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Make the perfect seasoning for chicken wings in just 5 minutes! My Chicken Wing Seasoning recipe balances sweet and savory for a flavor ideal for baking, air frying, or slow-cooking wings. You'll relish every bite!
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Wing Seasoning
It's chicken wing season! Okay, to be honest: in my household, it is always the right time to make chicken wings. I just cannot get enough, whether that means making smoked chicken wings, baked buffalo wings, or slow cooker BBQ wings.
Over the years, I've tried plenty of different chicken wing seasonings. Hands down, this is my favorite one! Complete with sweet paprika, brown sugar, onion flakes, salt, black pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, and mustard powder, this chicken wing rub is intensely flavorful and sticks to wings very well.
Seasoning for Chicken Wings Ingredients
- Sweet paprika
- Brown sugar
- Onion flakes
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
- Garlic powder
- Mustard powder
Sweet paprika, or simply regular paprika, has a different flavor profile than smoked paprika. I do not recommend substituting sweet paprika for smoked, as the flavor will not be the same and may become unbalanced.
Depending on how much spice you like for your wings, you can adjust the level of cayenne used.
How to Season Chicken Wings
- Mix sweet paprika, brown sugar, onion flakes, salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, and mustard powder in a bowl.
- Toss chicken wings in seasoning to coat.
- If you want to pair this seasoning mix with a BBQ sauce, reserve ¼ cup of the spices and set aside to mix with the sauce. Brush or this over the wings (depending on cooking method) before cooking.
This recipe is sure to kick your game-day appetizer into gear!
Tips for Seasoning Chicken Wings
- This spice blend for wings makes enough for 3 pounds of chicken wings. If you're unsure how many wings you need per person, see my guide on How to Cut Chicken Wings, and adjust as necessary.
- Check what temperature wings should be cooked to, see my guide on Chicken Temperature Chart. Make sure to pick up an Instant Read Meat Thermometer.
- You can use this recipe to bake chicken wings or slow cooker chicken wings. I honestly think this is the best seasoning for buffalo wings ever!
- Use a paper towel to pat dry the chicken wings before seasoning them. It will stick to the chicken better and help it further crisp up.
How to Store Wing Seasoning
- Use an airtight container with a tight lid.
- Store it in a cool, dry place like a pantry.
- Label the container with the name and date.
- Seal the container tightly after use.
- Check for freshness periodically and replace it if it smells or looks odd.
Chicken Wing Dipping Sauces
No chicken wing recipe is complete without a variety of dips!
Try my Lemon Pepper Seasoning next!
FAQ
Chicken wings pair well with a mix of sweet-and-savory spices, such as sweet paprika and brown sugar mixed with cayenne, garlic powder, and mustard powder. Brown sugar helps tenderize meat, so it's a great choice to dry rub chicken wings along with a balance of savory spices.
You can cook chicken wings whole, but if you have whole wings and want to cut them, it's easy to do so at home with barely any effort. Use my guide on How to Cut Chicken Wings to learn how to cut wings into three separate pieces and get the most out of your wings.
Chicken Wings Recipes
- Fried Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings with Lemon Pepper Seasoning
- Slow Cooker Chicken Wings
- Baked Chicken Wings - My favorite buffalo wings. This is such a good hot wings seasoning!
- Instant Pot Chicken Wings
Try my My Essential Chili Seasoning Mix next!
Trust me when I say you will be going back for seconds if you make wings with my chicken wing dry rub recipe. Best yet, you can use it for more than just wings, too. Try it on chicken breast, chicken thighs, or even pork! Let me show you how to season chicken wings, and I know you'll love every bite as much as I do!
Chicken Wing Seasoning
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons sweet paprika
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons onion flakes
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1½ teaspoons cayenne
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Mix sweet paprika, brown sugar, onion flakes, salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, and mustard powder in a bowl.3 Tablespoons sweet paprika,2 Tablespoons brown sugar,2 teaspoons onion flakes,1½ teaspoons salt,1½ teaspoons cayenne,1 teaspoon garlic powder,1 teaspoon mustard powder,½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Toss chicken wings in seasoning to coat.
- If you want to pair this seasoning mix with a BBQ sauce, reserve ¼ cup of the spices and set aside to mix with the sauce. Brush or this over the wings (depending on cooking method) before cooking.
Notes
- This spice blend for wings makes enough for 3 pounds of chicken wings as-is. If you're not sure how many wings you need per person, see my guide on How to Cut Chicken Wings, and adjust as necessary.
- If you're not familiar with the temperature wings should be cooked to, see my guide on Chicken Temperature Chart and make sure to pick up an Instant Read Meat Thermometer.
- You can use this recipe to bake chicken wings, or to make them in the air fryer oven or slow cooker.
- Use a paper towel to pat dry the chicken wings before seasoning them. It will stick to the chicken better that way, and help them further crisp up.
Lal Fernando says
I must try this. It seems very nice
Isabel Laessig says
It adds so much flavor, Lal! I hope you enjoy it!
Rose tee says
Can I marinate these wings in the refrigerator after coding them with the spice rub?
Em Beitel says
Absolutely, Rose! You can leave them marinating in the fridge up to overnight if you like.
Catherine Olson says
This recipe looks yummy, but can you give tips on best way to cook? They don't have any oil so is the fat and skin on the wing enough for that? What temp and for how long in oven?
Thanks!
Isabel Laessig says
Hi Catherine! Of course! For baked wings I recommend following my Chicken Wings Recipe. I have other wings recipes too, if you would prefer to cook them another way. Let me know if you have any questions - feel free to send an email!