Next Level Chicken Wings use a unique spice blend for poppin' wings that you'll want to eat again and again.
Prep a bulk batch of the spice blend in advance so you've always got finger-licking chicken wings just a short bake away.
And, these wings are gluten free, paleo, and Whole30-friendly!
Do I need to flip chicken wings when baking?
If you're baking the chicken wings on a wire rack over the baking sheet, you shouldn't need to flip them. I don't, anyway!
Without the wire rack, it's best to flip them halfway through if you want really crispy wings. To be honest, I usually skip it though! Gotta keep things simple when you can.
What's in Next Level Chicken Wings
Besides the chicken wings, here are the spices you'll need:
- sea salt
- ground black pepper
- paprika
- turmeric
- coriander
- chipotle powder
- baking powder
With a little heat and a lot of deep smokey flavor from the paprika and turmeric, this spice blend quickly became a hit with my spouse. These are his top chicken wings!
Originally, I was looking to make a spice blend that would incorporate turmeric. Why? Turmeric is basically a superfood.
I know, I know, crappy buzzword. But for real. Turmeric is the anti-inflammatory king. This spice contains curcumin, which is a super potent antioxidant known to be a mental booster. Turmeric also supports cardiovascular health, joint health, digestive health and mood.
That's a lot of benefit for a humble spice.


Baking powder: a secret ingredient for crispy baked chicken wings
Originally, baking powder wasn't in the ingredients list of this recipe, but upon updating it I knew I needed to add it in.
Turns out that baking powder is the SECRET WEAPON for crispy baked chicken wings. Seriously, it works every time!
My pro tip is just to make sure you don't add TOO much baking powder. If you add too much, you'll detect the off metally flavor.
I tested these wings both with baking powder added and without, and in a side by side blind test my spouse preferred the wings with baking powder just because they were more crispy.
But wait, doesn't baking powder have corn starch? Most store-bought baking powder does. So, to make a corn-free baking powder, mix together equal parts baking soda, cream of tartar, and arrowroot flour.
What to serve with this recipe
These chicken wings are dry-rubbed - no sauce - so all the flavor comes from a simple little spice blend.
Next level chicken wings pack in quite a bit of heat, so they'd be great served with ranch or blue cheese — something to cool the pallate.
Of course, wings are best served with fresh celery and carrots!


More chicken wing recipes to try
- Baked Garlic Buffalo Chicken Wings (Paleo, Whole30)
- Baked Sticky Chinese Chicken Wings
- Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
- Mango Habanero Wings (Whole30, Paleo)
- Sweet and Spicy Baked Chicken Wings
📖 Recipe

Next Level Chicken Wings
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Entree
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
A simple spice blend makes these dry-rubbed chicken wings Next Level! Use the baking powder to ensure crispy wings, or skip it to keep things simple.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken wings
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon coriander
- ½ teaspoon ground chipotle powder
- 2 teaspoons baking powder (see Notes)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a small bowl, mix together all of the spices and baking powder.
- Add the chicken wings to a large bowl and dump in the spice rub. Using your hands, rub the spices onto the chicken, making sure all pieces get covered.
- Place an oven-safe wire roasting rack over a baking sheet and line the chicken wings on the rack. Roast for 30 minutes. Serve with ranch or blue cheese sauce plus celery or a salad.
Notes
To make a corn-free baking powder, mix together equal parts baking soda, cream of tartar, and arrowroot flour.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ~5 wings
Keywords: chicken wings, baked chicken wings