Description
This Cowboy Butter Chicken Wings recipe offers crispy oven-roasted wings coated in a flavorful, buttery herb sauce with a kick of smoked paprika and cayenne. Perfect for game day or casual gatherings, these wings are easy to prepare and packed with bold, savory flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 2 pounds chicken wings, preferably party wings
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Cowboy Butter:
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Heat the oven to 425ºF and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a wire rack inside the baking sheet to allow air circulation around the wings for even crisping.
- Prepare the Wings: If the wings are whole, separate them by cutting through the first joint to remove the wing tip (discard or save for stock), then cut through the second joint to separate into flats and drumettes. Pat wings dry with paper towels to ensure crispy skin.
- Season the Wings: Season the wings all over with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Arrange them skin-side up in a single layer on the wire rack to allow the heat to crisp the skin evenly.
- Roast the Wings: Roast the wings in the preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes until cooked through and skin is crispy and golden brown.
- Prepare the Cowboy Butter: While the wings are roasting, combine the melted unsalted butter, chopped parsley, chopped chives, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and cayenne pepper in a large bowl. Stir well to create the flavorful butter sauce.
- Coat the Wings: Once the wings are cooked and crispy, immediately transfer them to the bowl with the cowboy butter. Toss the wings thoroughly until they are well-coated with the flavorful butter mixture.
Notes
- Drying the wings before roasting is key to getting crispy skin.
- Using a wire rack allows the heat to circulate around the wings for even crisping.
- The cowboy butter sauce can be adjusted for heat by varying the amount of cayenne pepper.
- Leftover wing tips can be saved to make chicken stock.
- Serve immediately after tossing in the butter to enjoy the wings hot and flavorful.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: cowboy butter chicken wings, crispy chicken wings, oven-roasted wings, party wings, spicy butter sauce
