Let’s just call these what they are: crack wings. Addictively delicious and yet simple to make, this is the low carb chicken wings recipe that will keep you coming back for more!
Excuse me, please, while I have a bit of a moment. And I don’t mean a good moment, either. I mean a “I need a drink, make that two, oh hell, just give me the whole damn bottle” kind of moment. I am on day three of solo parenting and I just caught kiddo #2 with a bottle of green food dye, attempting to dye some pages in a notebook. For fun, I suppose, but being my most accident-prone child, she’d also done a number on her hands, her clothes and the carpet. To be honest, I lost my $%@#. I was furious, in part because she was being sneaky about it. She didn’t ask because she knew I’d say no, and she’s old enough to know better. And of course this all comes after a weekend of trials and tribulations.
I am not one of those parents who will pretend that parenting is this glorious experience and I feel so blessed at every moment. I know I am blessed but there are times I feel distinctly un-blessed. I also won’t tell you that it’s the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done because there are times (many times) that it feels so un-rewarding, I want to cry. I do cry! Ask me again when I’ve managed to get them all safely through childhood and into productive and happy adulthood. Maybe then I will look back on it all with rose-coloured glasses and I will tell you it was the best thing I’ve ever done. Until then, pass me another drink.
Every time my husband goes away, I have these romantic notions of the fun things we are going to do to stay entertained. But reality sets in pretty quickly. My son has a research project due right at the end of school and helping him figure out what he needs to do and to actually do it took up much of our Saturday. Sunday morning, I took them to breakfast and the park and my six year old was strangely giddy and hyper and spilled half of her breakfast everywhere. I then took them to a fun (and expensive) trampoline park to get out the rambunctiousness and my son spent half the time arguing with me about going to an arcade instead. So when we arrived home, I was desperate for a little peace and quiet. And then the food dye incident…
So. What does this have to do with low carb chicken wings? Nothing. Nothing at all. I just had to share because sharing is what keeps me sane. Every time someone says “yep, I know how you feel, I’ve been there”, I feel a million times better. Because I know it’s normal and I am not alone. So come on, soothe me, friends. I am very much in need of soothing.
And now, the recipe. This is my recreation of the best wings I’ve ever had, which happened to be at Northstar in Ithaca, New York last summer. I asked the chef how they were made and it turned out they were smoked first, and then tossed with browned butter and Old Bay seasoning. While I do happen to own a smoker, I wanted to make a version that was doable by the average home cook. And this, my friends, is not only doable but amazingly delicious and worth doing at your first opportunity. Crispy skin slathered in caramel-y brown butter and seasoned lightly with Old Bay. Let’s just call them crack wings, because they are that addictive!
You need to check out these Crispy Baked Chicken Wings from Fifteen Spatulas for another great trick for baked wings! And these Turmeric Chicken Wings from Fearless Dining look ah-mazing!
Brown Butter Old Bay Wings
Ingredients
- 3 lbs chicken wings
- 1 ½ tablespoon baking powder
- 3 tablespoon butter melted
- 3 to 4 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250F and place a baking rack over a baking sheet lined with foil. Brush rack with oil to prevent sticking.
- Pat wings dry very well and place in a plastic bag. Sprinkle with baking powder and shake to coat. Lay wings in a single layer on prepared baking rack and bake in lower third of oven for 30 minutes.
- Increase oven temperature to 425F and move baking sheet to upper third of oven. Continue to bake for another 20 to 30 minutes, until crispy.
- In a medium skillet over medium heat, cook butter until it becomes a deep amber, 4 to 5 minutes. Watch carefully so it does not burn.
- Transfer wings to a bowl and pour butter over. Toss to combine. Sprinkle with Old Bay to taste (it can get pretty salty so a light hand is best until you see how they taste).
Notes
Food energy: 488kcal
Total fat: 35.20g
Calories from fat: 316
Cholesterol: 266mg
Carbohydrate: 1.77g
Total dietary fiber: 0.09g
Protein: 39.87g
Valencia says
These are indeed crack. I finally bought an air fryer, and this recipe was my machine’s maiden voyage. My husband and I could not. stop. eating. Amazing!
Joan Elkins says
Thanks for this and so many delicious recipes. It looks like it’s 5 years since you first told your story, how are your kids now?? It was Christmas Eve for me, I had to go get the two son’s gifts out of lay-away. Times were tough, I was a single parent. I came home to find my sliding glass door inside glass cracking, dropping bits of glass here and there and two sons sitting quiet and guilty….seems one threw a screwdriver at another, missed and hit the glass, wish I had taken a picture of the beautiful cracks spreading upward….It was so sad it was funny. I debated whether or not to give them their gifts the next day. They were and still are great kids, all grown with children of their own, but this was truly unforgettable….
Janine says
These wings are my family’s favorite! We eat them on repeat! 😋
Bonny says
Super easy super yummy!
Melissa says
Hey Carolyn, How about an update to this recipe for the air fryer?!
Joelle says
hahahaha…..oh my gosh. Peed reading this. So true!! Parenting and “pour me another drink” go hand in hand!!
Love it……about to make these wings for dinner this eve, Look fabulous. Thanks!
Joelle
xo
kellie says
these sound incredible!!
Jennifer Farley says
I need these! I’m making them for dinner tonight!
Jennifer Blake says
So back in January I had said I was making these for our Superbowl party and I did… they were awesome! My whole family went back for more (which is saying something) and our guests were impressed. Love that they were baked and came out with the best flavor! This recipe is now in our regular rotation.
Joanne Leblanc says
In Canada, we don’t have access to Old Bay. Can you suggest other flavorings?
Carolyn says
Google how to make an Old Bay mix…I know there are some pretty great ones out there. These would also be good just with lemon pepper.
Cookin Canuck says
Did someone say brown butter? These chicken wings look amazing!
Jennifer Blake says
I cannot wait to make these for the Superbowl! We bought wings but didn’t know what we wanted to do with them… YUM!
Jennifer Farley says
These are amazing wings! Such great flavors!
Brandie says
You had my at Old Bay. Delicious!!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
I want a HUGE plate of these babies!
gerry speirs says
Yummmmm Old Bay!!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
Perfect for the game on Sunday! Love that brown butter!
Jessica says
I really love the way you make your wings – I’ve never made them before and it was SO SIMPLE. The wings were very perfectly cooked following your method. I have also always been intimidated by the idea of making brown butter and it was also very easy (and delicious!). We didn’t have any Old Bay seasoning, so I just used the brown butter and a balsamic glaze – I look forward to making these again with the Old Bay. Thank you!
Jessica says
I’ve made these three or four times now and I’m making them again tonight. Thanks, again, for providing such a simple and amazing recipe!