Crispy Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings

Sharing is caring!

Baked salt and pepper chicken wings, a simple recipe for Chinese-style wings using five ingredients, ready in about 40 minutes.

These simple salt and pepper chicken wings are fantastic! And one of the best things about them is that they are perfectly crispy and delicious, although they are baked and not deep-fried. I am not much into fried food (the mess, the lingering smell, the calories), so I am happy whenever I can swap frying for baking!

And if you like chicken wings, check out more delicious recipes: Pan-Fried or Soy Garlic Chicken Wings or Buttered Chicken Wings. Or learn How to Parboil Chicken Wings or How to Cook Frozen Chicken Wings.

Recipe ingredients

• Chicken wings: 2 lbs (900 g) – about 8-9 whole wings or 16-18 split or party wings. If all you have are whole pieces, you can easily cut them in two (See Tips).

• Salt: I use good quality sea salt or Kosher salt. I would not use table salt for this recipe unless I have no other choice. If you choose table salt, use a bit less, it’s more powerful.

• Pepper: Coarsely ground black pepper.
  • I use 1 ½ teaspoon, and this amount imparts the wings a delightfully spicy, peppery flavor.
  • If you don’t have any coarsely ground pepper, it’s preferable to grind whole black peppercorns in a mortar with a pestle.
  • Black pepper that’s been ground to a fine powder is not very suitable for this recipe.

Chinese 5-spice powder: It imparts the wings a Chinese-style flavor. Although delicious, using this spice powder is not mandatory; you will love the salt and pepper wing recipe with or without it.

Other ingredients: Vegetable oil, spring onions, and red chili or red chili flakes to garnish the dish.

A slight variation in the recipe

• If available, use smoked black pepper; I think you will love the smokey flavor. It’s not readily available in a regular grocery store, but you might be able to get it in specialty stores, at the farmer’s markets, or online. I love it, and I use it every time I want to enhance the peppery-smokey flavor of various dishes.

Additional topping

• Make the topping I made for Salt and Pepper Chicken.
• Slice ½ onion and four garlic cloves. Cut 2-3 green onions into thin rings. Deseed ½ red bell pepper and a long green chili. Slice them finely. Stir fry them in 2 tablespoons oil and season with salt and pepper.

Step-by-step instructions

• Preheat the oven to 220°C/ 425°F. Line a baking tray with aluminum foil and place an oven-safe wire rack on top.
• Prepare wings: If the wings are whole, cut them in two (See Expert Tips). Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels and place them in a large bowl.
• Season chicken: Rub with the oil. Mix salt, pepper, and Chinese spices in a small bowl. Sprinkle the black pepper mixture over the pieces and stir well to coat.
• Bake: Place on the rack in a single layer (1) and bake for about 40 minutes until crispy and golden brown (2).
• Garnish the crispy chicken wings with finely chopped green onions and fresh chilies or red chili flakes.

Expert tips

• Foil: For this salt and pepper chicken wings recipe, it’s preferable to use aluminum foil to cover the baking sheet instead of parchment paper. The baking temperature is high, and if the parchment temperature is not suitable, it might start to burn.

• Washing chicken: Don’t want chicken meat before cooking. The bacteria will not be destroyed. Instead, you will spread it all over the sink. The bacteria will only be killed during the cooking process.

• It’s recommendable to use a wire rack; the rack allows the hot air to circulate, making the wingettes and drumettes nice and crispy.

How to split the wings at the joint?

• Place one whole wing on a cutting board. Hold the tiny drumstick (drumette) and stretch the joint open. The flat part (wingette) should still be on the work surface. Cut through the joint.
• If there is any resistance, move the knife a few millimeters more on the right or left until you find the right place to go through the skin and between the bones quickly.
• Remove the wing tips as well if still attached. Use them to make chicken stock.

Recipe FAQ

How to serve them?

• As an appetizer: The salt and pepper chicken wings will serve 5-6 people. You can serve them with a dipping sauce if you like, but I rarely do; I love them just the way they are. Choose an Asian-style sauce if desired. Arrange on a serving platter with the chosen dip and fresh vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, peppers, celery sticks, etc.).

• As the main course, you will have enough crispy wings for two adults and two kids or 2-3 adults. You can serve them with potato wedges or fries, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, and a green salad with yogurt dressing or coleslaw.

• These sticky wings are perfect for any game day during the Super Bowl or the football season, for Memorial Day or Father’s Day. They are great for parties or barbecues.

More Asian recipes