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Ready in 5 minutes, this sweet-and-savory chicken wing seasoning delivers bold, yet balanced flavor to any recipe for wings! Savory yet sweet, it's ideal for all wings recipes. You'll relish every bite!
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It's chicken wing season! Okay, to be fair - every season is chicken wing season in my house. I just can't get enough of them. Whether I'm firing up smoked chicken wings, tossing buffalo wings in the oven, or letting BBQ wings slow-cook to perfection, they're a go-to meal I make all the time.
Over the years, I've tried plenty of different wing seasonings, and I've tweaked more than a few along the way. But this one? This is the chicken wing seasoning I keep coming back to. It's the perfect blend of sweet and savory, with just the right amount of kick, and it sticks to the wings beautifully no matter how you cook them.
The secret is in the combination: sweet paprika, brown sugar, onion flakes, salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, and mustard powder. It's bold, balanced, and comes together in just minutes!
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.
Isabel's Top Tips for Making Chicken Wing Seasoning
- 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.
- 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 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 to Pair With This Seasoning
No chicken wing recipe is complete without a variety of dips!
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!
I keep a batch of this dry rub on hand at all times, especially for last-minute wing nights or weekend cookouts. 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!
Chicken Wing Seasoning
Video
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.
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!