Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

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Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Get in the festive mood with these finger licking cranberry chicken wings! These baked wings are a wonderful mix of sweet and salty and they make a great addition to your holiday menus!

Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

If you are looking for a crowd pleasing appetizer to serve up this Christmas, you cannot go wrong with these delicious cranberry chicken wings.

Super easy to make and the flavors are out of this world! I promise you, these will be a hit!

For more holiday appetizers, be sure to check out my Easy Antipasto Skewers and Easy Bacon Wrapped Shrimp.

Table of Contents

Why you’ll love Cranberry Chicken Wings:

  • Easy: The wings are baked on a sheet pan so clean up is a breeze and this recipe requires very little prep.
  • Perfect for a crowd: This recipe makes 24 wings and the recipe is easily halved or doubled.
  • Great for any occasion: These wings aren’t just for Christmas! They are a great appetizer all year round and are a great choice for the Super Bowl!
Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

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How to make cranberry wings

You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!

  1. Whisk together the ingredients for the sauce.
  2. Marinate the chicken wings in half the sauce and set the rest aside.
  3. Place the marinated wings on a baking sheet and bake in a pre heated oven.
  4. Heat the remaining sauce and bring to a simmer to thicken it.
  5. Base the wings with the sauce and bake.
  6. Serve the wings with the reduced cranberry sauce.
Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (6)
Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (7)

Can you make them ahead of time?

Wings are best served as soon as they are made, but you can make the sauce and marinade the wings for up to 4 hours before you plan to serve them.

If you do have leftovers, you can keep them in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them at 350f for 10 to 20 minutes until heated through.

Why bake wings rather than frying them?

When making wings at home, I always prefer to bake them rather than fry. It takes longer, but it’s so much easier and pretty hands off. It’s obviously also healthier and they turn out just as good!

What do you serve them with?

Because of the cranberry sauce on the chicken wings, I would skip the ranch dip on this occasion. The beauty of these wings is that they are best served with the reduced cranberry sauce to really enhance the flavor, so no need to worry about making extra dips!

Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (8)
Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (9)

Tips!

  • Line your baking sheets with foil to make clean up a breeze.
  • Leave space between the chicken pieces on the baking sheet so that they get crispy all over.
  • Pat the wings fry before adding the to the marinade to help crisp them up.
Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

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Chicken Wing Recipes

If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.

Recipe

Cranberry Chicken Wings

4.62 from 34 votes

Author: Becky Hardin

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 50 minutes minutes

Total: 55 minutes minutes

Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (19)

Serves4 people

Print Rate

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Get in the festive mood with these finger licking cranberry chicken wings! These baked wings are a wonderful mix of sweet and salty and they make a great addition to your holiday menus!

Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (20)

Email This Recipe

Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!

By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Cookie Rookie.

Ingredients

  • 5 pounds chicken wings

For the Sauce

  • 14 ounces canned jellied cranberry sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Ginger Paste or grated fresh ginger
  • ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Zest and juice from 1 large orange
  • Juice from 1 medium lime divided

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

  • Place wings in a zipper-style plastic bag.

For the Marinade/Sauce:

  • In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients, reserving half of the lime juice for later. Pour half of the marinade/sauce over the chicken wings. Squeeze extra air from the bag, seal and refrigerate the wings at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours. Flip the bag of wings over every ½ hour, if possible.

  • Place the remaining marinade/sauce in a medium saucepan, cover and set aside.

  • After the wings have marinated, preheat the oven to 400°F and adjust oven racks to middle-lower and middle-upper positions. Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with foil and spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray.

  • Use tongs to transfer half the wings to each baking sheet. Be sure to leave at least 1-inch between each wing. (Discard the leftover marinade in the plastic bag.)

  • Bake the wings at 400°F for 20 minutes then rotate and move the baking sheets from top to bottom and bottom to top. Bake an additional 20 minutes.

  • Meanwhile, bring the reserved marinade/sauce to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring often. Reduce the temperature to low and simmer until the sauce thickens. When it is the desired thickness, remove from the heat.

  • When chicken is cooked through, turn off the oven and remove the wings from the oven. Brush (baste) the wings with extra sauce. Be sure to keep the basting sauce separate from the serving sauce. Return the basted wings to the oven for 5-10 minutes.

  • Serve the wings drizzled with remaining half of the lime juice with a side of the reduced Cranberry Sauce.

  • Enjoy!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

  • Line your baking sheets with foil to make clean up a breeze.
  • Leave space between the chicken pieces on the baking sheet so that they get crispy all over.
  • Pat the wings fry before adding the to the marinade to help crisp them up.
  • Makes 24 wings.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 6wings Calories: 891kcal (45%) Carbohydrates: 52g (17%) Protein: 58g (116%) Fat: 49g (75%) Saturated Fat: 14g (88%) Cholesterol: 236mg (79%) Sodium: 1127mg (49%) Potassium: 581mg (17%) Fiber: 2g (8%) Sugar: 47g (52%) Vitamin A: 566IU (11%) Vitamin C: 19mg (23%) Calcium: 58mg (6%) Iron: 4mg (22%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (21)

Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (22)

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Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin is a wife and mother living in Saint Louis Missouri. She founded The Cookie Rookie in 2012 as a creative way to share recipes. Now, she is a trusted resource for easy cooking around the world, being featured in Taste of Home, The Kitchn, ABC’s Home and Family, and more. Here at The Cookie Rookie she is the editor in chief of all recipes and continues to enjoy sharing her passion for cooking for busy families. She has since founded two additional food blogs, Easy Chicken Recipes and Easy Dessert Recipes.

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2 Comments

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Aj vasquez

Posted on 11/18/2022

Can i freeze the marinade or how long can i leave the marinade in the fridge???

Reply

Samantha Marceau

Posted on 11/18/2022

Reply to Aj vasquez

the marinade should last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator!

Reply

Cranberry Chicken Wings Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to bake chicken wings at 350 or 400? ›

After experimenting with baking them at different temperatures, I discovered that baking them at 400°F is the way to go. Baking is one is the easiest and healthiest method to make wings, there is minimal cleanup required, and you can cook about 2 pounds of wings at once.

What is the best cooking method for wings? ›

Baking at a high temperature ensures you get a golden outside while the inside remains moist and tender. For those looking for an extra crunch, a brief broil at the end of cooking can add an additional layer of texture to make your wings truly irresistible.

How to get flavor into chicken wings? ›

Butter: Dot the baking sheet with pats of butter–it melts while the wings are in the oven, and helps to add moisture, flavor, and it crisps up the skin. Seasoning Blend: The dry rub is what makes these baked wings so irresistible! It's a simple mix of paprika, garlic powder, and salt and pepper, and it tastes amazing.

Are chicken wings healthy? ›

Myth: Chicken wings are greasy, unhealthy and indulgent.

Fact: While the crispy skin on wings does contain some fat, it's not all bad news. Chicken wings are a good source of lean protein, a single wing packs around 6 grams of protein.

Should I flip my wings in the oven? ›

Bake the wings at 350 degrees for 1 hour, turning them over halfway through. This helps the skin crisp relatively quickly without drying out the inside.

Why are my chicken wings not getting crispy in the oven? ›

bake on low then high – usually, the fat under the skin is part of the reason why baked wings don't get really crispy. In this recipe, we start at a low temp first which melts the fat under the skin, then we crank up the oven which makes the skin super crispy!

What is the secret to crispy wings? ›

Crispy Hack #1: Baking Powder

The kitchen science wizards at America's Test Kitchen and Serious Eats both found this worked best for them. This was the easiest of the hacks: Just toss the wings in a teaspoon each of salt and baking powder before baking.

Do you put seasoning on wings before or after cooking? ›

Toss the wings in a few tablespoons of neutral cooking oil (like canola or vegetable oil), then season with salt and pepper before adding them to the grill.

Is it better to use flour or baking powder on chicken wings? ›

The less moisture left in the skin, the more crispy your wings will be! Use Baking Powder. Baking powder will help ensure that your wings brown nicely and it also helps create that desired crispy coating.

Do you put sauce on chicken wings before baking? ›

Flavors: You can easily adapt this recipe by using a simple seasoning of salt and pepper to start with and then tossing the wings in the sauce of your choice before the last 30 minutes of baking. Ensure Crispy Wings: Make sure to dry the wings thoroughly before seasoning, and bake on a wire rack.

When should I put sauce on my chicken wings? ›

Add sauce at the very end to maintain and maximize wing crispiness. As for the baking stage, make sure to dry your chicken wings with paper towels before you put them in the oven. If there's any moisture on the wings, this can inhibit their ability to crisp nicely before they've even had the chance to cook.

Why put baking soda on chicken wings? ›

Baking soda is alkaline, so it raises the pH level of chicken skin, breaking down the peptide bonds and jumpstarting the browning process, meaning the wings got browner and crispier faster than they would on their own.

Are wings OK for weight loss? ›

Parts like chicken wings, thighs, and drumsticks are very high in calories and fat, thus, making them a not-so-good option for weight loss. Apart from this, make sure that the chicken that you are eating is not deep fried or loaded with sauces, as this increases the calorie count.

Is it okay to eat a lot of chicken wings? ›

You must eat the right amount of calories to guarantee a healthy intake. Thus, eating a maximum of six chicken wings per meal ensures you consume the necessary calories. Note that the amount of calories in chicken wings depends on how they are cooked and the sauces you use.

Are air fried chicken wings good for you? ›

Air fryers may be better for you than deep fryers, but they're only as healthy as the food you put inside. They won't magically remove the saturated fat from bacon or the trans fats from a bag of processed chicken wings. To reap the benefits, reach for better-for-you options like vegetables and lean proteins.

How long should wings be in the oven at 350? ›

directions. Rub seasonings onto both sides of individual chicken wings. Place in glass casserole dish. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.

How long does it take for wings to cook at 400? ›

It takes 40-50 minutes to bake chicken wings at 400°F, compared to 55-65 minutes at 350°F. Keep in mind that brined chicken wings will cook 20% faster. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature in the thickest part of the wings . It should read 165°F (including carryover cooking and rest time).

What temperature is best for cooking wings? ›

A surface temperature of about 425°F (218°C) is what you're after. This direct cooking over a medium-high heat gives the skin a nice crispness without fear of burning. Chicken wings, being dark meat, are safe to eat at 165°F (74°C), but they won't be as tasty as they could be until 175°F (79°C).

Is 400 too high to bake chicken? ›

The best way to bake chicken breasts is the oven is at 400 F. Simply drizzle some olive oil in the bottom of your baking dish, season your skinless chicken breasts generously and add a pat of butter on top of each chicken breast.

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