A healthy alternative to the classic football appetizer. These baked BBQ wings are made with a paleo and gluten-free sauce. Great for Superbowl Sunday.
Baked BBQ Wings seem kind of random for my first recipe, right? I bet you were predicting something involving salmon or almond butter. Trust me, we’ll get to those. Well, I was inspired by a few factors: Whole30, Superbowl Sunday and my dad. As if I haven’t talked about it enough, my mom and I are doing the Whole30 challenge. My dad wants it to be known that he is NOT doing the Whole30 challenge. However, because he has been good at not tempting us with wine, chocolate or coffee creamer, I wanted to make him something atypical from our meals of late. A healthyish take on a classic football food.
Football is OUR sport. Even if the Eagles (our team) break our hearts every year, football is our thing. Always has been. Since the upcoming Superbowl falls on the last weekend of Whole30 I wanted to make something that a) he would genuinely like and b) I could eat.
Instead of frying the wings I baked them (with a few spices) and used a Whole30-approved sauce from one of my new favorite brands, Tessemae’s. Could I have made my own sauce? Yes, but I’m all about making things simple and practical. Plus, when the ingredients are as clean as Tessemae’s there’s no need.
I found them in the produce section at Whole Foods the other week and I’m now a big fan. I’m thoroughly impressed with their variety of flavors and simple ingredients. Not sponsored, just sharing a cool brand.
I was nervous that the wings would be obviously healthy. I mean, I thought they were good but my dad is very picky and can smell kale a mile a way. He seriously asked me five times if there was “kale, quinoa, cauliflower, kombucha or any weird thing” in there. I was happy to say it was completely kale-free, but still a healthy alternative to the fried-version.
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Verdict: he ate seven of them for lunch and asked me to make them again for Superbowl Sunday. I might serve these along with kale chips and guacamole, because he can’t escape the kale forever. All about that healthyISH.
The Eagles might not be playing next weekend but at least we’ll be eating well…despite rooting for opposite teams.
- 1 lb chicken wings (about 12-15 per pack)
- 1 tbsp ghee (or oil of choice)
- 1 tsp salt + pepper
- 1 tsp cayenne powder
- (Optional: 1 tsp garlic powder)
- 1/2 cup of Tessemae's BBQ sauce (or hot sauce of choice)
- 1 tsp of ghee
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and place a wire rack on-top of baking pan.
- In a bowl, combine softened ghee (or oil), spices and wings. Mix with hands until wings are thoroughly covered.
- Bake in oven for 35 minutes.
- In saucepan, heat BBQ sauce and ghee (or oil substitute) and bring to boil.
- Once finished cooking, remove wings from oven and lightly coat them in sauce.
- Place back in oven for 5 more minutes.
- Remove from oven, pour additional sauce on wings (if desired).
- Serve hot or let cool. They are great both ways!
- Pat wings dry and let them sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before cooking.
PIN FOR LATER
Omg!!! Yesss keep the recipes comin :) love this. I’ve been wanting to make some wings and I wasn’t sure how to go about them but baking sounds perfecto
Christina recently posted…Chocolate Chip Coffee Muffins
Yeeeeeeee, thanks friend <3
Yay your first recipe!! And it looks amazing! Our posts go so well together this morning! Your pictures are beautiful and your wings sound divide. I’ve never made wings because they’re a little intimidating to make and eat, but you make it sound so simple!
Margaret @ youngandrungry recently posted…3 Easy Whole30 Appetizers for the Super Bowl
Yay, thank you! Seriously, we timed it perfectly :)
I bet these make your place smell amazing. Can we make a baked bbq wing candle?
Susie @ SuzLyfe recently posted…Friday Favorites: From Client Feedback to T-Rex Videos
My dog went crazy…he’s a big meat-eater haha
These look so good! Perfect first recipe :) I love the small list of ingredients since I already have most of them on hand!
Thanks, Brie! I thought it went well with my life and the big holiday coming up (aka the Super Bowl :P)
i love bbq wings and I am so addicted to them that I literally can’t stop eating them! at least this version is healthier so I don’t feel as bad :)
rachel @ athleticavocado recently posted…11 Unique Healthy Banana Bread Recipes
They are addicting! I love finger foods too so they are fun to eat.
My dad is also a big fan of the Superbowl even though the sport is not as big here in the UK and he normally stays up for it as it runs through the night here.
Zucchini muffins are our sneaky way of getting a few more veggies into his diet too :)
Charlotte recently posted…TOL…Take two minutes to remember
Oh yes it must be on very late where you are! Ha-funny you mention zucchini muffins. I tried to sneak some into banana bread last week and my dad recognized immediately. He stuck with the regular banana bread version from then on.
Look at you, missy! Posting a fabulous easy recipe with pretty photos!!
Chicken wings are awesome and obviously BBQ sauce is always…the best ;)
Yum, yum yum!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Friday Finisher 1/29/16
I’m all about easy and healthy recipes :) Thank you!
YUMM!! I love healthy versions of something so iconic for football or an event like this! :) Just pinned to try them out for the Superbowl!
Kalee recently posted…Best of the Week #1 – The Week of Highlights
Thanks, Kalee! I’m excited to make them again.
These look great Emily! Excited to try these :)
Gretchen recently posted…Top Five Friday #41
Thanks, Gretchen! Have a fabulous weekend!
Definitely making these next weekend! So funny, my BF’s team is the Eagles too. I don’t care much about football (sacrilege I know) but apparently we are now rooting for the Broncos.
Tell him “fly, Eagles, fly!” Yeah, we lost to the Panthers this year and they are in our conference. I don’t really care either way though!
Wings are not my specialty at all so I’m so glad you made this! I’ll have to pick up some tessamae’s and give it a go very soon :)
michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…Sweet Potato Bacon Burger Bites with Maple Chipotle {Paleo}
You would love Tessamae’s! So many different flavors and made with simple, healthy ingredients.
GO EAGLES. (next season lol). These look yummy-I want to try them out. And won’t tell my boyfriend they are healthyish :)
Thank goodness for “next year” ;)
This is another great option for me to save for my fiancee! He’s a huge fan of chicken wings as well as bbq flavors.
Lisa @ Lisa the Vegetarian recently posted…Thinking Out Loud Thursday
Typical “guy food” haha. But I love it too!
#pinned!! looks so good! i’m excited to try these out!
Thanks, Becky! I appreciate the pin :)
Yuuumm these look so good! Haha your dad sounds hilarious and reminds me of my boyfriend. There was kale in a recipe I made this week and he’s like “This is way too healthy for me. I need steak or something.” Haha ohhh men. I’ve never made wings before but this is tempting me to!
Amanda @ ExploringLifeAndThings recently posted…That one time I went to Spain
Seriously! Even if he actually liked the taste of a healthy food he would probably lie just to save face ;)
These look perfect for the upcoming Super Bowl! I would dive into a batch of these before they could hit the table! They look awesome, Emily. :)
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me recently posted…Why I am not “WIAW”-ing Anymore (What I Ate Wednesday)
I might have burned my tongue at first because I wanted them right away!
Looks delicious! I’ll have to make some!
Thanks, Whitney! Let me know if you do :)