Cilantro Lime Chicken Wings

It is 2021 now and if you are still under the impression that chicken wings need to be fried you are in the wrong. Baked chicken wings still give you the amazing crunch exterior but you get an even more juicy interior. If done properly, you'll never go back to frying chicken wings. Especially when you have a delicious marinade like this cilantro lime sauce. 

A couple of years ago I became fully invested in fantasy baseball. Fantasy baseball is a little bit different than its counter part football. Baseball games are played every day rather than once and week and require your lineups to be updated every day. It's impossible to sign up for fantasy baseball and not become obsessed. Let's just say several excel spreadsheets were made in my runs. This year a co worker asked me to join a football "pick" league. I know nothing about football but I'm never one to turn down a fun sporting offer. This game is the complete opposite of fantasy baseball. You literally just have to pick one team to "win" each week. However, they take another step in making this amateur friendly and literally tell you the "most popular" team to pick each week. Well here we are a week away from the Super Bowl and I still know nothing about football. I merely picked the team the app told me to pick each week and I've made it to the playoff semifinals and am in the running for the big pot. To be honest, I still don't understand football. It seems like just when the action picks up and everyone starts running, they just stop.

Let's just agree that my knowledge of game day food is greater than my knowledge of the actual game. I truly love any kind of chip and dip but when it comes to football food, it's all about the wings. There is a nationally rated wing restaurant close by to where my family holds their annual super bowl party. Naturally, we always get wings from this joint but I've been known to still bring my own wings just for comparison :)

If you are timid to try making your wings at home because you don't want to get involved with a messy frying experience, you need to try baking wings. It's so easy as long as you do it properly. The key to getting the best crispy skin in the oven is easy. All you need is high heat and a wire rack. I cook my wings at 400 degrees and use one of those wire racks you typically use for cooling cookies. When you bake the wings on the rack, it allows the air to circulate from all angles, so that the bottoms of the wings do not get soggy. It's a total game changer. 

Ingredients:
​3 pounds chicken wings
1/2 cup fresh cilantro diced (divided)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp chili powder
1/2 tsp ground pepper
1/3 cup lime juice (about 2-3 limes juiced)

1. In a large bowl whisk together 1/4 cup cilantro, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper, chili powder, and lime juice. Pour marinade into a ziplock bag and add in the wings. Toss the wings so that the marinade evenly coats all of the chicken. Place in the fridge and marinade overnight or at least 2 hours.

2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil or a silicone mat and place a wire rack on top of the baking sheet. Grease the baking sheet with oil or cooking spray.

3. Place the wings on the rack, making sure to leave some space in between each. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, flip the wings over with tongs, and bake for another 15 minutes.

4. To get a nice char, broil the wings on high for two minutes. Remove from the oven and serve with extra cilantro and limes.