Crispy Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings: Easy Game Day Appetizer
I’m Alex, and I’m glad you’re here. You can make incredibly crispy, tangy Buffalo Chicken Wings right in your oven. This easy recipe skips the deep frying and delivers that perfect crunch for your next party or weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Total Time: 60 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Lactose
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken wings (flats and drumettes)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder (this is the secret for crispy wings)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup Frank’s RedHot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce (or your favorite hot sauce)
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
- For Serving: Blue Cheese Dip Recipe ingredients (if desired)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top of the foil. This setup helps air circulate for crispiness.
- Pat the chicken wings completely dry using paper towels. This step is crucial for achieving a crispy texture.
- In a large bowl, toss the dry wings with baking powder, salt, and pepper until they are evenly coated. The baking powder helps dry out the skin.
- Arrange the wings in a single layer on the wire rack, ensuring they do not touch.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Flip the wings over and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and very crispy.
- While the wings bake, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Remove the butter from the heat and whisk in the hot sauce, brown sugar, and white vinegar until smooth. This creates your homemade buffalo sauce.
- Place the hot, crispy wings into a large, clean bowl. Pour the buffalo sauce over the wings.
- Toss the wings gently until they are fully coated in the tangy, spicy sauce.
- Serve immediately with blue cheese dip or ranch dressing for the best game day appetizer experience.
Notes
- For extra crispy wings, use the convection setting on your oven if you have one.
- If you want a thicker glaze, simmer the sauce mixture for 2-3 minutes until it reduces slightly before tossing the wings.
- This recipe makes enough sauce for a good coating; double the sauce ingredients if you prefer heavily sauced wings.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 wings
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 15
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 28
- Cholesterol: 120