Buffalo Chicken Wings
Perfect for a party, these restaurant-style buffalo chicken wings are baked to crispy perfection (no deep frying!) and then coated in spicy buffalo sauce.
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Table of Contents
- About Buffalo Chicken Wings
- What’s in buffalo chicken wings?
- How long to bake chicken wings
- Can you use baking soda instead of baking powder?
- How long can chicken wings be left out?
- Can you freeze chicken wings?
- How to reheat chicken wings
- Notes & tips for baked chicken wings
- Other great chicken recipes
- How to make buffalo chicken wings
- Recipe Details
About Buffalo Chicken Wings
If chicken wings are the quintennial sports party food, then buffalo chicken wings are the king of them all. Because not only are chicken wings a fun finger food, but these wings pack a bit of a bunch thanks to the Buffalo Wing Sauce.
And for those guests that aren’t a fan of spice, just serve these wings with ranch or blue cheese dressing to help cool down the kick but savor the flavor.
What’s in buffalo chicken wings?
- Chicken wings – The star of the show. Be sure to cut and trim the chicken wings before getting started.
- Baking powder – The key to making the outside of the wings crispy enough to withstand a coating of sauce.
- Salt and pepper – Classic, common spices.
- Buffalo wing sauce – The namesake sauce of this recipe (or is it the sauce made for this recipe?)
How long to bake chicken wings
There are a couple of different methods, but when baking raw chicken wings, you can use any one of these three:
- 400 degrees F for 40-45 minutes (my favorite).
- 375 degrees F for 50-55 minutes.
- 350 degrees F for 55-60 minutes.
However, no matter what cook time you prefer, always check your wings before taking them out of the oven. The juices should run clear, an instant-read thermometer should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, and the skin is browned and crispy to your liking.
Can you use baking soda instead of baking powder?
Unfortunately, no – in order for the wings to get their delicious crispy coating while baking, you do need to use baking powder. It will not work the same way with baking soda.
How long can chicken wings be left out?
No matter the situation or circumstance, you never want to leave chicken sitting out for too long. This is especially important for chicken wings, as they are a popular party food and are easily forgotten on counters.
For most foods, the general rule of thumb is that a perishable item should not be in the “danger zone” for more than two hours. And by “danger zone”, this is usually at or just above room temperature. This time may vary depending on the temperature of the room.
Since these chicken wings will be served hot, you “should” have a solid one hour (and up to two hours) before you need to pack them up (depending on other factors, such as the temperature of the room, etc). However, be sure to still check on the chicken wings every now and then and use your best judgment. When it comes to chicken, most guests will appreciate the peace of mind it gives them if you either reheat or refrigerate the chicken wings after one hour.
For best results, I’d recommend using a warming tray so that these tasty wings stay warm and above the “danger zone” temperature for as long as possible.
Can you freeze chicken wings?
Yes, you can definitely freeze buffalo chicken wings!
Once prepared, allow the chicken wings to cool to room temperature before transferring them to a freezer bag, removing as much air as possible before sealing.
Once frozen, chicken wings can be stored up to four months.
How to Thaw Buffalo Wings:
- Recommended: Remove from freezer and allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- In Cold Water: Place the wings in a sealed bag into a large bowl filled with cold water. Make sure that your wings are fully submerged; you can use a plate or other weighted item to hold them down. Flip the bag often and change the water out every 30 minutes or so to make the process faster.
- In Microwave: Use your microwave’s defrost setting to thaw your wings in the microwave. Take note to rotate your wings throughout the cooking process because the microwave can reheat them unevenly. Some microwaves will beep at the times it is necessary to rotate your wings.
- Never put wings out on the counter to thaw out. It can contaminate your chicken, allowing it to become unsafe to eat.
How to reheat chicken wings
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grab a baking sheet and spray it with cooking spray. You can also line the sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Arrange chilled/thawed chicken wings on the baking sheet, spaced about one inch apart.
- Reheat the wings for five to six minutes on one side.
- Quickly flip the wings, then bake for another five to six minutes.
- If you have a meat thermometer, test the internal temperature of the chicken wings. It should be at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes & tips for baked chicken wings
- This recipe gets right to cooking and skips the step of preparing the chicken wings. If you’re not sure how to do this, check out this article: How to cut chicken wings.
- If you can’t find buffalo wing sauce, you can make your own! Check out the recipe here: Buffalo Wing Sauce.
- And if serving a finger food doesn’t work for your party, you can always make Buffalo Chicken Dip instead.
Other great chicken recipes
How to make buffalo chicken wings
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. If you’re looking for the full recipe measurements and instructions, scroll down to Recipe Details.
Step 1 – In a large bowl, toss the chicken wings with baking powder, sea salt, and pepper.
Step 2 – Place the chicken wings on a baking sheet topped with an oven-safe baking rack.
Step 3 – Bake!
Step 4 – In another large bowl, toss the baked chicken wings with buffalo wing sauce until they’re nice and coated.
Step 5 – Serve and enjoy!
Buffalo Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken wings
- celery sticks, (optional)
- blue cheese dressing, for dipping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place an oven-safe wire baking rack inside. Set pan aside.
- Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels, then transfer chicken wings to a large bowl.3 pounds chicken wings
- Add baking powder, sea salt, and black pepper to bowl, then toss chicken wings to coat.1 tablespoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1 pinch black pepper
- Arrange chicken wings on rack in prepared baking sheet, spacing them so that the chicken wings do not touch.
- Bake chicken wings for 40-45 minutes or until wings are a light golden brown.
- Working quickly, place baked chicken wings in a bowl, then pour buffalo wing sauce on top. Use a spatula or a pair of tongs to toss the chicken wings until they are coated in sauce.3/4 cup buffalo wing sauce
- Serve buffalo chicken wings immediately with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks (both optional).celery sticks, blue cheese dressing
Nutrition
I do my best to provide nutrition information, but please keep in mind that I’m not a certified nutritionist. Any nutritional information discussed or disclosed in this post should only be seen as my best amateur estimates of the correct values.
