Learn how to make the best-ever buffalo chicken wings at home.
Wings are an indulgence so make them count. Here are some tips to make the best Buffalo wings ever.
1) Use the right oil if you’re frying.
Chicken wings don’t need fancy shamcy oils. Use the basics, such as peanut, canola or vegetable. These have the high smoke point that will ensure crispy skin. Plus they don’t have strong flavors.
2) No Frying, OK
If you hate frying but want crisp wings, we have two options for you.
First, check out our crazy crispy baked chicken wings. They key here is that the wings are tossed with a tiny bit of baking powder (not soda!) to alter the ph of the skin, making them get crispier than ever.
Another thing you can do is to double- cook the wings. The chicken is cooked through and the skin is crisp. Place your wings on a rimmed cookie sheet with a cup of water too. Cover with tin foil and let steam in a 350ºF oven until cooked through. Then broil the wings to crisp up.
3) Season the Wings
If you’re doing the baked crispy wings, ignore this. They have salt in the recipe. If you’re doing the double-cooking, season wings with salt before broiling. If you’re frying your wings, transfer the wings from the oil to a plate lined with paper towel. Season lightly with salt. Then toss with sauce (or see below where we say to serve sauce on the side).
4) Make your own Buffalo sauce
Seriously, take the extra five minutes and make your own. It is sooo much better. You can add and subtract ingredient based on your own preferences. Here’s a recipe for a classic Buffalo sauce and here’s a fancied-up version.
5) Serve sauce on the side
I know, part of the experience of eating chicken wings is getting messy with all that sauce. But sauce can drown those poor wings and make them soggy. We all know a soggy wing is the worst, so leave the sauce on the side.
6) Creamy Dip
Wings are made for dipping. Whether you’re on team ranch or team blue cheese, make sure your dip is delicious. Choose a store-bought brand that you really love the taste of. Or, even better, make your own. Here’s a delicious homemade ranch that uses fresh herbs, or you can mix together some pantry seasonings to make a homemade ranch seasoning and mix that with sour cream. If you’re more of a blue cheese kind of person, go in with a decadent homemade blue cheese dip.
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