These Salt-And-Pepper Chicken Wings have simple seasonings but spectacular flavors.
Whether you’re cooking a weeknight dinner or a big game-day feast, simplicity in the kitchen is your best friend. I know that sometimes we want to make magnificent meals that make our friends’ jaws drop, but it’s hard to find the time, energy, and motivation for such complex culinary creations.
The good news is that plenty of crowd-pleasers only call for a few ingredients. While it can be tempting to add a ton of spices and sauces for extra punch, straightforward recipes often give our palates a chance to savor more natural flavors.
Take salt-and-pepper wings as an example. This mouthwatering meal solely relies on the classic combo of (you guessed it!) salt and pepper to bring out the best in chicken. But don’t worry if that sounds too bland for your taste buds because this recipe is an awesome way to appreciate all your favorite dipping sauces!
Are Salt-And-Pepper Chicken Wings Healthy?
A large part of whether chicken wings are “healthy” depends on how you prepare them and what you serve them with. For instance, if you choose to leave the skin on your chicken wings, it will add not only flavor, but also fat. Similarly, deep-frying wings is typically considered the least healthy (and most messy!) cooking method, while baking and air-frying are lighter alternatives.
These skin-on, bone-in wings are tossed with a small amount of olive oil (which contains heart-healthy fats!), salt, and pepper, and then they’re baked in the oven. The largest factor to consider is what kind of sauce you’ll be dipping them in. Depending on what you choose, dipping sauces can be high in fat, calories, sodium, and sugar, so check out the nutrition facts accordingly.
The Benefits Of Using Kosher Salt
You may have noticed that this recipe calls for kosher salt, and perhaps you’re wondering why that is. Kosher salt has larger, flakier grains versus table salt, which makes it easier to measure and distribute evenly all across your chicken wings. Many foodies also claim that kosher salt has a cleaner, milder taste thanks to its lack of additives and refining process. The purity of kosher salt, mixed with its reliably large grain size, typically gives it a pleasant and more consistent flavor profile.
That said, there’s no law saying you have to use kosher salt in your recipe. A few different kinds of salt work well as alternatives. For example, sea salt offers similarly large flakes and a pure taste reminiscent of kosher salt.
How To Make Ahead And Store
Feel like getting your wings ready a few days ahead of time? Maybe you’ve got some leftovers after a satisfying dinner? If so, pop your cooked wings in an airtight container and leave them in the fridge for up to 4 days. You could even freeze your salt-and-pepper wings in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
Salt-and-pepper wings are a brilliant blank canvas if you’re a dipping sauce connoisseur. Why not use them to explore many different dips by making little bowls of different sauces to try? You could even add fun to your feast by making a few mystery flavors and getting friends or family to guess them.
Blue cheese and Homemade Ranch Dressing are classic options, but there are plenty of other sweet, savory, and spicy sauces to add to your serving dish. A few other fan favorites you could whip up at home include Chipotle Aioli, BBQ Sauce, and Buffalo Sauce, but don’t let this short list stop you from creating some flavor combinations of your own.
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon green onions chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken wings with olive oil, salt, and pepper until they are evenly coated.
- Arrange the wings on a baking sheet in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching for even cooking.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then flip the wings and continue baking for another 15 minutes or until they are golden brown and the skin is crispy.
- Remove the wings from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with chopped green onions before serving.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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