Easy Crispy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings: Your Ultimate Homemade Recipe Guide

Forget the takeout menus and elevate your wing game! This comprehensive guide reveals the secrets to crafting the most irresistible crispy garlic parmesan chicken wings right in your own kitchen. Whether you prefer the oven’s consistent heat or the air fryer’s speedy crunch, our recipe promises a phenomenal flavor experience that easily outshines your favorite wing joints like Pizza Hut or Wing Stop. Get ready for perfectly seasoned wings, enveloped in a rich, buttery garlic parmesan sauce that will have everyone reaching for more.

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Why These Garlic Parmesan Wings Are a Must-Try

There’s something uniquely satisfying about homemade chicken wings, especially when they’re bursting with flavor and boast that perfect crispy texture. Our garlic parmesan chicken wings recipe stands out because it combines a flavorful dry rub with a luscious, aromatic butter sauce, ensuring every bite is a delightful fusion of savory, garlicky, and cheesy goodness. This recipe is designed for maximum flavor and crunch, making it ideal for game nights, parties, or simply a delicious weeknight meal. Plus, with options for both oven baking and air frying, you can achieve restaurant-quality results with ease, right from your home.

The Secret to Perfectly Crispy Chicken Wings

Achieving truly crispy chicken wings at home might seem daunting, but it’s surprisingly simple with a few key techniques. The foundation of crispiness begins long before the wings hit the heat. First, thoroughly patting your chicken wings dry with paper towels is crucial. Moisture on the skin turns to steam during cooking, preventing that coveted crunch. Secondly, a light coating of a dry rub, often including a starchy component like flour or baking powder, helps absorb any remaining moisture and creates a breading that crisps beautifully. Finally, a little bit of oil, applied as a light spray, promotes browning and enhances the crisp factor. High heat, whether from your oven or air fryer, is essential to render the fat and achieve that golden-brown exterior. I highly recommend using a quality oil spray bottle for even application, ensuring every wing gets a thin, uniform coating.

Essential Ingredients for Your Garlic Parmesan Wings

Crafting these delectable wings requires two main components: a robust dry rub for the initial crisp and flavor, and a rich, aromatic garlic parmesan butter sauce to finish. Let’s break down what you’ll need.

Dry Rub Ingredients for Maximum Flavor and Crisp

The dry rub is your first layer of flavor and contributes significantly to the wings’ crispy texture. While you can certainly create your own blend, I often reach for McCormick’s Montreal Chicken Seasoning. This popular seasoning is a fantastic shortcut, offering a savory mix of onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and sage that pairs wonderfully with chicken. For a simpler approach, a generous sprinkle of salt and freshly ground black pepper will also do the trick.

Beyond seasoning, you’ll need a starchy agent. All-purpose flour is commonly used to create a light breading that crisps up beautifully. For those looking for a low-carb alternative or an extra boost of crispiness, baking powder can be an excellent substitute for flour. Just a tablespoon of baking powder works wonders in drying out the skin and promoting an exceptionally crunchy exterior.

Crafting the Irresistible Parmesan Garlic Butter Sauce

The parmesan garlic sauce is the star that brings these wings together, infusing them with a rich, savory, and aromatic coating. The key to a truly flavorful sauce lies in fresh ingredients.

• Fresh Minced Garlic: This is non-negotiable for an authentic garlic flavor. While garlic powder can work in a pinch, fresh garlic provides a depth and pungency that can’t be replicated. I find my garlic press from Amazon invaluable for quickly mincing cloves.
• Butter: High-quality unsalted butter forms the rich base of the sauce, carrying the garlic and parmesan flavors beautifully.
• Olive Oil: A touch of olive oil can be added alongside the butter. It helps prevent the butter from burning and adds a subtle fruity note. If you prefer a richer, more intensely buttery flavor, you can certainly omit the olive oil and use all butter.

To prepare the sauce, simply combine the minced garlic, butter, and olive oil (if using) in a small saucepan over medium heat. Allow the ingredients to gently melt and simmer for a few minutes until the garlic is fragrant and slightly softened. The aroma alone will be enough to make your mouth water! Once your wings are cooked and crispy, this glorious sauce will be drizzled over them. For optimal flavor absorption and to retain maximum crispiness, I highly recommend returning the sauced wings to the oven or air fryer for a few extra minutes. This allows the sauce to caramelize slightly and deeply penetrate the chicken skin, creating an unforgettable experience. Alternatively, you can toss them in the sauce just before serving for a fresher, glossier finish.

How to Make Crispy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

The beauty of this recipe lies in its flexibility. You can achieve fantastic results using either a conventional oven or an air fryer. While both methods deliver delicious wings, the air fryer is often my preferred choice for its speed and ability to create an incredibly crispy skin with less oil.

Cooking Methods Overview

Before diving into the detailed steps, remember the universal truths for crispy wings: pat them dry, coat them evenly, and don’t overcrowd your cooking surface. For air frying, I highly recommend a spacious model like the Cosori 5.8 quart air fryer from Amazon, which allows for better air circulation and more uniform cooking.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Oven Baked Method

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Ensure chicken wings are thoroughly patted dry. Place them in a large bowl or a sealable plastic bag.
3. Add flour (or baking powder for low-carb), ¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese, chicken seasoning, salt, and pepper to the chicken. Toss or shake vigorously until each wing is fully and evenly coated.
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and aid cleanup. Arrange the coated chicken wings in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching. Spritz generously with cooking oil.
5. Bake for 20 minutes, then carefully remove from the oven, flip each wing, and spritz with more cooking oil. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
6. While the wings finish baking, prepare your garlic parmesan butter sauce in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Combine butter, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, minced garlic, and the remaining ¼ cup of grated parmesan. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring until the butter melts and the cheese is incorporated into a smooth, fragrant sauce.
7. Remove the crispy wings from the oven and immediately drizzle them with the warm garlic parmesan sauce. Toss to coat evenly.
8. For an even deeper flavor and a final touch of crisp, return the sauced wings to the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the sauce has slightly caramelized and soaked into the skin.
9. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra parmesan, if desired, before serving hot.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Air Fryer Method

1. Pat the chicken wings thoroughly dry. Place them in a large bowl or a sealable plastic bag.
2. Add flour (or baking powder), ¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese, chicken seasoning, salt, and pepper to the chicken. Toss or shake vigorously until each wing is fully and evenly coated.
3. Line your air fryer basket with air fryer parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking. Arrange the coated chicken wings in a single layer in the basket, taking care not to overcrowd. Overcrowding will steam the wings instead of crisping them. Spritz generously with olive oil.
4. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 15 minutes.
5. Open the air fryer basket, flip each chicken wing, and spritz again with cooking oil. Continue to air fry for an additional 5 minutes, or until beautifully golden and crispy.
6. While the wings are air frying, prepare your garlic parmesan butter sauce in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Combine butter, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, minced garlic, and the remaining ¼ cup of grated parmesan. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring until the butter melts and the cheese forms a smooth, fragrant sauce.
7. Remove the crispy wings from the air fryer and drizzle them with the warm garlic parmesan sauce. Toss to coat evenly.
8. For ultimate flavor infusion and a final crisp, return the sauced wings to the air fryer. Air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
9. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra parmesan, if desired, and serve immediately.

Choosing the Right Parmesan Cheese for Your Wings

The type of parmesan cheese you use can significantly impact the final texture of your garlic parmesan wings. While I’m typically a proponent of fresh ingredients, for this recipe, I’ve found that bottled grated parmesan cheese often yields better results than freshly grated parmesan, especially when melted into the sauce.

Freshly grated parmesan, with its higher moisture content and finer texture, tends to clump together more when melted. This can result in a sauce that doesn’t coat the wings as smoothly and might look a bit “clumpy.” Bottled grated parmesan, often drier and more finely milled, melts more evenly and creates a smoother, more consistent sauce that adheres beautifully to the crispy skin. If you don’t mind a slightly clumpy appearance and prefer the robust flavor of fresh parmesan, by all means, use it! However, for that classic, smooth garlic parmesan wing finish, the bottled variety often performs best.

Nutrition Information: Carbs and Beyond

Understanding the nutritional profile of your favorite dishes can be helpful, especially if you’re managing dietary needs. For this garlic parmesan chicken wings recipe, a serving prepared with all-purpose flour typically contains around 11 net carbs. However, if you’re following a low-carb or keto diet, you can easily adapt this recipe to fit your macros.

By substituting all-purpose flour with baking powder in the dry rub, each serving can be reduced to approximately 1 net carb. This simple swap allows you to enjoy these incredibly flavorful and crispy wings without compromising your dietary goals. Always remember that nutritional values can vary based on specific brands and exact measurements, so for the most accurate information, calculate with the ingredients you use.

What to Serve Alongside Your Garlic Parmesan Wings

These crispy garlic parmesan chicken wings are a versatile dish that pairs well with a variety of sides, making them perfect for any occasion. For a classic comfort food experience, serve them with:

• Air Fryer French Fries
• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
• Air Fryer Baked Potato
• A refreshing side salad with a light vinaigrette.
• Crisp celery and carrot sticks with a cooling ranch or blue cheese dip.
• Instant Pot Creamed Spinach
• Instant Pot Southern Green Beans

Whether you’re hosting a gathering or enjoying a casual meal, these sides will complement the rich flavor of your wings beautifully.

Tips for Success and Troubleshooting

• Pat Dry, Always: This is the golden rule for crispy wings. Don’t skip it!
• Don’t Overcrowd: Whether in the oven or air fryer, ensure wings are in a single layer with space between them for proper air circulation. Cook in batches if necessary.
• Even Coating: Make sure every wing is thoroughly coated with the dry rub for uniform crispiness and flavor.
• Oil Application: If your flour coating seems to clump or come off when spraying oil, let the wings cook for about 5 minutes first. This allows the breading to set slightly before oiling.
• Flavor Boost: For an extra garlicky kick, add a pinch of garlic powder to your dry rub in addition to the fresh garlic in the sauce.
• Cheese Texture: Remember, bottled grated parmesan often melts smoother for the sauce than fresh parmesan. Choose based on your preference for texture.
• Wing Type: This recipe works with whole wings, drumettes, or flats. Adjust ingredient quantities slightly if using whole wings to ensure full coating.
• Internal Temperature: Always ensure chicken wings reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for food safety.

Storage and Reheating Leftovers

Leftover garlic parmesan wings can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat and restore their crispiness, avoid the microwave. Instead, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and air fry for 5-7 minutes, or until heated through and crispy. You can also reheat them in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 10-15 minutes.

More Delicious Chicken Wing Recipes

If you loved these garlic parmesan wings, explore more of our fantastic chicken wing recipes:

• Air Fryer Fried Chicken
• Air Fryer Buttermilk Fried Chicken Wings
• Thai Chili Chicken Wings
• Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
• Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
• Keto Low Carb Chicken Wings (Maple BBQ)
• Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
• How to Grill Chicken Wings
• Crispy Ranch Chicken Wings
• Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
• Honey Hot Wings
• Cajun Chicken Wings

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• Air Fryer Beef Taco Fried Egg Rolls
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Average: 4.98 from 37 votes

Easy Crispy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings

This Easy Crispy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings recipe is made first with a dry rub and then drizzled in a delicious butter sauce. No need to visit Pizza Hut or Wing Stop with this recipe!

Course: Appetizer, dinner, lunch

Cuisine: American

Keyword: garlic parmesan chicken, garlic parmesan chicken wings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 4

Calories: 374 kcal

Author: Brandi Crawford

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken wings (drummettes)
• ½ cup flour (See recipe notes for low carb substitute.)
• ½ cup grated parmesan (divided into two ¼ cup servings)
• ½ tablespoon McCormicks Grill Mates Chicken Seasoning (You can use your favorite chicken rub.)
• salt and pepper (to taste)
• cooking oil (I use olive oil.)
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

Oven and Baking Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Pat the chicken dry and place it in a large bowl or plastic bag.
3. Add the flour, ¼ cup of grated parmesan, chicken seasoning, salt, and pepper to the chicken. Ensure the chicken is fully coated.
4. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and add the wings. Spritz the chicken wings with cooking oil.
5. Bake the wings for 20 minutes and then open and flip the wings. Spritz with cooking oil. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.
6. Heat a saucepan on medium-high heat. Add the butter, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, garlic, and ¼ cup of grated parmesan.
7. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the butter and cheese have melted.
8. Remove the chicken from the oven and drizzle the wings in the garlic parmesan sauce.
9. Return the chicken to the oven. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.
10. Garnish with parsley and parmesan if you wish.

Air Fryer Instructions

1. Pat the chicken dry and place it in a large bowl or plastic bag.
2. Add the flour, ¼ cup of grated parmesan, chicken seasoning, salt, and pepper to the chicken. Ensure the chicken is fully coated.
3. Line the air fryer basket with air fryer parchment paper. Place the chicken on the parchment paper. Spritz the chicken with olive oil.
4. Air fry for 15 minutes on 400 degrees.
5. Open the air fryer and flip the chicken. Spritz the chicken with cooking oil. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
6. Heat a saucepan on medium high heat. Add the butter, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, garlic, and ¼ cup of grated parmesan.
7. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the butter and cheese have melted.
8. Remove the chicken from the air fryer and drizzle it with the garlic parmesan butter.
9. Return the chicken to the air fryer. Air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes on 400 degrees.
10. Garnish with parsley and parmesan if you wish.

Notes

1. I like to put the wings back into the oven or the air fryer after drizzling the garlic butter parmesan sauce so that it soaks into the skin of the chicken. You can wait to do this step immediately upon serving the wings if you wish.
2. If you like a lot of garlic flavor use more fresh garlic or you can add garlic powder to your dry rub of flour and seasoning.
3. I find that the bottled grated parmesan works best for this recipe than fresh. I am typically a fresh parmesan only type of person, but fresh parmesan will clump when you melt it. If you aren’t opposed to the clumpy look of cheese on the wings, go for it and use fresh parmesan if you want.
4. If you are having trouble spraying the wings with oil because of the flour, you can allow them to cook for about 5 minutes and then spritz the oil. This will prevent the breading from coming off.
5. To make this recipe low carb you can swap the all-purpose flour for baking powder. I usually only use a tablespoon of baking powder.
6. You can use actual wings (instead of drums and flats) if you wish, you may need to adjust the amount of ingredients needed to fully coat your wings.

Recipe Tools Used in this Recipe

• Cosori Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Parchment Paper
• Air Fryer Oil Spray Bottle
• Parchment Paper

Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 374kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 24g

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Nutrition Data: Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

We hope you enjoy these Easy Crispy Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings as much as we do! With this detailed guide, you’re well-equipped to create a truly memorable meal that will impress friends and family alike. Happy cooking!