Wing Dry Rub Recipe: Savory & Herby Flavors All in One Bite

Let me share my go-to wing dry rub recipe that makes homemade chicken wings taste just like take-outs with minimal effort!

Store this in your pantry, and you’ll never have boring or dull wings ever again. 

What is a Dry Rub? 

Dry rubs are a blend of spices, herbs, and seasonings that are used to enhance the flavor of meat. As the name suggests, these rubs contain no liquid at all.

So, unlike marinades, which you pretty much need to always prepare from scratch, you can make dry rubs in bulk and store them for future use! 

The pre-made seasoning blends you can purchase and even the simplest salt and pepper you usually use to season meat with can both be considered dry rubs.

But here’s the deal—since every meat has different flavor profiles, textures, and qualities, the dry rub that’s best suited for them will vary!

For example, for top-of-the-line steak cuts like filet mignon, a simple salt-and-pepper combo is usually preferred as it allows the natural flavors of the meat to excel.

But for chicken wings, very bold spices are usually recommended, as its meat tastes best when seasoned heavily!

🧑‍🍳 Important Wing Dry Rub Components

Let me briefly share the importance of the specific spices and herbs I chose for this wing rub.

With this information, you can easily tweak this dry rub recipe to match your preferred flavors!

Base Spices 

Paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, and chili powder are the popular base spices for any chicken rub recipe.

They’re gonna define the base flavors of your chicken wing. So, although you can play around with other ingredients, it’s best to keep these base spices as they are for this dry rub recipe.

Light Brown Sugar

Chicken wings taste best when they’re a little bit sweet, so I added a teaspoon of light brown sugar to this dry rub recipe. This ingredient also helps the chicken wings caramelize, making them crispier once cooked.

Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne pepper is the primary source of heat of this dry rub recipe. Feel free to adjust the amount depending on your spice tolerance.

Note: The recommended amount of half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper gives this dry rub a subtle but noticeable spicy kick.

Mustard Powder and Thyme 

These optional ingredients can be added if you want to infuse herby and tangy notes into the chicken wings. You may omit them if you prefer a simpler flavor profile.

Black Pepper & Optional Salt

Of course, freshly ground black pepper is always a mainstay in dry rubs, as it adds that peppery kick we all love on meat!

Now, you may be wondering, “Why is adding salt optional?”

Well, surprise-surprise, this rub already packs a flavor even without salt, which is a huge plus if you’re trying to cut back on sodium.

But if you want to balance out the flavors more, you can add half a teaspoon of salt to this rub.

🍴Tips For Applying Wing Dry Rub

Here are some tips for applying this dry rub to chicken wings.

Pat the Wings Dry: Only apply the dry rub once you’ve patted the surface of the wings dry to help the rub stick better and remain undiluted.

Season Generously: You shouldn’t spot any empty spaces on the wings when using this rub! Season generously so that every wing is covered in color!
Let the Rub Sit: Let the rub sit on the wings for at least 30 minutes to allow the rub’s flavors to better penetrate the meat!

Savory & Spicy Wing Dry Rub Recipe

Yield: 6 tablespoons of dry rub

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes

With this versatile dry rub recipe, you’re sure to always have irresistible chicken wings, whether you’re grilling, baking, or frying!

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Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon of onion powder
• 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon of chili powder
• 1 teaspoon of light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon of mustard powder (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon of Kosher salt (optional)

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients with a fork. Make sure there are no clumps. 
2. Once the mixture looks uniform, you may use it immediately or store it in an air-tight container. Store your rub in a cool and dark place to keep it fresh and usable for up to 6 to 8 weeks.

Notes

Image credit to ©willyum.foods.

Featured image credit to ©willyum.foods.