Our neighbor gave me a bottle of dried powdered Carolina Reaper pepper. I knew exactly what I was going to make with it: Nightmare wings. I didn’t know, though, was would I survive.
Well, I’m still here! These Nightmare wings definitely packed a serious kick. But beyond that, they also had great flavor. These wings aren’t just about the heat. And if you prefer, you can certainly adjust the spiciness to your tastes. Jalapeno powder itself has just the right kick, while habanero powder brings just a bit more.

A Serious Punch. Just What You Expected.
I enjoyed my Nightmare wings ‘dry’. That is, without sauce. The rub has such a great flavor that I really didn’t want to hide it under a sauce. Now, true, I did have plenty of Ranch dressing on hand for dipping. I needed something to help cool off the heat from the Carolina Reaper peppers. At 1.5 million Scoville units, they pack a serious punch.
I like to make my spice, rub and seasoning mixes in big batches and keep them in large bottles with easy-to-pour shaker lids.Also try some Rick’s coffee burn dry wings!
Check out my always-growing list of over 100 homemade wing recipes, including sauces and seasonings!
Nightmare Wings
Ingredients
For the wings
- 3-4 pounds chicken wings flats and drumettes separated, tips saved to make stock
For the rub
- 1 tablespoon onion salt
- 1 teaspoon granulated chicken bouillon
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon ground dried habanero or Carolina Reaper peppers
- 1 tablespoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon ground bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon ground dried jalapeno
- 1 package Ranch dressing mix
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
Instructions
For the wings
- Toss wings with the seasoning before serving.
For the seasoning
- Combine ingredients.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are approximate and will not include any store-bought wing sauce or seasoning nutritional values.