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Glazed chicken wings garnished with herbs

Maple Cranberry Glazed Wings with Smoked Paprika

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 4

Equipment

  • Baking sheet A sturdy rimmed baking sheet is essential for roasting the wings evenly.
  • Wire Rack This allows air to circulate around the wings, helping them get crispy. No rack? Line your pan with foil and spray generously with oil.
  • Small saucepan For simmering the glaze until thick and syrupy.
  • Mixing bowls One large bowl for tossing wings and a small one for mixing your dry rub.
  • Tongs For flipping wings and coating them in the glaze.
  • Whisk To ensure the glaze ingredients are well combined.

Ingredients
  

For the Wings

  • 2 ½ pounds of chicken wings drumettes and flats separated
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder

For the Maple-Cranberry Glaze

  • 1 cup whole berry cranberry sauce homemade or canned
  • ¼ cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 clove garlic finely minced
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper optional, for heat

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prep and Season the Wings

  1. Start by patting your chicken wings dry with paper towels. This helps them crisp up in the oven. Add them to a large mixing bowl and toss with olive oil.
  2. In a small bowl, combine salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Sprinkle the spice mix over the wings and toss until evenly coated.

Step 2: Roast Until Golden and Crispy

  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place a wire rack on top of a foil-lined baking sheet and arrange the wings in a single layer. Roast for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the wings are crispy and golden.

Step 3: Make the Maple-Cranberry Glaze

  1. While the wings roast, make your glaze. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberry sauce, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, soy sauce, smoked paprika, garlic, and cayenne pepper. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Let it bubble gently for 8-10 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Set aside.
  2. This glaze doubles as an incredible cranberry wing sauce — perfect for dipping or brushing on other proteins.

Step 4: Glaze and Broil

  1. Once the wings are golden and cooked through, remove them from the oven. Brush them generously with the maple-cranberry glaze and return to the oven under the broiler for 2-3 minutes. Keep a close eye — the sugars in the glaze can caramelize quickly.
  2. Want them extra sticky? Toss them in a bowl with more glaze right before serving.