Best Baked Cajun Wings

 

Look, you didn't ask for this, but with football season starting up, fall in the air, etc, you need this.

You NEED this.

Aaron and I stumbled upon a cookbook in Costco a few months back called "Serial Griller" by Matt Moore.  We hoped to gain a few more grilling recipes for the summer, but it didn't quite work out as we have been busy with work and you know, life.

Until one day...I looked through the book and found a wing recipe.  In the cookbook it tells you how to cook these wings over a nice charcoal grill.  We aren't charcoal grill people (save the argument) and I wasn't sure how to adapt the recipe on a gas grill.  So then I thought, I wonder if I could bake them?

I had NO IDEA that I was creating a masterpiece, but I used good 'ole Google to get a combined guestimate of how long and at what temperature to bake wings. I went for it.  Guys, when I tell you it was a home run, well, it was a home run.  

I wasn't quite done with the sauce by time Aaron came home and he immediately started eating a wing.  He asked me what I was making the sauce for.  I gave him a strange look and he said the wings were good with just the dust on them.  I thought he was joking, so I tried them.  Game changer.  These wings are good with the sauce and without!

I have successfully created the recipe again with the same result, so this is a bonafide lip smacking good recipe for Cajun wings!  I warn you... you may need to cook a second batch.

THE BEST OVEN CAJUN WINGS

(Loosely based on a recipe from Matt Moore in "Serial Griller")

2 tsp salt

1 ½ tsp paprika

¾ tsp onion powder

¾ tsp garlic powder

½ tsp dried oregano

½ tsp ground black pepper

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

Coconut oil

3 lbs of chicken wings

6 oz bottle of hot sauce (Crystals, Franks, Whoever's)

½ cup unsalted butter

1.       1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Prepare your pan, I place a baking rack on a sheet pan so the heated air can circulate around the wings. 

2.       2. Mix together all the dry seasonings in a bowl.

3.       3. Pat your wings dry and place on the baking rack.

4.       4. Melt about 3 tablespoons of coconut oil in a bowl (you may need more, guestimate)

5.       5. Using a marinade brush, brush the coconut oil on the wings.  Flip the wings over and brush the other side also with the coconut oil.

6.       6. Liberally apply the seasoning mix to the wings.  Flip over to ensure the whole wing is covered.

7.       7. Bake wings in the oven for approximately 45 minutes, flipping the wings halfway through.

8.Crucial decision making needs to take place now:  Eat the wings with sauce or dry rub.  OR BOTH.  These things are so bomb and delectable either way!

8.       9. Melt the unsalted butter in a pan and add the bottle of hot sauce.  Stir to combine.

9.       10. Toss in the wings and cover the wings with sauce.  Remove the covered wings to a serving platter (or directly to your mouth).