My Chicken Wing Seasoning Rub will become your new go-to wing spice blend. It takes just 5 minutes to toss together and will make your wings super flavorful. It is my families favorite super bowl snack.
Want more fun wing recipes, try my baked buffalo chicken wings and my buffalo chicken egg roll recipe.
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email below and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
Why this Chicken Wing Seasoning Rub Recipe is a Keeper
I love this recipe for easy dry rub because it really is the best homemade spice blend for wings. It’s inexpensive to make and I always end up with delicious wings.
- Flavor Powerhouse: A well-balanced rub infuses chicken wings with incredible depth and complexity of flavor, far beyond just salt and pepper. It creates a delicious crust during cooking.
- Versatility is Key: A chicken wing seasoning dry rub can be customized to suit any taste preference – smoky, spicy, sweet, savory, or herby.
- Simple and Quick: Making a seasoning rub takes just minutes with ingredients you likely already have in your pantry. No complicated steps or fancy equipment needed.
- Budget-Friendly Flavor Boost: Compared to expensive marinades or pre-seasoned wings, this good chicken wing seasoning is an economical way to make dry rub chicken wings.
- Perfect for Any Cooking Method: Whether you’re grilling, baking, roasting, smoking, or air frying your wings, wings coated in the best homemade dry rub will deliver fantastic flavor.
- Crispy Wings: Without the added moisture from a sauce, chicken wings are coated in the rub will end up with a nice and crispy skin.
How Much Dry Rub Should I Use Per Pound of Wings?
The amount that this recipe makes should be enough for about 2 pounds of wings. if you like your wings to be extra flavorful, you may want to make a little bit more.
Pro Tip for Dry Rub for Baked Chicken Wings
Grind Whole Spices for Maximum Flavor: If you have whole spices, grinding them fresh releases their essential oils and provides a more potent flavor than pre-ground spices.
Get 200 easy and delicious dinner recipes, so you'll never have to worry about what to make for dinner again.
Ingredient Notes for Dry Rub Wings and Variation Suggestions for this Chicken Wing Recipe
The best chicken wing seasoning recipe is so versatile. I like to experiment with flavors by using different ingredients. This perfect blend of dry ingredients is also good on chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Brown Sugar: Light brown sugar add just a touch of sweetness that takes crispy dry rub chicken wings to the next level.
- Chili Powder: This blend of dry spices requires two chili powders. Chipotle chili powder and regular chili powder give the wings a fantastic layering of spiciness.
- Five-Spice Powder: Try a blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds in your homemade spice mixes.
- White Pepper: Offers a different kind of heat than black pepper in seasonings for chicken wings.
How to Make Dry Rub for Chicken Wings
This dry rub on wings recipe comes together in 1 extremely quick and easy step. Make a little bit of this blend for whenever you’re craving crispy wings.
Get the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions in the recipe card below.
- Mix the Rub: In a bowl, mix together chili powders, light brown sugar, paprikas, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, mustard powder, salt and pepper.
Prep Ahead Suggestions for Crispy Dry Rub Chicken Wings
I like to prepare for party wings ahead of time, which means I always have some of this dry rub wings seasoning blend in stock.
- Mix the Rub in Advance: This is the most significant prep-ahead step. You can mix your chicken wing seasoning rub in large batches and store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for weeks or even months. Just make sure your spices are fresh when you mix it.
- Measure Spices Individually: If you frequently make wings, you could pre-measure individual spices into small containers or bags to make mixing the rub even faster.
How to Store and Use Leftovers Dry Rub Chicken Wing Seasoning
- Storing: Store this delicious dry rub in an airtight container.
- Reheating: The great thing about when you make a dry rub is that it does not need to be heated.
- Using Leftovers: Enjoy this dry rub chicken wings recipe with Sweet and Spicy BBQ Sauce and on Grilled Crispy Chicken Wings.
Common Questions About This Best Dry Rub Recipe
No but you can. Dry the chicken wings and let the wings sit with the dry rub for at least 30 minutes to make it worth it.
Sure. Try adding an oil or hot sauce to the rub to make it more like a sauce.
If stored properly in an airtight container or jar, this spice rub can last for up to 2 months.
Pat wings dry the first. Add the wings and seasoning to a large bowl. Use your hands to massage the seasoning to coat the wings. Then decide how you want to make air fryer chicken wings or baked.
Expert Tips for Making the Homemade Dry Rub Recipe
- Use Fresh, High-Quality Spices: The flavor of your dry rub is a blend rub will only be as good as the spices you use. Opt for fresh, aromatic spices whenever possible.
- Toast Whole Spices: For an even deeper flavor, you can lightly toast whole spices in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant before grinding them. Let them cool completely before mixing with other ingredients.
- Mix Thoroughly: When you make dry rub wings, ensure all the spices are evenly distributed in your rub for consistent flavor on every wing. Let the wings sit in the dry rub for extra flavor. Make sure to pat dry.
- Season the Wings Evenly: Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels before applying the rub on chicken. This helps the rub adhere better. Sprinkle the rub generously and evenly over all surfaces of the wings, then rub it in.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment: This is your chance to play with flavors! Start with a basic recipe and adjust the ratios of spices to find your perfect blend. Keep notes on what you add so you can recreate your favorites.
- Consider the Cooking Method: Adjust your rub based on how you’re cooking the wings. For example, if wings are coated with more sugar it might caramelize beautifully on a grill but could burn easily in a hot oven.
- Taste Test (If Possible): If you’re unsure about the balance of your rub, you can taste a tiny pinch, before touching the chicken. Adjust the seasonings as needed before applying it to the crispy chicken wings.
- Oven Baked Wings: Cook wings in the oven on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 400 and use baking powder to make them crisp. Baked chicken wings are the best and are really crispy.
Air Fryer is Best: The air fryer is a wonderful way to cook the best wings. Arrange the wings in a single layer in your air fryer basket (they should NOT be touching), and cook for 10 minutes at 400 degrees, flip once during the cooking process to make golden brown and crispy. - Make this Recipe and Serve with: Serve crispy baked dry rub chicken wings with your favorite dipping sauces like Best Blue Cheese Dressing, Spicy Honey Mustard Sauce or Buffalo Ranch Sauce.
More Recipes You Might Like
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email below and we’ll send this recipe straight to your inbox.
Chicken Wing Seasoning Rub
Equipment
SAVE THIS RECIPE!
Enter your email and we’ll send this recipe to your inbox.
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons Chili powder
- 2 teaspoons Light brown sugar, packed
- 1 ½ teaspoons Smoked paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons Onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon Paprika
- ¾ teaspoon Cumin
- ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Dried mustard powder
- ¼ teaspoon Chipotle chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl and stir well.
- Store in an airtight container.
Christina’s Notes
- Use Fresh, High-Quality Spices: The flavor of your rub will only be as good as the spices you use. Opt for fresh, aromatic spices whenever possible.
- Toast Whole Spices: For an even deeper flavor, you can lightly toast whole spices in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant before grinding them. Let them cool completely before mixing with other ingredients.
- Mix Thoroughly: When you make dry rub wings, ensure all the spices are evenly distributed in your rub for consistent flavor on every wing. Let the wings sit in the dry rub for extra flavor.
- Season the Wings Evenly: Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels before applying the rub on chicken. This helps the rub adhere better. Sprinkle the rub generously and evenly over all surfaces of the wings, then rub it in.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment: This is your chance to play with flavors! Start with a basic recipe and adjust the ratios of spices to find your perfect blend. Keep notes on what you add so you can recreate your favorites.
- Consider the Cooking Method: Adjust your rub based on how you’re cooking the wings. For example, if wings are coated with more sugar it might caramelize beautifully on a grill but could burn easily in a hot oven.
- Taste Test (If Possible): If you’re unsure about the balance of your rub, you can taste a tiny pinch, before touching the chicken. Adjust the seasonings as needed before applying it to the crispy chicken wings.
- Oven Baked Wings: Cook wings in the oven on a baking sheet. Preheat oven to 400 and use baking powder to make them crisp. Baked chicken wings are the best and are really crispy.
Air Frying: The air fryer is a wonderful way to cook the best wings. Arrange the wings in a single layer in your air fryer basket (they should NOT be touching), and cook for 10 minutes at 400 F degrees, flip once during the cooking process to make golden brown and crispy. - Serve With: Serve crispy baked dry rub chicken wings with your favorite dipping sauces like Best Blue Cheese Dressing, Spicy Honey Mustard Sauce or Buffalo Ranch Sauce.
For more helpful information about this recipe, such as variations, substitutions and other pro-tips, scroll up on the page.
is dried mustard powder the same as ground mustard???
Ground mustard is essentially the same as dry mustard, which is made from ground mustard seeds. However, keep in mind that the flavor might be slightly different. If a recipe calls for dry mustard, you can use an equal amount of ground mustard.