While people often like to marinate chicken wings in a sauce, you might be surprised to learn that a spice rub may be a better choice. And you can design many different spice rub combos depending on what spices you like.
There are many different spice rubs you can use to flavor chicken wings and you can choose not only the spices themselves but their proportions.
Here are a few spice rub ideas along with a comparison to marinades when preparing chicken wings.
Tasty Spice Rubs For Chicken Wings
- BBQ Spice Rub: A classic BBQ rub can be made with paprika, brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. This rub adds a sweet and smoky flavor to chicken wings.
- Buffalo Spice Rub: A buffalo rub can be made with paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. This rub adds a spicy and tangy flavor to chicken wings.
- Jamaican Jerk Spice Rub: A Jamaican jerk rub can be made with allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. This rub adds a complex and spicy flavor to chicken wings.
- Lemon Pepper Spice Rub: A lemon pepper rub can be made with lemon zest, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and dried thyme. This rub adds a fresh and zesty flavor to chicken wings.
- Honey Mustard Spice Rub: A honey mustard rub can be made with mustard powder, honey, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. This rub adds a sweet and tangy flavor to chicken wings.
You can also mix and match spices to create your own custom spice rub for chicken wings. Just be sure to coat the wings evenly with the rub and let them sit for a few hours in the refrigerator before cooking to allow the flavors to develop.
Spice Rub vs Marinade For Chicken Wings
Many chicken wing lovers often just choose marinated wings since that’s what is usually available particularly when it comes to frozen wings prepared at home or ordered in a restaurant.
But there are benefits to choosing a spice rub instead. Below we’ll discuss a comparison of spice rubs and marinades for your chicken wings.
| Spice Rubs | Marinades | |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A dry mixture of herbs and spices that is rubbed onto the surface of the chicken wings to flavor and season them | A liquid mixture of herbs, spices, oils, and acids that is used to marinate the chicken wings to tenderize and flavor them |
| Flavor | Adds a layer of flavor to the surface of the chicken wings | Infuses the chicken wings with flavor throughout |
| Texture | Does not significantly change the texture of the chicken wings | Can help to tenderize and moisten the chicken wings |
| Preparation time | Quick and easy to prepare | Requires several hours to fully marinate the chicken wings |
| Cooking time | Can be cooked immediately after applying the rub | May need to be patted dry before cooking to prevent excess moisture |
| Cooking method | Can be cooked by baking, grilling, or frying | Can be cooked by baking, grilling, or frying |
| Examples | BBQ rub, buffalo rub, Jamaican jerk rub, lemon pepper rub, honey mustard rub | Soy sauce and garlic marinade, yogurt and herb marinade, citrus and herb marinade, teriyaki marinade |
In summary, spice rubs are a quick and easy way to add flavor to chicken wings, while marinades require more time and effort but can help to tenderize and infuse the chicken with flavor. Both can be cooked using a variety of methods and can be customized to suit your taste preferences.