Skip to main content

Hot and Smoky Tang Wings

Baked chicken wings with Tang on a serving platter with carrots celery and cherry tomatoes.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht
  • Active Time

    20 minutes

  • Total Time

    1 hour (plus dry-brining)

这些鸡翅小烟熏,转为叙述e sweet, with a lip-smacking tartness from a secret ingredient that will keep your guests guessing and reaching for more. At first they might think it’s orange or lemon juice, but the real answer—that only you’ll know—is that it’s Tang. Yes, the very same retro drink powder that NASA supposedly sent to space with its astronauts, the one with that ’90s commercial where a bunch of monkeys in karate uniforms play real-life Fruit Ninja (a plot that is still lost on me). If you hate me for this unwanted dose of nostalgia, I offer you my Hot and Smoky Tang Wings as my sincerest form of apology.

Beyond adding a subtle citrusy flavor, thecitric acidin Tang tenderizes the meat to a fall-off-the-bone consistency. It also lets you avoid any added moisture from other forms of acid—like lemon juice or vinegar—that might jeopardize a crispy skin that is further reinforced by a combination of white rice flour and baking powder. The latter is said to raise the pH level of the skin, allowing for better crisping and browning.

These wings do require a long dry brine in the fridge—at least four hours and up to one day—so plan ahead. You can mix up a big batch of the Tang-y spice blend and store it in an airtight container, ready to be used as a dry rub onribsor a quick-toss coating forshrimp before grilling.

All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

What you’ll need

Ingredients

4 servings

3 Tbsp. vegetable oil, plus more for wire rack
2 Tbsp. Tang orange drink mix
1 Tbsp. chipotle chile powder
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 tsp. ground cumin
¼ tsp. celery salt
2 lb. chicken wings, tips removed, drumettes and flats separated
1 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 2¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. white rice flour
1 Tbsp. granulated onion
2 tsp. granulated garlic
  1. Step 1

    Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil, top with a wire rack, and lightly oil rack withvegetable oil. Mix2 Tbsp. Tang orange drink mix,1 Tbsp. chipotle chile powder,1 tsp. ground coriander,1 tsp. ground cumin, and¼ tsp. celery saltin a small bowl to combine (you should have a scant ¼ cup spice mix).

    Step 2

    Place2 lb. chicken wings, tips removed, drumettes and flats separated, in a large bowl and pat dry with paper towels. Add 3 Tbsp. spice mix,1 Tbsp. plus 1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 2¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt,1 Tbsp. baking powder,1 Tbsp. white rice flour,1 Tbsp. granulated onion, and2 tsp. granulated garlicand toss with your hands until wings are evenly coated. Arrange on prepared rack, spacing evenly apart, and chill, uncovered, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.

    Step 3

    When ready to bake, let wings sit at room temperature 30 minutes.

    Step 4

    Place a rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 425°. Drizzle3 Tbsp. vegetable oilover wings. Bake until cooked through and skin is browned and bubbling, 30–35 minutes. Using tongs, turn wings over and bake until golden brown on other side, 10–15 minutes. (Alternatively, you can grill the wings. Prepare a grill for medium-low heat; lightly oil grate. Grill wings directly on grate, skin side down, until slightly charred, about 2 minutes. Turn wings over and continue griling, turning wings occasionally, until crisp and brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a wing registers 165°, 13–18 minutes more.)

    Step 5

    Immediately transfer wings to a clean large bowl and toss with remaining spice mixture until evenly coated. Let sit 2 minutes before serving.

Sign InorSubscribe
to leave a Rating or Review

How would you rate Hot and Smoky Tang Wings?

Leave a Review

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

Read More
Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
These chicken wings are as golden and crispy as can be—without the hassle of deep-frying.
Extra-Saucy Baked Chicken Wings
This recipe for crispy baked chicken wings is perfect for game day. Finish half the wings with Buffalo sauce and the rest with a sticky ginger-soy glaze.
Extra-Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Skip the hot oil and make these spiced chicken wings in your air fryer. Cornstarch and baking powder ensure a crisped exterior.
Tangy Grilled Chicken Wings With Quick Giardiniera
Think Buffalo wings—saucy chicken, cheesy dip, crunchy vegetables—but turned slightly on its head with whipped feta and handheld giardiniera.
Maple-Wasabi Wings
These oven-baked wings get a blast of sweet-salty flavor from a blend of maple syrup and soy sauce and a one-two punch of heat from ginger, wasabi, and ra-yu sesame chili oil (sometimes labeled “la-yu”).
Smoky Vegan Jambalaya
A smoky, spicy broth makes sure every grain of rice in this vegan jambalaya is penetrated with flavor.
Smoky Sweet Corn Ribs
Loaded with crispy kernels, these snackable corn ribs are slathered with a smoky, tangy seasoned butter for a fresh take on barbecue corn recipes.
Chipotle-Roasted Cauliflower Tacos
This vegetarian cauliflower taco recipe uses the smoky adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chiles to bring big flavor to the titular roasted veggies.