Chook Me!

How to bake chicken wings...?

We are having a party at our house on Saturday, and I purchased a 10 pound bag of chicken wings to make as an appetizer. I already have a very tasty BBQ sauce, I'm just wondering what the easiest way to make the chicken wings would be and how early I can make them and keep them warm for the party. I want to bake them in the oven, because I figured that would be the easiest. So, do I put the BBQ sauce on before or after baking the wings? What temp. and how long would I bake the wings? Any other suggestions are welcome!!! Thanks!! I have a roaster, a crockpot, and a large buffet server to keep them warm. Which one would be best, and how far ahead of time can I cook them? I also have been reading some things about having to "split" the chicken wings with a knife...what's that all about?? I actually do know how to cook, I swear...just not chicken wings!! : ) Thanks for the answers so far, very helpful!

Public Comments

1. Bake at 350* for about 45 minutes. About 15 minutes before they are done - add your bbq sauce!! NOT during. (unless you dilute it in water and bake with it which is good also, done it plenty of times) Your oven should have a warm button on it. If not then keep them warm at 225* - to 250* covered until your guests arrive.
2. I bake them at 425 degrees, so the skin is crispy. Nothing worse than soft, flabby wings! Check the wings after 30 minutes. If the juice runs clear and they're crispy, they're done. Then toss the wings in the sauce; I use a bowl with a lid, and shake them til they're coated.
3. This is what I do. I brush some melted butter on the wings, and bake them for an hour at 450. Then when they come out, I pour my hot sauce (I use Frank's Red Hot) all over them, and serve them hot. Now since you want to use a BBQ sauce, I think you'll want to baste the wings with the sauce after the wings have baked for about 40 minutes, so that the sauce has a chance to cook too. I'd baste them at 40 minutes, cook for 10, then turn them all over and baste the backsides. Then bake another 10. That should do it. Then to keep them warm, all you have to do it cover the pans with some tinfoil and you should be ok. I would try to plan for the wings to be cooked no more than 20 minutes before you plan on serving them. If you need to, you can probably leave them in the oven covered with tinfoil, but just turn off the heat. I wouldn't leave them in there for more than 30 minutes, though, as they'll dry out. Good luck!
4. Bake them before you put the sauce on. Wings can be greasy so they take a while. I would place them on a rack that has been placed in a pan so they do not sit in the grease. Bake about 25 min per side. Turn so they get crispy crunchy all over. On the Food network Alton Brown did a show about chicken wings and he steamed them before he baked them. That gets some of the grease out before you bake. If you wanted to do that you could steam them the day before and then bake them later for the party. I would keep them warm in a roaster oven if you have one. Crock pot would also work.