These oven-grilled chicken wings are so good our friends call them “Precious Chicken.” Trust me—you’ve likely never tasted wings like these.
They’re full of flavor and surprisingly simple to make. Enjoy them on their own (seriously) or serve with your favorite sides.
My favorite pairing is fried plantains with pepper sauce or a spicy herby mayo—pure bliss.
I’m still settling into our new home. Unpacking takes time, so I’m taking it slow—one box a day—so I can properly place things and still enjoy cooking and exploring local grocery stores.
On my last shopping trip I bought chicken wings and decided it was the perfect moment to make and share my “Precious Chicken” oven-grilled wings recipe.
The name has a story. One day a family friend dropped by and I hadn’t planned to cook, but I had wings and my homemade suya spice on hand. I trimmed the wing tips, split the wings, washed and patted them dry, then coated them generously with the suya spice before grilling in the oven. The result? Ridiculously tasty wings.
Our friend loved the wings so much he photographed them and sent the pictures to his wife. They asked me to make more a few days later. Since then, these wings have been requested often and the name “Precious Chicken” stuck.
Now I’m sharing this special oven-grilled chicken wings recipe so you can make them at home. The wings turn out crispy outside, moist inside, and bursting with bold, bright flavors—glistening and irresistible.
Anyone can make these—really. The secret is the dry rub: a West African suya spice blend traditionally used on street-grilled beef. Used as a rub, it transforms the chicken. If you haven’t tried making suya spice, it’s easy with common pantry spices and pairs wonderfully with beef, chicken, or fish.
How Long to Cook Chicken Wings in the Oven
Set your oven to broil to mimic grilling. Broil the wings for a total of 30 minutes: 20 minutes on the first side, then flip and broil another 10 minutes. This method creates a delicious crust while keeping the inside juicy.
Grilled Chicken Wings Rub
The suya spice blend that I use as the rub includes ginger powder, garlic powder, white pepper, onion powder, peanut powder, paprika, salt, and bouillon (seasoning cube) powder. These ingredients are widely available and can be adjusted to taste.
Enjoy these oven-grilled chicken wings—aka “Precious Chicken”—as much as we do!
More Chicken Wing Recipes
Love chicken wings? Try these other recipes:
Baked Dry Rub Chicken Wings
Garlic Butter Wings
Jerk Chicken Wings
If you try this recipe, please leave a rating. Your feedback helps others find the recipe and I love hearing from you. Thank you!
Epic Oven Grilled Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken wings (about 1 1/2 kg) — wing tips removed and wings split
- 1/4 cup suya spice (see notes for homemade blend)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 seasoning cube (Maggi), 4g
- 1 teaspoon oil (I used olive oil)
Instructions
- Line a large baking tray with foil and brush or rub the tray with oil to coat the surface evenly.
- Wash the chicken wings thoroughly and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Sprinkle the seasoning cube and salt over the wings and toss to combine.
- Pour the suya spice onto a plate. Press each chicken piece into the spice, turning to coat all sides. Repeat for all pieces.
- Arrange the wings in a single layer on the prepared tray—avoid stacking for even cooking.
- Set the oven to broil. Broil the wings for 20 minutes, then flip and broil an additional 10 minutes until crisp and cooked through. Remove and serve warm.
Notes
1. I used party wings that were already cut. If using whole wings, remove the tips and split at the joint.
2. Make your own suya spice for the best flavor: ginger powder, garlic powder, white pepper, onion powder, peanut powder, paprika, salt, and bouillon powder. Adjust quantities to taste.
3. You can coat the wings in the dry rub and refrigerate overnight for even deeper flavor before grilling.
Nutrition
Additional Info
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: African, Fusion
Calories: 437
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“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” — Ecclesiastes 9:10 (KJV)