The Briny Lemon: Oven-Roasted Chicken Wings with Kansas City-Style Barbecue Sauce

Kansas City-style barbecue sauces are thick, tomato-based sauces that highlight sweet ingredients over spicy ones. Molasses, honey, brown sugar—any or all of these sugary items make their way into KC sauces, as well as tomato sauce or pureed tomatoes, tomato paste, and typical barbecue sauce ingredients such as garlic, onion, vinegar, and a few sweet or warm spices.

What you won’t find are many hot chiles or fiery spices, although a bit of chile powder, hot sauce, or minced fresh chile may be added by cooks who simply like a touch of spice. As long as the base is rich with tomato flavor and thick in texture, you’re talking Kansas City.

Serves 4-5

Ingredients

For the Sauce

2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup tomato paste
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp cider vinegar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp chile powder
1 tsp Tabasco sauce (or other bottled hot sauce)
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

For the Wings

20 large chicken wing pieces (drums and flappers)
olive oil, for drizzling
2 tsp chile powder
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

For the Sauce

Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. When melted, add the garlic and onion and cook, stirring frequently, until beginning to soften, 3 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook slowly 15 minutes. Uncover and cook 15 minutes longer.

Softened Garlic and Onion

Sauce Beginning to Cook

Kansas City-Style Barbecue Sauce

For the Wings

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large, shallow baking pan with parchment paper.
Place the wings in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Season generously with chile powder, salt, and pepper and toss to coat.
Transfer the wings to the prepared pan and roast 20 minutes. Turn and roast until nearly cooked through, 15-20 minutes.
Brush the wings generously with barbecue sauce and return to the oven for 3 minutes.
Turn the wings and brush the 2nd side generously with sauce. Return to the oven and roast until the sauce begins to char in spots and the wings are cooked through, 3-4 minutes longer. Brush with any remaining sauce, if desired.