Baked Cranberry Glazed Chicken Wings

Who said chicken wings need to be fried to be delicious? These baked cranberry glazed chicken wings have all the tang and flavor you want in a chicken wing without all the deep-fried oil. Plus, you don’t have to deal with any messy grease cleanup. These wings go so great for Thanksgiving or Christmas that they might just become your favorite cranberry appetizer. Accompany these with some Vegetable Skewer Cocktails and you have something for everyone.

Why Cranberry Glazed Chicken Wings?

This cranberry glaze sauce is a great alternative to BBQ sauce because it’s made from natural ingredients like frozen cranberries, maple syrup, low sodium soy sauce, and fresh ginger. Regular BBQ sauces are made from refined sugar or molasses and typically contain over 20 grams of carbs per serving. These cranberry glazed chicken wings are low-carb, high in protein, and packed with flavor. Before baking, they’re coated with avocado oil, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and pepper. While they’re baking, you simmer and reduce the cranberry sauce and then blend it until you get a beautiful glaze. Toss the wings in the glaze and throw them back in the oven for a few minutes, and enjoy the cranberry fruits of your labor!

Cranberries are a Superfood

Cranberries are considered a superfood because they’re loaded with antioxidants and nutrients. They contain vitamin B-1 (thiamin), B-2 (riboflavin), B-3 (niacin), B-6, and they’re also a good source of vitamin C. They also contain:

• Calcium
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Vitamin A, E, and K

Because cranberries are harvested in September and October, they’ve become a staple at Thanksgiving. However, they usually come in the form of cranberry sauce. These cranberry glazed chicken wings are a great way to mix it up this holiday season!

What if I Want Spicy Wings?

These cranberry glazed chicken wings call for fresh minced ginger and red pepper flakes, so they’ll definitely have a little kick to them. But if you like your wings even spicier, you can always add more ginger and red pepper flakes. You could also add some minced garlic if you want to maximize the flavor of these wings. But even without the extra spice, these wings are the perfect combination of sweet and salty, with a bit of fat to bring the flavors together.

Wings Are Part of a Healthy Diet

When you take away the ranch dressing, blue cheese, and the deep fryer, chicken wings are a lot healthier than people might think. They actually contain nutrients that might surprise you and are sure to have you coming back for more! Wings have high levels of protein and almost no carbohydrates. The meat itself also contains a wide range of minerals such as calcium and iron, as well as high amounts of vitamin A, E, D, and K. With so much healthy and tasty goodness packed into a little chicken wing, there’s no reason not to add these baked cranberry glazed chicken wings to your diet!