Chicken wings turn out incredibly crispy with this editor-loved sheet pan trick that's less messy than frying

“Everything bakes better.”

All that’s required to eat chicken wings is a plate, your fingers, and lots of napkins. But what do you need to cook them well in the first place?

Food & Wine editors set out to find out, testing six different methods of cooking chicken wings. And, surprisingly, neither the air fryer nor deep-frying won. To get crispy, unbreaded — aka naked — chicken wings, baking them in the oven on a baking sheet, like the USA Pan Half Sheet Baking Pan, achieved the best results. Amazon shoppers agree and say, “This pan is perfect for crispy chicken wings.”

USA Pan Half Sheet Baking Pan with Cooling Rack

$37 $31 at Amazon

Several features make this non-toxic baking sheet ideal for making chicken wings. It has tall 1-inch sides that keep any messy grease contained, and the ridges inside the pan help circulate air and allow for even heat distribution. Plus, the included wire rack with feet elevates the chicken wings away from dripping grease and lets them crisp up evenly. The sheet pan can handle up to 450°F, which is the temperature we used to cook chicken wings in our test. We loved that, unlike other methods, we could cook a large batch — as many as 2 pounds — at one time and with less cleanup than methods like an air fryer. Plus, the final results were so “incredibly crispy,” you would swear they had been deep-fried.

Like other USA Pan bakeware, it has the brand’s proprietary nonstick coating that makes it easy to hand-wash, but the rack tends to be more challenging if any of the chicken wings stick to it. When it comes to cleaning the rack, some shoppers have used a dish brush and a little soap, while others have successfully used a soapy dishcloth to remove any stuck-on debris.

More than 9,600 shoppers love how durable this baking sheet is, not to mention its excellent even heating. “Everything bakes better,” wrote one reviewer. “I’m hooked and replacing all of my bakeware with this brand,” they added. “They are sturdy, don’t stick, and so easy to clean,” said a second customer. “It does not buckle or warp when it’s in the oven,” wrote a third fan, who added, “It’s the best pan that I ever purchased; I would recommend this pan to anybody.” “It makes yummy crispy baked chicken,” says another shopper. It’s not just for making wings, either, as several shoppers have discovered this pan is the ideal option for making bacon, roasting vegetables, and cooking other meats.

Grab the USA pan baking sheet with rack to get perfectly crispy chicken wings without the mess. It’s on sale for $31 at Amazon, and you’ll soon be making wings with the method we found works best.

Shop More Baking Pans at Amazon

Nordic Ware Naturals Half Sheet Baking Pans, Set of 2

$33 at Amazon

Saffron & Sage Home Living Half Sheet Baking Pan with Cooling Rack

$33 at Amazon

NutriChef Baking Sheets, Set of 3

$20 $15 at Amazon

Rottay Half Baking Sheets with Cooling Racks, Set of 2

$36 $32 at Amazon

GoodCook Baking Sheets, Set of 3

$18 at Amazon

At the time of publishing, the price was $31.

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