Baked Cajun Chicken Wings (Dry Rub)

Name: Baked Cajun Chicken Wings (Dry Rub)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Ingredients: ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper; ½ teaspoon ground white pepper; ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper; ¾ teaspoon ground cumin; ¾ teaspoon onion powder; 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder; 1 ½ teaspoon sweet paprika powder; 1 ½ teaspoon smoked paprika powder; 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano; ¾ teaspoon dried thyme; 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg; 1 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt or Kosher; 2 lb chicken wings (preferably split, 900 g (Note 3)); 1 tablespoon olive oil

Cajun chicken wings, coated with our favorite spicy dry rub mixture and baked until crispy. Super easy to make, perfect for your next party.

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close up dark chicken wings spiced with dry rub seasoning.

Contents

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Are you looking for the next party hit, a tasty appetizer for the Super Bowl, or a similar occasion? Try our baked Cajun chicken wings; you will not regret it! Why?

Hot and crispy exterior, soft and juicy meat.
Easy to make: All you must do is mix the seasoning and rub the wings with it.
Baked: So much healthier and less messy than deep frying.
Fast: Less than 10 minutes of preparation time, the oven will take over the rest. All in all, the Cajun dry rub wings will be ready to serve in less than one hour.

And if you like delicious wings, make sure to check our popular recipe for Honey Lemon Pepper Wings or the Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings. Or learn How to Parboil Chicken Wings to make them cook faster.

Recipe ingredients

Wings:

About 2 lbs (900 g) would be 8-9 whole wings or 16-18 wingettes and drumettes.
To make things easy, it’s preferable to buy party-style wings (already separated at the joint). Otherwise, cutting the wing pieces in the middle it’s very easy.

Cajun seasoning:

To mix our excellent dry rub, you will need ground black pepper, ground white pepper, cumin, dried oregano, dried thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, sweet paprika, nutmeg, and fine sea salt (or Kosher).
This makes about three tablespoons of dry rub (approximately 1.2 oz/ 35 g). You can make more and store the rest in a small jar in the cupboard; it will be great for at least three months or longer.

Olive oil or vegetable oil for coating the meat and spraying or brushing the rack.

Step-by-step instructions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius). Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil and place an oven-safe wire rack on top. Coat the rack with cooking spray or brush it lightly with a bit of oil.
Make the Cajun dry rub: Mix all the spices in a small bowl.
Cut whole pieces: If the wings are whole, cut them at the joint into wingettes and drumettes (detailed instructions below).
Dry them well with a paper towel.
Season: Place chicken wings in a large mixing bowl. Pour the oil on top and coat the meat pieces with it. Sprinkle with the Cajun spice rub and rub well to coat evenly.

collage of two pictures of drying and dry rubbing chicken wings.

Bake: Arrange the pieces on the wire rack in a single layer and bake them for 20 minutes. Flip and bake for another 20 minutes or until the required internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius) is achieved and the wings are crispy.

collage of two pictures of chicken wings on rack before and after baking.

Expert tips

How to divide whole chicken wings at the joint?

Find the right spot between the bones, where a sharp knife will easily go through the joint. Hold the drumette in your hand, stretching the joint open. The wingette should still be on the work surface. Cut through the joint; you should not encounter any serious resistance.
If there is any resistance, it means you didn’t hit the right spot between the wings. Try again, a few millimeters more on the right or left of the joint until you find the right place. The knife should easily go through the skin and between the bones.

Crispy chicken wings

Cook them at high heat and on the rack. The rack allows the hot air to circulate all around them and keeps them from lying in a pool of fat, which will prevent them from getting very crispy on one side.
For extra crispy skin, refrigerate the seasoned wing pieces for 2 hours and up to 12.
Another tip would be to prolong the baking time (5 to 10 minutes). That makes the skin crispier but also the flesh dryer. That’s why I prefer not to overdo it with the baking time.

Seasoning: You can buy Cajun seasoning if you have a favorite brand.
Using aluminum foil instead of the usual parchment paper is preferable, as you will bake these delicious wings at a high temperature.

Recipe FAQ

Should I wash the chicken before cooking?

No. The bacteria are only destroyed during cooking; washing will spread it all over your sink.

Do I need a wire rack?

It helps make the Cajun wings super crispy, but it will work without it as well.

How to store and reheat?

Refrigerate as soon as they’ve reached room temperature. Keep in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Freeze for 4 to 6 months. Defrost in the refrigerator and reheat before serving.
Reheat the baked Cajun chicken wings in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) on a lined baking sheet for about 10-20 minutes or until heated through.
Reheat in the air fryer at 370 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) for about 5 minutes or until heated through. Flip halfway through.

How to serve?

Appetizer: Serve the hot wings with your favorite dipping sauce, buffalo sauce, hot sauce. When making Cajun chicken wings for a party, I like to offer a platter of vegetable sticks with it.
Main dish: Serve with oven-baked potato wedges, fries or mashed potatoes, and a salad or roasted vegetables.

close up of many chicken wings sprinkled with parsley.

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