If you’re a fan of buffalo wings and want to enjoy them at home, but don’t have a deep fryer, fear not! Cooking buffalo wings in the oven is a great alternative that still gives you deliciously crispy and flavorful wings. Plus, it’s a healthier option as it uses less oil.
So, how do you get that perfect crispy skin and mouthwatering buffalo sauce? The secret lies in a two-step process: baking and broiling. Baking helps to cook the wings thoroughly, while broiling at the end gives them that signature crispy finish.
Here’s a simple recipe to guide you through the process:
Gather the ingredients
Before starting to cook buffalo wings in the oven, make sure you have all the necessary ingredients:
1. Chicken wings: Choose fresh or frozen chicken wings, depending on what you prefer. Make sure they are properly thawed if using frozen wings.
2. Hot sauce: Buffalo wings are known for their spicy taste, so you will need a good quality hot sauce. Frank’s RedHot Original Sauce is a popular choice.
3. Butter: To balance the spiciness, you will need unsalted butter. Make sure it is at room temperature for easy mixing.
4. Garlic powder: This adds a delicious flavor to the buffalo wings.
5. Worcestershire sauce: This tangy sauce adds depth to the overall taste of the wings.
6. Salt and pepper: Season the wings with salt and pepper to enhance the flavors.
7. Ranch or blue cheese dressing: Serve the buffalo wings with your choice of dipping sauce for added creaminess.
By having all these ingredients ready, you can ensure a smooth cooking process and delicious homemade buffalo wings!
Prepare the chicken wings
Before you start cooking the buffalo wings, you need to prepare the chicken wings properly. Follow these steps to ensure your wings turn out crispy and flavorful:
1. Clean the wings
Begin by rinsing the chicken wings under cold water to remove any excess blood or debris. Pat them dry with a paper towel to remove any moisture.
2. Trim and separate
Using a sharp knife, trim the tip of each wing and discard it. Then, cut the remaining wing into two pieces at the joint, creating a drumette and a wingette. This will ensure even cooking and better presentation.
3. Season the wings
In a mixing bowl, combine your desired seasonings and spices. You can use a pre-made buffalo wing seasoning or create your own blend using garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss the wings in the seasoning mixture until evenly coated.
Now that your chicken wings are prepared, you’re ready to move on to the next step: baking them in the oven.
Make the buffalo wing sauce
To complete your delicious buffalo wings, you will need to make the tangy buffalo wing sauce. The sauce is a combination of hot sauce, melted butter, and a few additional ingredients to give it that extra kick. Here’s how you can make it:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup hot sauce |
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted |
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce |
1 teaspoon garlic powder |
1/2 teaspoon onion powder |
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, combine the hot sauce, melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Whisk the ingredients together until well combined.
- Optional: If you prefer a spicier sauce, you can add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the mixture.
- Once the sauce is ready, set it aside until your buffalo wings are cooked and ready to be coated.
Now that you have your homemade buffalo wing sauce, you can use it to coat your crispy baked wings. The spicy and tangy flavor will take your buffalo wings to the next level!
Coat the chicken wings
Once the chicken wings have been rinsed and patted dry, it’s time to coat them. This step is crucial as it will help to ensure that the wings are crispy and flavorful.
Here is how you can coat the chicken wings:
- In a large bowl, combine all-purpose flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine the dry ingredients.
- Take each chicken wing and dip it into the flour mixture, making sure to coat it evenly on all sides. Shake off any excess flour.
- Place the coated chicken wings onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Repeat the process with the remaining chicken wings until all of them are coated and arranged on the baking sheet.
Coating the chicken wings with the seasoned flour will help to create a delicious crispy crust when they are baked in the oven.
Preheat the oven and arrange the wings
Before you start cooking buffalo wings in the oven, preheat it to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (218 degrees Celsius).
Next, take a baking sheet and line it with aluminum foil. This will make cleaning up easier later on.
Place the buffalo wings on the prepared baking sheet, making sure to leave some space between each wing. This will allow air to circulate properly and ensure that the wings cook evenly.
If you have a lot of wings, you may need to use more than one baking sheet or cook them in batches.
Cook the buffalo wings
Once the wings have been marinated and the oven has been preheated, it’s time to cook the buffalo wings.
Step 1: Place the wings on a baking sheet
Take the marinated wings out of the refrigerator and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Make sure to leave some space between each wing to ensure even cooking.
Step 2: Bake the wings in the oven
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
Once the oven is preheated, place the baking sheet with the wings in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the wings are crispy and cooked through. Remember to flip the wings halfway through the cooking time to ensure that they cook evenly.
Step 3: Prepare the buffalo sauce
While the wings are cooking, prepare the buffalo sauce. In a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Once melted, add the hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and salt. Stir well to combine and let the sauce simmer for a few minutes. Remove from heat.
Step 4: Toss the wings in the sauce
Once the wings are done cooking, remove them from the oven. Using tongs, transfer the wings to a large bowl. Pour the buffalo sauce over the wings and toss them gently to coat them evenly with the sauce.
Note: For extra spicy wings, you can add more hot sauce or sprinkle some cayenne pepper over the wings before tossing them in the sauce.
Step 5: Serve and enjoy
Transfer the buffalo wings to a serving plate and garnish with fresh cilantro or parsley if desired. Serve alongside celery sticks and blue cheese dressing for dipping. Enjoy your homemade buffalo wings!
Q&A
What are buffalo wings?
Buffalo wings are a popular American appetizer made from chicken wings that are coated in a spicy sauce and typically served with blue cheese dressing and celery sticks.
Can I cook buffalo wings in the oven?
Yes, you can definitely cook buffalo wings in the oven. It is a great alternative to deep-frying and results in crispy wings with less mess.
What temperature should I set my oven to when cooking buffalo wings?
Preheat your oven to 220°C (425°F) when cooking buffalo wings. This high heat helps to crisp up the skin and gives the wings a delicious texture.
How long should I cook buffalo wings in the oven?
Cook buffalo wings in the oven for about 40-45 minutes, or until they are crispy and cooked through. Remember to flip the wings halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.
What sauce should I use for buffalo wings?
The classic sauce for buffalo wings is a combination of hot sauce, melted butter, and garlic. You can adjust the spice level by adding more or less hot sauce, and even experiment with different flavors like honey mustard or barbecue sauce.
What are buffalo wings?
Buffalo wings are a popular American appetizer made from chicken wings that are typically deep-fried and coated in a spicy sauce. They are named after the city of Buffalo, New York, where they were first created.
Can buffalo wings be cooked in the oven?
Yes, buffalo wings can be cooked in the oven. They can be just as delicious and crispy as the traditional deep-fried version, but with less oil and mess. Oven-baked buffalo wings are a healthier alternative, and they are very easy to make at home.