The big game is coming up and you are craving chicken wings. Deep fried wings are always great but you want to try something new, and you don’t want to spend the excessive money on upcharges and delivery fees. Fire up the old seasoned cast iron skillet and let’s cook some wings another way.
Depending on the size of your skillet you will probably be able to cook 18 wings beginning to end unless you want to cook in batches, and in that case you might as well roast them on sheet pans if your aim is to cook for a larger group of people. This recipe is more designed for 2-3 people looking for a healthier alternative to fried wings.
With that being said, preheat your oven to 450 degrees or set your broiler to the low setting.
Wash and pat your wings dry and then coat with olive oil.
Add sweet smoked paprika, ground cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and kosher salt to a mixing bowl and mix well.
Sprinkle the seasoning onto all sides of the wings or add the wings to the bowl and coat as evenly as possible on all sides.
Place the cast iron skillet onto the stovetop and turn the heat up to a medium heat. Add the butter to the pan and allow it to melt completely.
Add all of the wings to the cast iron skillet and cook on all sides until they are crispy all around. Usually 4-5 minutes on each side will do.
Remove the cast iron skillet from the stovetop and place it into the preheated oven. Bake for about 8-10 minutes, depending on the size of your wings.
Your wings are more than likely done but use a thermometer to double check that the biggest wings are cooked between 175-185 degrees Fahrenheit. Chicken is safe to eat at 165 degrees but the extra ten degrees helps to make the chicken pull from the bone much more readily.
Let the chicken wings rest for about 5 minutes before eating while watching your team win.
These wings are smoky and flavorful but a good hot sauce combined with a cream based dipping sauce like blue cheese or ranch is undeniably a great pairing with most any chicken wing.
Cast Iron Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 18 Chicken Wings
- 1 tbsp Unsalted Butter
- 1 tsp Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Sweet Smoked Paprika
- 1 tsp Ground Cumin
- 1/4 tsp Cayenne
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees or set broiler to low.
- Wash and pat the wings dry then coat with olive oil.
- In a mixing bowl add all the dry ingredients and mix them together.
- Sprinkle the seasoning onto both sides of the wings.
- Melt butter over medium heat in a cast iron skillet. Add all the wings to the skillet and cook on one side until the skin begins to crisp, about five minutes. Flip the wings over and, again, sear and crisp the skin, about four minutes.
- Place the wings in the oven a cook for an additional eight to ten minutes, depending on the size of your wings.
- Use a thermometer to ensure that the wings are at a minimum of 165 degrees in the thickest parts, chicken wings are best cooked between 175-185 degrees because they will begin to pull from the bone.