Incredible Dry Rub Chicken Wings Recipe
Looking for THE BEST dry rub chicken wings recipe? Well, here it is! Our homemade dry rub combines 10 spices to create the perfect combination for chicken wings. Add the seasoning blend to your wings and follow the air fryer recipe below for the perfect crispy outside, juicy inside air fryer chicken wings you’ll ever taste.
Total Servings: 3
Total Cost: $34.50
Cost Per Serving: $11.50
Table of Contents
1.5 lb chicken wings (approx. 12) ($12.58)
1 tbsp paprika ($1.12)
1/2 tbsp onion powder ($1.12)
3/4 tsp chili powder ($1.12)
3/4 tsp cumin ($1.28)
1/2 tsp garlic powder ($1.12)
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper ($3.77)
1/2 tsp dried mustard powder ($4.73)
1/4 tsp dried oregano ($2.42)
1/2 tbsp kosher salt ($2.12)
1/4 tsp pepper ($3.12)
Want ALL the Recipes?
Enter your email below to join our Weekly Roundup and receive one convenient email per week with every new recipe that’s added to the site.
*Food costs may vary and can change over time. The prices listed were the current prices of these ingredients when this recipe was made at the time of this post. Almost all our ingredients are purchased from Walmart as we live in a small town without any other options. If you notice a significant price difference, please let us know at hello@freshgains.com so we can update this post.
FAQs About This Dry Rub Chicken Wings Recipe
Can I add sauce to these wings?
Yes, you can add sauce to these dry rub chicken wings. I recommend tossing the wings in your favorite wing sauce quickly after they’re removed from the air fryer. When saucing these wings, I usually go with medium sauce from Buffalo Wild Wings or Stubb’s Original BBQ Sauce.
I don’t have an air fryer, how else can I cook these chicken wings?
If you don’t have an air fryer, you can cook these dry rub wings in the oven. Follow the directions below, but instead of using an air fryer you’ll cook these wings by preheating the oven to 400°F and cooking them for about 40 minutes. Then switch the oven to broil and move the wings to the top rack for 3 to 5 minutes. Broiling the wings crisp the outside of the wings perfectly.
What pairs well with these wings?
Traditional wing sides are a great option for these wings – chopped celery and baby carrots served with ranch. If you’re looking for something more filling to complement these wings, go with mac and cheese, fries, onion rings, nachos or jalapeno poppers.
How should I store these wings in the fridge?
If you have leftovers, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, when stored in an airtight container. To reheat the wings, you can use an air fryer at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes or microwave them.
Why do you dry the wings with a paper towel?
You may think that patting the wings dry with a paper towel will dry them out, but it really allows the outside of the wings to become crispy while locking the moisture inside the wings. Patting the wings dry is a crucial step to making the perfect wings.
Can I prep this wing recipe in advance?
Yes! You can prep this recipe up to 24 hours in advance. Just pat dry the wings and add the dry rub. Once the dry rub is added, you can store these wings in the refrigerator and cook them within 24 hours.
Tips to Make Incredible Dry Rub Wings
Go heavy on the seasoning: When making dry rub chicken wings, you’ll probably want to go heavy on the seasoning. The dry rub essentially creates a crust around the meat which enhances the flavor without using a liquid sauce or marinade. If you aren’t adding an additional sauce or marinade, you’ll want to make sure the wings are covered in dry rub.
Split the wings before cooking: Where you buy your wings will determine if this is necessary. I cook chicken wings quite a bit, and none of the grocery stores near me sell separated wings. They only sell whole wings where the drum and wing are in one piece and must be separated by cutting the joint between the two. If you buy whole wings, don’t worry… just be prepared to slice them with a sharp knife to separate the drums and flats before cooking.
Use this dry rub for other meals: If you love this dry rub as much as I do, you’ll want to use it for other meals. It can be used on chicken tenders, chicken breasts or chicken thighs. So, don’t limit yourself to wings!
Fresh wings over frozen: If possible, use fresh wings for this recipe. However, if frozen wings are your only option, be sure to allow them to completely thaw before cooking. This will help the dry rub adhere to the chicken wing while producing a flavor and texture that is closer to fresh wings than what you’ll get from air frying wings directly from frozen.
Incredible Dry Rub Chicken Wings Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken wings cut into drums and flats
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1/2 tbsp onion powder
- 3/4 tsp chili powder
- 3/4 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp dried mustard powder
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tbsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Instructions
- Cut to separate the drums and flats, if necessary.
- Dry wings with a paper towel if you prefer crispier wings.
- Preheat air fryer to 300ºF.
- In a small bowl (or an empty seasoning bottle), combine the paprika, onion powder, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, mustard powder, dried oregano, salt and pepper.
- Season all sides of the wings with the seasoning blend. I lay the wings on a cutting board for this.
- Once preheated, add wings to air fryer. Ensure the wings aren’t touching or overlapping. Cook in batches, if necessary.
- Cook for 10 minutes.
- Increase air fryer temperature to 400ºF. Cook for 5 additional minutes, or until the internal temperature of the wings reaches 165ºF.
