These crispy baked garlic parmesan wings will be the life of the party! Juicy chicken wings are baked instead of fried for a lighter option, then tossed in a mouthwatering garlic parmesan sauce. Still crispy and delicious as ever, they’re the perfect party appetizer or game day recipe.
Looking for more game day recipes? You need to try my sheet pan steak nachos or cheesy buffalo chicken sliders!
I kinda have a love affair with chicken wings and beer. Maybe that’s part of the reason my husband married me? A girl who likes beer, buffalo wings, and football! Yup, kind of a rare jewel, haha. Just like these garlic parmesan chicken wings! Usually, when we get wings for dinner, we call for takeout. After trying to replicate my favorite wings from Wings & More, I have to say that these may just be the BEST wings I’ve made so far! And I’ve made quite a few, including these Asian wings with hoisin glaze.
Reasons to Love These Crispy Garlic Parmesan Wings
- Easy. You’ll only need a few simple ingredients to make these chicken wings. Plus, no need to mess with hot oil since they are cooked in the oven!
- Extra crisp. These chicken wings are perfectly crispy on the outside, yet tender and juicy on the inside.
- Tasty. Once the wings are cooked to perfection, they’re smothered in an irresistible garlic Parmesan sauce. The combo is unbelievably delicious!
- Lighter than frying. Because these wings are baked instead of fried, they require a fraction of the oil as traditional wings and come out tasting less greasy and more crispy as a result.
Key Ingredients
Here’s a quick look at what you’ll need to make this garlic Parmesan wings recipe. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for specific amounts.
- Chicken wings – Use a mixture of wings and drumettes.
- Oil – You’ll need a bit of canola oil plus some olive oil. You can just use olive oil if you prefer.
- Sea salt and black pepper – Kosher salt also works, and be sure to use freshly cracked pepper.
- Unsalted butter – If you’re using salted butter, consider reducing the added salt.
- Garlic cloves – Minced. Substitute 1 tablespoon of jarred garlic in place of each fresh clove if needed.
- Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated. Pre-grated parmesan will also do the trick.
- Spices – Smoked paprika and red pepper flakes. Try chili powder for a stronger, spicier kick.
How to Make Garlic Parmesan Wings
Are you ready to make the best garlic parmesan sauce wings ever? Here’s how to do it:
- Prepare the chicken wings. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels first. Then, season the wings with oil, salt, and pepper. Gently toss to coat all the chicken.
- Bake the wings. Next, arrange the chicken wings on a wire rack-lined baking sheet. Bake for 40 minutes at 400°F, flipping the chicken halfway through.
- Broil. Finish the chicken wings under the broiler on High. Broil for 8-10 minutes, until browned.
- Make the garlic parmesan sauce. While the wings bake, melt butter and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan. Add the minced garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes. Then, add in 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine. Let the sauce cook for another 2 minutes.
- Toss the wings. When the chicken wings are done, remove them from the oven and place them in a big bowl. Pour the prepared sauce over the wings and toss to coat.
- Garnish. Finally, top the garlic parmesan wings with the remaining parmesan cheese, and sprinkle over chopped chives before serving.
Tips for the Best Wings
- Don’t pre-wash your chicken wings. Just take them out of the package and pat them dry!
- Don’t use too much oil. Add just 1-2 tablespoons of oil and toss to coat your chicken wings. You don’t want to drench them with oil, just enough to coat, so that the seasoning sticks to the chicken. The oil will also help crisp up the skin later.
- Use a baking rack. This allows the fat to drip down so that the skin gets nice and crispy. I like to put tin foil underneath the baking rack for easy cleanup later.
- Broil the chicken. After they’re done baking, place the chicken wings under the Broiler on HIGH. This will give you the brown, crispy skin that is comparable to fried chicken wings.
Serving Suggestions
These garlic parmesan wings are absolutely perfect for your next party and definitely a MUST for game day! Wondering what to serve with these chicken wings? I personally love serving a variety of different wing flavors at once and just going all-in with an epic game day charcuterie board. Here are more suggestions:
- Dips. Try these wings dipped in ranch dressing, homemade BBQ sauce, or honey mustard sauce. Or, up the ante with roasted garlic aioli!
- Salad. Pair your wings with a fresh strawberry spinach salad or a tomato panzanella salad.
- Fries. Serve garlic parmesan wings with sweet potato fries or these crispy air fryer zucchini fries.
How to Store and Reheat Extras
- Refrigerate. Allow the cooked chicken wings to cool down at room temperature for no more than 2 hours after cooking. Place the wings in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Store extra sauce separately in an airtight container. Everything can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- To reheat. When you’re ready to enjoy the leftover wings, you can reheat them in an oven, toaster oven, or microwave until they are heated through (to an internal temperature of 165°F or 74°C) and crispy. For best results, use an oven or toaster oven to help maintain their crispiness.
Recommended Tools
These are the products I personally use when making this recipe. Some of these links are affiliate links.
- Non-Stick Baking Sheet – Baking sheets are a must for this recipe, but make sure to cover them with parchment paper so you don’t end up with a mess.
- Stainless Steel Wire Rack – Using the wire rack helps make sure the chicken cooks on both sides instead of sticking to the bottom of the pan
- Small Sauce Pan
More Chicken Wing Recipes
Garlic Parmesan Wings
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 50 mins
- Total Time: 55 mins
- Yield: 30–40 wings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
Description
These garlic parmesan wings are baked instead of fried, but still as crispy and delicious as ever! These easy homemade chicken wings are the perfect party appetizer or game day snack.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. of chicken (mixture of wings and drumettes)
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 tablespoons parmesan cheese
- 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Add chicken to a large bowl. Pat chicken dry.
- Drizzle with canola oil, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. Gently toss to coat all the chicken.
- Place chicken on a wire rack lined baking sheet. (if you don’t have a wire rack, use parchment paper)
- Bake for 40 minutes, flipping the chicken after 20 minutes.
- Turn the Broiler on to HIGH.
- Place chicken under broiler for 8-10 minutes, until browned.
- In the meantime, heat a medium sauce pan to medium heat. Add butter and 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan. Melt the butter down.
- Once butter is melted add the garlic to the pan. Let cook in the liquid for 2-3 minutes, or until fragrant.
- Next add in 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, salt, & pepper to taste. Stir to combine. Let the sauce cook for another 2 minutes.
- Remove chicken from oven. Place in a large bowl, pour the garlic parmesan sauce over the chicken wings. Using a pair of tongs, toss the wings to coat all of them with the sauce.
- Serve. Top the wings with an additional 2 tablespoons of parmesan cheese.
- Optional: add chopped chives for garnish.
