Greek Chicken Wings are grilled in the oven and served with a mustard Ladolemono (Olive oil + lemon dressing). They're deliciously seasoned with the most gorgeous crispy skin!
They're herby and spiced, and the mustard-lemon-olive oil sauce adds that nice kick of sourness right at the end.
The Best Method To Cook Chicken Wings
Do you like wings that are beautifully crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside? Then bake them in the oven!
You don't actually need to fry chicken wings in order for them to become utterly crisp and delicious. You can do this in the oven and instead of batter, use a tasty Greek marinade that will flavor them to their core (especially if you leave them to marinate overnight).
And yes, fried chicken wings might be amazing but these Greek Chicken Wings that are baked in the oven, taste as good and are much healthier.
The Trick To Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
The trick to making crispy chicken wings in the oven is to cook them on a rack. And let their fat drain off of them. Also, chicken skin crisps on its own when there isn't moisture on it. That's why it's very important to pat dry the wings with paper towels before adding anything else to them.
Furthermore, acids will also tenderize the skin and will never let it get crispy. So lemon juice and/or vinegar are avoided in the marinade.
Another tip to make the best crispy chicken wings in the oven is to cut them in half. The even surface allows for the skin to crisp properly. Something that will never happen if you leave the wing whole.
Lastly, season them right before you are about to bake. The more time the salt sits on the chicken the more of its moisture it will absorb. Therefore, drying the flesh and moistening the skin. So think of salt as the final outer layer on top of the marinade.
See how Chef Thomas Keller is using salt to cook the perfect roast chicken.
Do You Grill Or Bake Chicken Wings?
Grilling won't give you as crispy wings as you will get by baking them. Yes, you do bake them on a rack which is like grilling. But the difference is that with grilling only the surface of the chicken cooks mostly while the remaining half starts to moisten and soften. On the other hand, when baking the heat transfers equally all over drying the skin all around and making it crispy.
Can You Broil Chicken Wings?
You can broil chicken wings after baking if you want to give them more color. But just like grilling, that's mentioned above, broiling can't be used instead of baking to avoid soft wings.
How To Make Greek Chicken Wings
To make Greek Chicken Wings first remove the tips, then cut the wings in half. Pat dry well with paper towels.
Then mix the ingredients for the marinade in a bowl. Starting with the dry ingredients (paprika, turmeric, garlic powder, mustard powder, dried oregano, and thyme). Then add the lemon zest and a little bit of olive oil to form a paste. Rub this all over the chicken wings by giving them a good massage. Then marinade and bake!
Ideally, let the chicken wings marinate overnight for a really strong flavor.
Bake The Wings
To bake the wings first preheat the oven very well. Then cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil and fit a wire rack to it. If you don't have one, you can use the oven's rack and baking tray. Bake the wings for about 40 minutes.
If they're a bit larger than normal they might need up to 50 minutes at a temperature of 200°C / 400°F. You can always use an instant-read thermometer and ensure it reads 165°F 74°C. For perfectly cooked wings. Then rest the wings on the rack for 5 minutes before serving.
Serve Them Greek-Style
What we do in most meat dishes in Greece, especially the grilled ones, is to add Ladolemono on top. Ladolemono is fresh lemon juice mixed with extra virgin olive oil. We pour this over the cooked meat. Following with a generous sprinkle of dried oregano.
This Ladolemono is made with the addition of mustard to it. Just a small amount adds an extra kick of flavor that goes so well with chicken! Pour this over the wings when you serve them or you can add in a small bowl on the side to dip them in.
And don't forget some olive slices on the side. In case you want some extra lemon on top. That's another thing we always add to meat dishes!
Side Dishes For Chicken Wings
These Greek Chicken Wings are great served with a Greek Salad, or a feta cheese dip like Tirokafteri, Htipiti, or some Tzatziki. Or you can serve them with these Roasted Greek Potatoes With Feta Cheese.
Recipe
Greek Chicken Wings (oven-grilled)
Ingredients
- 900 grams (2 pounds) chicken wings split, tips removed
- dried oregano to serve with
- lemon slices to serve with
For The Marinade:
- 1 ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon mustard powder
- 3 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons thyme
- 3 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ lemon zested
- salt + pepper
For The Dressing:
- 1 teaspoon mild mustard
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice fresh
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200°C / 400°F.
Prepare The Wings:
- Tap dry the chicken wings with paper towels. Add to a large mixing bowl.
- In a small mixing bowl combine all the dry ingredients for the marinade except the salt and pepper.
- Add the marinade mixture to the chicken wings. Drizzle also the olive oil on top. Mix and rub the wings with your hands for the marinade to spread evenly.
- Cover the bowl and place in the fridge for about an hour. You can also make the day before and marinate overnight.
- Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Fit the baking sheet with a wire rack.
- Arrange the wings on the rack (right side facing upward). Season with table salt and pepper.
- Bake for about 40 minutes until the skin is really crisp and the wings are cooked through.
- Remove from the oven and rest on the rack for 5 minutes.
Make The Dressing:
- Mix all of the ingredients for the dressing in a small bowl until combined.
Serve:
- Add the wings to a serving plate and drizzle with the dressing. Sprinkle some ground oregano on top, and serve with some lemon slices on the side as well.
