Dry Rub Oven Baked Crispy Cajun Ranch Wings
Cajun dry rub wings combine two of my favorite things: cajun spices and ranch seasoning.
These crispy chicken wings are almost too delicious to be this simple. All you need is homemade cajun seasoning, dry ranch seasoning and chicken wings. I suggest using both drumlettes and winglettes for variety. Pop ’em in the oven and you’ll have awesome wings with perfect crispy skin in no time.
With a little heat and tons of flavor, these Cajun wings make the perfect appetizer for your next party. Set out your favorite dipping sauce, like ranch, sugar free BBQ sauce or blue cheese dressing and watch as these get devoured. These go great with the sides from this roundup of macro friendly party dishes.
If you’ve got a thing for wings, try Honey Garlic Wings and Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wings. I love to make this wing spread for Super Bowl and set out with Buffalo Chicken Dip.
What are dry rubbed wings?
Well .. it’s simple. This dry rub recipe is simply cajun seasoning and ranch seasoning combined to make the easiest, crispiest and most delicious dry rub wings. Since we’re baking, not frying, and we’re leaving off heavy sauces these not only high protein but they have zero carbs. These will be your new favorite protein snack.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Flavorful and delicious, perfect for parties.
- Gluten-free as written.
- A great high-protein, zero-carb appetizer or meal.
Ingredients and Substitutions:
These are the main ingredients and substitutions for these Dry Rubbed Wings. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients list and instructions.
- Drumettes and Winglettes: you can buy these separated at the store. If you buy full wings you will need to cut them at the joint to separate the drumette from the winglette.
- Cajun Seasoning: I love using my homemade cajun seasoning which is a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper and black pepper .. and no added sugar! You can also use storebought but it is a lot saltier.
- Ranch Seasoning: we’re using Hidden Valley storebought dry ranch seasoning for convenience but you can definitely use my homemade dairy free ranch seasoning as well.
- Baking Powder: do not skip! This makes them extra crispy!
Variations & Substitutions
- You can use store-bought cajun seasoning but note this is much saltier than homemade rub. Start with 1 Tbsp. as opposed to 1.5 Tbsp. of homemade.
- I used Hidden Valley Ranch dry seasoning for convenience. To make your own, use the homemade dairy free ranch seasoning.
- Note: baking powder is the secret ingredient for extra crispy wings. Do not skip it!
Dietary Modifications
- These are gluten-free, as is.
- Hidden Valley Dry Ranch seasoning blend has dairy in it. To make dairy-free use my homemade dairy free ranch seaosning.
How to make dry rubbed wings (a visual step-by-step guide):
Step 1: preheat oven and prep baking sheet
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with foil. Spray with nonstick spray to keep the wings from sticking to the foil.
Step 2: prep wings
Pat the wings dry with a paper towel and add to a large bowl or ziplock bag (image 1).
Add the baking powder, seal the bag and shake to evenly coat (image 2). Do not skip this part, this helps make the wings extra crispy.
Add 1.5 Tbsp. cajun seasoning and 1.5 Tbsp. ranch seasoning to the bag with the wings (image 3).
Seal the bag and shake again to evenly coat the wings in the spice blend (image 4).
Step 3: bake wings
Place wings on the sheet pan in a single layer without overlapping. Optional: Lightly spray the top with avocado oil or olive oil spray and bake for 45 minutes. Flip halfway through baking.
Place wings on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet in a single layer without overlapping (image 5). Optional: Lightly spray the top with avocado oil or olive oil cooking spray and bake for 45 minutes. Flip halfway through baking.
Bake for 45 minutes, flipping half way through (image 6).
Expert Tip!
Do not skip the baking powder, this important step is the secret to crispy perfection!
Recipe FAQs
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Reheat in an air fryer or even to bring the crispiness back.
I love a wing spread. If you’re having a party make these with Honey Garlic Wings and Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wings and wing away. Or serve with a side salad, french fries, onion rings and lots of ranch for dipping.
Air fry the wings at 380 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 mins. Flip and cook for an additional 5-8 minutes until extra crispy. Repeat the steps for the second batch as needed.
Check out our other easy recipes!
If you make this recipe, please leave a rating and/or comment! Tag me on Instagram @ohsnapmacros, I love hearing from you!
Dry Rubbed Wings
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Ingredients
- 2 lbs. wings (drumlettes and winglettes)
- 1 Tbsp. baking powder
- 1.5 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning 2 Tbsp. for added heat
- 1.5 Tbsp. dry ranch seasoning (Hidden Valley or my homemade)
Cajun Seasoning
- 3 Tbsp. smoked paprika
- 1.5 Tbsp. salt
- 2 Tbsp. garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp. onion powder
- 1 Tbsp. dried oregano
- 1 Tbsp. cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp. black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with foil. Spray with nonstick spray to keep the wings from sticking to the foil.
- Pat the wings dry with paper towels and add to a large mixing bowl or ziplock bag. Add the baking powder to the bag, seal and shake or mix in the bowl to evenly coat. Do not skip this part, this helps make the wings extra crispy.
- Add 1.5 Tbsp. cajun seasoning and 1.5 Tbsp. dry ranch seasoning to the bag or bowl and shake or mix to evenly coat the wings.
- Place the wings on the baking sheet without overlapping. Bake for 45 minutes. Flip halfway through baking. (Optional: Lightly spray the top of the wings with avocado oil or olive oil spray before baking.)
- Remove from the oven and enjoy your dry rub ribs alone or dipped in ranch dressing.
Notes
- Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary with substitutions.
- You can lay the wigs on a wire rack vs. on the foil but I prefer on the foil so the wings soak up the liquid, just be sure to spray your foil well so they wings don’t stick.
- If using wings that are not separated you will need to cut at the joint to give you a drumette and winglette.
- Use storebought ranch seasoning or make my homemade dairy free ranch seasoning.
- for extra heat add an additional 1/2-1 Tbsp. Of Cajun seasoning.
