Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

Skip the deep frying and make these Easy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings that are baked in the oven for a healthy recipe that still has super crispy skin! Chicken wing portions are tossed in lemon juice, seasonings, cornstarch, and Parmesan cheese and then baked on a wire rack until golden brown and crunchy. Serve this crowd-pleasing football appetizer for your next Super Bowl or game day party!

Crispy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings Recipe

This Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wing recipe is the first wing recipe I ever made.

I then adapted it into these Buffalo Chicken Wings, Lemon Pepper Wings, and Thai Chicken Wings. And then I discovered the magic of Air Fryer Chicken Wings.

I’m a big fan of wings. I’m not, however, a big fan of deep frying things.

Enter a secret ingredient that ensures crispy BAKED wings every time. And you don’t need a ton of oil!

And the best part about making them for the big game day or for a party? They’re super easy to meal prep ahead so you don’t miss a minute of the fun.

Ingredients

• Wing Portions. You’ll need roughly 2 pounds of drumettes and wingettes. Drumettes look like a drumstick, have the most white meat, and the highest meat to skin ratio. Wingettes, or flats, are composed of two bones, have more dark meat, and slightly less meat to skin than drummettes. Most stores normally have both wingettes and drumettes already cut and prepared in the meat section. If not, you can grab whole wings and learn How to Cut Chicken Wings at home.
• Garlic. Fresh garlic is best since it is full of the most flavor. Garlic powder can be substituted but will not give you nearly the same taste.
• Parmesan Cheese. You need finely grated fresh Parmesan so it can evenly coat the wings. Shredded will be too big.
• Lemon Juice. Freshly squeezed lemon juice or lime juice may be used.
• Oil. Since you are baking at a high temperature, make sure to choose a high smoke point oil such as avocado oil. Canola, safflower, or grapeseed oil are also good options. Olive oil will work if it’s all you have.
• Cornstarch. This key ingredient for crispy wings is this starchy component. Tapioca starch or arrowroot starch are other grain-free alternatives. You can also swap it out for baking powder (not soda!). Just make sure you cut the amount in the recipe by half.

How to Make Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.

1. Mix Wings in Sauce

Measure the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, both peppers, and salt into a large bowl. Use a whisk to mix the ingredients together until a slightly thick sauce forms.

Add the wing portions to the bowl and toss until they are completely covered. This is what will make the cornstarch stick so be sure to coat each one.

2. Add Starch and Parmesan

Sprinkle the cornstarch all over the wings and mix again so they are all coated evenly. You can also dust just a little at a time and stir before adding more. This part is SUPER important. The starch helps give them their crunchy and extra crispy skin! So even if you’re on a keto or low-carb diet… don’t skip this step! 

Cover them in grated Parmesan cheese and toss to combine. Once again, feel free to add a little at a time so all of the wings are evenly coated.

3. Bake on Wire Rack in Oven

Place a wire rack on top of a rimmed large baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. It is best if you use a wire rack with lines running in only one direction. The criss-crossed lines are much more challenging to clean! You can give the rack a quick spritz of nonstick cooking spray to help cleanup.

Arrange the wings in a single layer on the wire rack making sure none of the wings touch so the heat can reach all sides. You want the wings skin side-down since they’ll be flipped halfway through ending with the skin side-up.

Alternatively, you can bake the wings directly on a piece of parchment paper, but they won’t get nearly as crispy!

Bake the wings for a total of 40-45 minutes in a preheated 400°F oven. Use tongs to carefully flip the wings over halfway through, then continue baking for the remaining time.

4. Sauces to Serve with Wings

Garnish this crispy dish with a little extra Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley.

And while these baked garlic chicken wings definitely taste incredible on their own…

You can really take them over-the-top by serving with a side of celery and a few of these dip and sauce ideas:

• Ranch Dressing – definitely the most popular!
• Blue Cheese Dressing
• Italian Dressing
• Marinara Sauce

FAQs

Other Baked Chicken Wings Recipe

Once you know the secret to crispy baked chicken wings, the sky is the limit. Try any of these easy recipes next.

• Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings
• Baked Thai Chicken Wings
• Lemon Pepper Wings
• Air Fryer Chicken Wings (not technically baked, but just as healthy!)

More Super Bowl Recipes

Keep the munching going with these easy and delicious snacks.

• Texas (Cowboy) Caviar
• Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip
• Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs
• Bacon Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers
• Pigs in a Blanket with Crescent Rolls
• Sheet Pan Loaded Nachos
• Grape Jelly Meatballs