Description
This Cowboy Butter Chicken Wings Recipe delivers bold flavor with a buttery herb kick. Crispy wings are tossed in zesty, garlicky cowboy butter—perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Wings:
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2 lbs chicken wings, separated and tips removed
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1 tbsp olive oil
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1 tsp garlic powder
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1 tsp onion powder
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½ tsp smoked paprika
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½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
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Salt and pepper to taste
For the Cowboy Butter:
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½ cup unsalted butter
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3 garlic cloves, minced
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1 tbsp Dijon mustard
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1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
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1 tsp lemon zest
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1 tsp red pepper flakes
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1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
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1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
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Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Preheat Oven or Air Fryer:
Oven to 425°F (220°C) or air fryer to 390°F (200°C). -
Prep the Wings:
Pat wings dry and toss with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. -
Cook the Wings:
Oven: Bake for 35–40 minutes on a rack.
Air Fryer: Cook for 22–25 minutes, flipping once.
Grill: Grill on medium-high heat, 6–8 minutes per side. -
Make Cowboy Butter:
In a saucepan, melt butter and sauté garlic. Stir in mustard, lemon juice, zest, red pepper, parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 2 minutes. -
Toss & Serve:
Pour hot cowboy butter over cooked wings and toss. Serve immediately.
Notes
Make cowboy butter ahead and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Air-dry wings in the fridge for 1 hour pre-cooking for extra crispiness.
Use vegan butter and cauliflower for a plant-based version.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Main Dish
- Method: Bake, Air Fry, Grill
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. ½ lb wings)
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 38g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 130mg
Keywords: chicken wings recipe, cowboy butter, crispy wings, party wings, game day snacks