Garlic Parmesan Baked Chicken Wings

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings Recipe

January is in full swing which means the Super Bowl is just around the corner!

And unlike most football fans that obsess over the game, all I can think about is a big ole’ platter full of some garlic Parmesan chicken wings!  (They’re SO much better than your typical ones!)

Are you as obsessed with the game day spread as I am?!

It’s sort of funny to think that the second most popular food holiday next to Thanksgiving happens to be the Super Bowl.

But then again, when you’re sitting still for hours on end you’ve got to have some nourishment.

That’s where these Buffalo Chicken Celery Sticks, Cauliflower Buffalo Wings, Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Meatballs and…

These easy baked chicken wings come in!

And the best part about making them for the big day – they’re super easy to prep ahead of time so you don’t miss a minute of the game.

Low-Carb Appetizer

While I do love a good indulgent cheesy dip or bacon-loaded burger, sometimes your body is in the mood for something that won’t throw it completely out-of-whack.

What I love about these baked wings is just that… they are baked in the oven!!

They are not fried in unhealthy fat or oils.  Nor are they coated in a flour-laden breading.

This means they’re actually low-carb, keto and completely gluten-free!

Ingredients

There are only a few ingredients you will need for this recipe.

They’re all pretty easy to find in your grocery store.

• Wing Portions – You can either buy wingettes, drummettes, or a combination of the two.
• 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 – Use grated, not shredded for best results.
• Lemon Juice – Fresh lemon juice or lime juice may be used.
• Olive Oil – Feel free to substitute with another mild-flavored oil such as avocado oil.
• Cornstarch – Tapioca starch or arrowroot starch may also be used if you are avoiding grains.
• Red Pepper Flakes – Adjust the amount you use depending on your desired spice level.
• Salt and Pepper 

How to Make

Making chicken wings in the oven is a quick and easy process.

The generic oven-baked recipe consists of only a few steps: (see below for the full recipe!)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
   • You want your oven to be FULLY heated before placing your chicken wings in there!
2. Toss them in an olive oil-garlic-lemon juice sauce that has been whisked together in a large bowl. (Steps 1 and 2 above.)
3. Sprinkle cornstarch, or tapioca starch, over the wings. (Step 3 above)
   • This part is SUPER important.  The starch helps give them their crispy, crunchy skin!
   • So even if you’re on a keto or low-carb diet… don’t skip this step!
4. Cover them in grated Parmesan cheese and toss to combine. (Step 4 above)
5. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and then place a wire rack on top of it.
6. Place wings in a single layer on the wire rack making sure none of the wings touch.
7. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway through.
8. Broil for 4-6 minutes or until skin is crisped to perfection.

What are the parts of a Chicken Wing?

A whole chicken wing is composed of three different parts:

• Drummette – this is the part that looks like a drumstick.  Drummettes usually have a bit more white meat and more meat to skin.
• Wingettes / Flats – this is the middle part of the chicken wing.  It is composed of two bones, has more dark meat, and slightly less meat to skin than drummettes.
• Tips – this is the cartilaginous tip of the wing.  Most often these will not come on the ones purchased at local grocery stores.

What part is best?

Honestly, whatever part you like the best!!  Both my husband and I prefer the wingettes.

Most grocery stores normally have both wingettes and drumettes already cut and prepared in the meat section.

While you can buy the entire wing, it does take a bit more time to cut the wing into portions.

If that’s your only option, you can learn how to cut a chicken wing into portions.

Prep-Ahead

One of the best parts of this wings recipe is how easy it is to prep ahead and how great they still are when reheated!

Prep-ahead:  You can prep them ahead of time and refrigerate just before baking up to 2 days in advance of your party.

Or, feel free to bake the wings completely and pop them back in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes.

Broil this. appetizer just before serving for best results.

Serving

Just before serving, sprinkle 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 few of these dip and sauce ideas.

Dips:

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

Other Game Day Recipes:

Homemade Guacamole

Baked Chicken Taquitos

Avocado Fries

Black Bean & Corn Salsa Dip