Crispy Baked Chicken Wings Recipe

Baseball has hot dogs, and football calls for hot wings. Instead of the Buffalo-sauce route, these take a sticky-sweet Southern turn with a pepper jelly glaze. Even though these wings are oven-fried, you’d never know it. I learned about this baking powder trick for making crispy, you’d-swear-they-were-fried chicken wings a few years ago from various sites, most notably Serious Eats. Those versions ask you to dry-brine the chicken overnight and/or cook it on a rack. I didn’t do either of those things, hoping for a faster way with less cleanup, and the results were fantastic. Just be sure you reach for baking powder, not baking soda; the latter will give the chicken a strong metallic flavor. Serve up a pile of these wings on game day and you’ll have a very happy crowd. They’re dreamy with the hearty crunch of kettle chips, carrots, and celery—all ready to take a dive in creamy blue cheese dressing.