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These crispy Old Bay Wings are addictively delicious and yet simple to make. Drenched in brown butter and plenty of seasoning, they will keep you coming back for more!
This recipe for Old Bay Wings is my recreation of some of the best chicken wings I’ve ever had. It was at a restaurant in upstate New York, and I was hooked after the first bite.
I managed to corner the chef and ask him what made them so darn good. He was kind enough to share his secrets: a combination of browned butter and Old Bay seasoning.
I raved about them so much to my husband that he insisted we try it for ourselves. So I immediately got to work. I used my best tricks for making crispy keto chicken wings, and then played with the proportions until I got it just right.
You are going to be so glad I did!
Why you will love these wings
The original recipe, from Northstar restaurant in Ithaca, calls for smoking the wings. And while I do happen to own a smoker, I wanted to make a version that was accessible the average home cook. These Old Bay wings are definitely doable and worth doing at your first opportunity.
While seasoning chicken with Old Bay is nothing new, the addition of the brown butter makes this recipe extra special. And tossing the wings with baking powder allows you to get truly crispy skin in the oven. I use the same method for my Cajun Wings too.
The method is easy and results in succulent chicken that really is finger-licking good.
Reader Reviews
“These were great! So crisp and crunchy! Would have never thought of Old Bay on wings! Would make again for sure!” — Kelly
“I’ve made these three or four times now and I’m making them again tonight. Thanks, again, for providing such a simple and amazing recipe!” — Jessica
“These wings are AWESOME!!! The buttery goodness combined with the Old Bay… WOW! They were so easy to make too! They will be a regular on my weekly rotation!” — Caitlin K.
Ingredients you need
- Chicken wings: I made 3 pounds of wings for this recipe, but you could easily do more or less, depending on what you need. You can use fresh or frozen wings. If using frozen, make sure to thaw them completely.
- Baking powder: This is the secret to crispy oven-baked wings, and trust me it works!
- Butter: You are going to love the brown butter flavor in these wings! It also helps the seasoning stick to the wings.
- Old Bay Seasoning: Old Bay is a unique seasoning blend marketed by McCormick and usually used in seafood and poultry dishes. The main ingredients are celery salt and paprika.
Step-by-step directions
1. Dust the wings: Place half of the wings in a heavy duty ziploc back and sprinkle with half of the baking powder. Shake vigorously to coat, then place the wings on the prepared rack. Repeat with the remaining wings and the remaining baking powder.
2. Bake at low temp: Set a baking rack over a rimmed baking sheet and lightly grease the rack. Arrange the wings in a single layer on the rack and bake in the lower third of the oven for 30 minutes.
3. Increase the temp: Increase the oven temperature to 425ºF and move the baking sheet to the upper third of oven. Continue to bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, until crispy. You can flip them once if you like.
4. Brown the butter: In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the butter until it becomes a deep amber, 4 to 5 minutes. Watch carefully so it does not burn.
5. Season the wings: Transfer the wings to a bowl and pour the butter over. Toss to combine. Sprinkle with Old Bay to taste (it can get pretty salty so a light hand is best until you see how they taste).
Tips for success
Make sure you pat the wings VERY dry before adding the baking powder. Otherwise it clumps up and doesn’t dust the wings lightly as it should.
Make sure to get aluminum free baking powder, as the kind with aluminum can leave a metallic taste on your wings. And make sure you are using baking POWDER, and not baking SODA.
Don’t add salt to this recipe, since both baking powder and Old Bay include salt. Also make sure that you go lightly on the Old Bay seasoning and add after you taste.
Air-fryer method: The baking powder trick is one of the best ways to get truly crispy oven-baked wings. However, you can also get really crispy, delicious wings in an air fryer. Simply toss the wings with baking powder, and air fry for 20 to 25 minutes. You can follow the same instructions I use for my Pickle Brined Chicken Wings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store any leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge for 3 or 4 days. You can re-heat them in a warm oven, although they will never be quite as crispy as when they are freshly cooked.
Baking powder is slightly alkaline and it raises the pH levels on the chicken’s skin, allowing the proteins to break down more easily. It also reacts with the natural juices in the skin to form carbon dioxide, creating little bubbles that harden and crisp as it bakes.
As long as they aren’t breaded or have some sort of sugary sauce, most wing recipes are low in carbs. This Old Bay Wings recipe is very keto-friendly and has only 2g of carbs per serving!
What to serve with Old Bay Wings
This cauliflower potato salad recipe goes with all your grilling favorites. It’s creamy, flavorful, and packed with classic potato salad ingredients. You won’t miss the spuds with this perfect keto side dish.
This easy Feta Dressing has almost 0 carbs per serving! So tangy and delicious, you will want to pour it all over everything. It’s a great way to jazz up your summer salads.
It doesn’t get any easier than these delicious keto cucumber appetizers! Fresh cucumber slices with cream cheese and everything bagel seasoning. The perfect low carb snack for hot summer days.
Old Bay Wings Recipe
These crispy Old Bay Wings are addictively delicious and yet simple to make. Drenched in brown butter and plenty of seasoning, they will keep you coming back for more!
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 327kcal
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 250ºF and place a baking rack over a rimmed baking sheet. Lightly grease the baking rack.
-
Pat the wings very dry. Place half of the wings in a heavy duty ziploc back and sprinkle with half of the baking powder. Shake vigorously to coat, then place the wings on the prepared rack. Repeat with the remaining wings and the remaining baking powder.
-
Arrange the wings in a single layer on the rack and bake in the lower third of the oven for 30 minutes.
-
Increase the oven temperature to 425ºF and move the baking sheet to the upper third of oven. Continue to bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, until crispy. You can flip them once if you like.
-
In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook the butter until it becomes a deep amber, 4 to 5 minutes. Watch carefully so it does not burn.
-
Transfer the wings to a bowl and pour the butter over. Toss to combine. Sprinkle with Old Bay to taste (it can get pretty salty so a light hand is best until you see how they taste).
Notes
Storage Information: Store any leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge for 3 or 4 days. You can re-heat them in a warm oven, although they will never be quite as crispy as when they are freshly cooked.
Nutrition Facts
Old Bay Wings Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 half pound wings)
Calories 327
Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 9g45%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 0.1g0%
Protein 23g46%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
