Description
These buffalo chicken wings are crispy, juicy, and coated in a tangy, buttery buffalo sauce. Perfect for game day, parties, or anytime you crave bold, comforting flavors—oven or air fryer friendly and ready in under an hour.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs (about 24 pieces) chicken wings, split into drumettes and flats, fresh or thawed
- 2 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika (smoked or sweet)
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1/2 cup hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot or similar)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1–2 tsp honey or brown sugar (optional)
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- Pinch of garlic powder (for sauce)
- Celery sticks (for serving)
- Blue cheese or ranch dressing (for dipping)
Instructions
- Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels. If using frozen wings, thaw completely and dry well.
- In a small bowl, mix baking powder, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne (if using). Sprinkle over wings and toss until evenly coated.
- Place a wire rack on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Arrange wings in a single layer without crowding.
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Bake wings for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway through. For air fryer: cook at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, shaking halfway.
- While wings bake, melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add hot sauce, vinegar, honey or brown sugar (if using), Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of garlic powder. Whisk until smooth and glossy. Do not boil.
- Transfer crispy wings to a clean bowl. Pour buffalo sauce over and toss well with tongs.
- Serve immediately with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.
Notes
Pat wings dry for maximum crispiness. Baking powder in the rub is key for crunchy skin. Toss wings in sauce just before serving to keep them crisp. For gluten-free, use gluten-free baking powder and check hot sauce labels. Butter can be swapped for vegan margarine for dairy-free. Adjust cayenne and hot sauce for desired spice level. Leftovers reheat best in oven or air fryer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 4 wings (without dip or veggies)
- Calories: 225
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 18
Keywords: buffalo chicken wings, crispy wings, game day snacks, oven baked wings, air fryer wings, spicy wings, easy appetizer, party food, comfort food