Description
These Cajun Spiced Chicken Wings are a flavorful and crispy appetizer perfect for game days or casual gatherings. Coated in a blend of bold Cajun spices and baked to golden perfection, these wings are tasty, easy to prepare, and served with your choice of ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Wings
- 2 pounds chicken wings
Spice Mix & Coating
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
Garnish & Serving
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing (for dipping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil for easy cleanup.
- Prepare Wings: Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. This step is crucial to achieving crispy skin during baking.
- Make Spice Mixture: In a large bowl, combine olive oil, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to create a flavorful spice blend.
- Coat Wings: Add the dried chicken wings to the bowl and toss thoroughly to ensure each wing is evenly coated with the spice mixture.
- Arrange Wings: Lay the wings out in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they are not overlapping to promote even cooking and crispiness.
- Bake Wings: Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, flipping the wings halfway through the cooking time to brown both sides evenly. Bake until the wings are golden brown and crispy.
- Rest Wings: Remove the wings from the oven and allow them to cool slightly for a few minutes to let the juices redistribute and avoid burning your fingers.
- Garnish: Sprinkle the wings with chopped fresh parsley to add a burst of color and freshness.
- Serve: Serve the Cajun spiced chicken wings hot with ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Adjust the cayenne pepper based on your preferred spice level; omit if you prefer mild wings.
- Patting the wings dry is essential for crispy skin; do not skip this step.
- Turning the wings halfway through baking ensures even crispiness on all sides.
- For extra crispiness, you can broil the wings for 2-3 minutes at the end of baking, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve with celery sticks for a classic accompaniment.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cajun chicken wings, baked chicken wings, spicy chicken wings, appetizer, game day recipe, easy chicken wings
