elevation is required.
    • Turn halfway through. Flipping the baked chicken wings halfway through cooking will ensure both sides cook evenly and get crispy.
    A pile of golden crispy wings on a plate next to ranch dressing and topped with parsley.

    Dipping sauces

    Although these garlic parmesan wings are delicious by themselves and don’t necessary need a sauce to go with them, here are some dipping sauces that pair nicely.

    Can I bake chicken wings from frozen?

    It is possible to bake party wings directly from frozen, it is not the best method as baking wings from frozen might cause uneven cooking and less crispy skin. However, if you must bake them from frozen, follow these steps:

    1. Evenly space frozen wings on the wire rack over a foiled lined baking sheet.
    2. Set oven temperature to 450°F.
    3. Place baking tray in the oven right away before it reaches the set temperature. This will help the wings to slowly defrost as the oven comes to temperature.
    4. Bake for 50 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the meat is 160°F.
    5. Remove, toss with garlic parmesan sauce.
    6. Return to the oven under the broiler and broil for 1-3 minutes until crispy.

    Storage information

    Refrigerator

    Once cooked, the parmesan wings can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Store in an air tight container or tightly wrapped in foil or plastic ziploc bag.

    To reheat in the air fryer, place in the wings in the basket and air fry at 350°F for 3-5 minutes or until crispy and warmed. To reheat in the oven, place the chicken wings on a baking tray and bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes or until skin is crispy and chicken wings are heated through.

    Freezer

    Garlic parmesan wings can be frozen after cooking. It’s best to flash freeze them on a plate or baking tray for 1-2 hours in the oven to ensure they don’t stick together in a giant clump once frozen. Then place in an air tight container or freezer safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. 

    Garlic Parmesan Wings: FAQS

    What is the purpose of using baking powder in this recipe?

    The purpose of using baking powder in chicken wing recipes is to help create a crispy and crunchy exterior on the wingettes and drumettes. Baking powder, when combined with the other dry ingredients and coated on the wings, reacts with the moisture and heat during baking. This reaction forms tiny air bubbles, which lift and expand, creating a textured surface on the chicken skin. This texture allows for better heat distribution and increased crispiness without the need for deep frying or air frying.

    What else can I use besides baking powder in order to make wings crispy?

    Besides baking powder, using cornstarch and baking soda are other popular special ingredients that can create a crispier wing compared to baking uncoated.

    How do I know when the wings are cooked through and safe to eat?

    To check if the wings are cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check their internal temperature. The wings are fully cooked and safe to consume when the thickest part of the meat, without touching the bone, reaches an internal temperature of 165°F). At this point, the party wings should have a golden brown and crispy exterior, and the juices should run clear when the meat is pierced with a fork or knife.

    Nutritional information & Macros

    Nutrition Information

    Garlic Parmesan Wings

    Servings: 6

    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 392
    Fat 28.7g
    Protein 26.9g
    Total Carbs 2.3g
    Net Carbs 2.1g

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    1 Comment

    1. My partner and I are wing fanatics. These were so crispy and juicy. Served them at our little get together to watch the chiefs game last night and everyone loved them.

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