Classic Buffalo Chicken Wings

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I remember reading some stat recently that Americans eat something like 100 billion chicken wings a year! Maybe that number is exaggerated? I don’t know for sure but what I do know is the Classic Buffalo Chicken Wings are about as quintessentially American as it can get

Yeah you can tuck into these bad boys during the Super Bowl, but over here at Dinnertime Somewhere we believe you can tuck into Buffalo Chicken Wings as an everyday meal on a weeknight too! Maybe serve with a lovely side salad or some fresh vegetables? That sounds like a pretty good dinner choice to us! It’s a delicious meal that doesn’t burst the bank so let’s get to it!

The critical ingredient to the best Classic Buffalo Chicken Wings isn’t Chicken

Ok this perhaps is a wild statement but we’re sticking to it! Of course you need Chicken Wings to make Chicken Wings, that just sounds ridiculous! However, the key to creating the perfect Buffalo Chicken Wings is none other than the world-famous Franks Red Hot Sauce

This recipe sticks close to the famous traditional recipe from Buffalo. Of course, it requires an ample serving of Franks Red Hot Sauce to complete. Layer on a generous slathering of Franks Red Hot Sauce as soon as those Chicken Wings have been cooked to perfection and you’ve got the perfect bowl of amazing Chicken Wings to dive into

Sure, you can use other Hot Sauces and you will get a tasty result, however for true authenticity you absolutely must use Franks Red Hot Sauce. We were a little concerned when cooking this dish outside of the USA, wondering if we could still get our hands on the sauce. Luckily for us we’ve found this sauce is so darn popular across the world that it can be readily found everywhere. Probably because the secret to the perfect Classic Buffalo Chicken Wings has finally caught on with people across the globe!

There are a few ways to cook Chicken Wings for a great result

At the end of the day what you want is perfectly cooked Chicken Wings. So, there is no specific rule on the only way to prepare Chicken Wings. Quite frankly, if you use either of the methods we’ll talk about here we guarantee you’ll get a fantastic result. If they are cooked to the right temperature they will taste great

Remember, when it comes to Buffalo Chicken Wings the flavor of the Buffalo Sauce is so pronounced that it will be the prominent flavor in the dish. With that being said, here are a few of our recommended techniques to cook the Chicken Wings perfectly

1. Oven Roasted

This is the technique we have listed in our recipe below and the method we most commonly use to make Chicken Wings. Season the Chicken Wings well with Salt and Pepper then roast on a sheet pan at 400F for about 15 minutes until they are perfectly cooked

What is great about the Oven Roasting method is you will always get an even cook throughout the Chicken Wings. Furthermore, if you allow the cook to go just a little bit over, the outside of the Chicken Wings will begin to caramelize and char slightly. The charring gives the wings a beautiful flavor. This method is our recommended technique to make our Classic Buffalo Chicken Wings

2. Deep Frying

A classic approach to cooking Chicken Wings. A technique that is widely used in the South is the deep fry method. This is a great way to cook Chicken Wings as it will guarantee the crispiest Chicken Wing imaginable. Deep Frying Chicken Wings works great because the skin will crisp up and form a beautiful coating for the Chicken

For even more crispiness you can create a simple breading mixture and coat your wings before frying. This will not only add even more crispiness to your Chicken Wings but adds an additional layer of coating to the wings. So, for hungry appetites, breading then deep-frying Chicken Wings is a great option

To deep fry the wings, first let the Wings sit in a Buttermilk brine for 2-3 hours. Then coat them in flour which has been seasoned with Salt, Pepper, and some spices like Cayenne Pepper or Paprika. Dip it back into the brine, then back into the breading for a double coat. This step is critical to get the crispiest wings. Fry them in hot neutral oil such as Vegetable Oil or Canola Oil at 360F for about 5 minutes until beautiful and golden

3. Shallow Frying

Shallow Frying Chicken Wings is a no-fuss, less messy method than the deep-frying option. Like deep frying you have the option to bread your Chicken Wings for added texture and crispiness. However, this is an optional step, and the wings will come out amazing with some simple seasoning of Salt and Pepper

To shallow fry your Chicken Wings add about 1 cup of neutral frying oil to a large saucepan, or enough oil in the pan to partially submerge the wings. Heat the Oil up to 350F – 375F and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side. Set the wings aside on a wire rack to dry and love any excess oil before adding into the Buffalo Sauce mixture

4. Air Frying Chicken Wings

Air Fryers have exploded in popularity of the last few years and with good reason. They make cooking so effortless and easy and consume far less time, with the Air Fryers almost instantly coming up to the desired cooking temperature you want

To Air Fry Chicken Wings, season your wings generously then place in the Air Fryer and cook for 12 – 15 minutes on 400F until they are perfectly cooked with an internal temperature of 160F. You will need to turn the Chicken Wings about halfway through cooking and we would advise to spray them with Oil as it helps to get a beautiful golden color

While a healthier option than frying the chicken wings, the one pitfall of Air Frying is you will not get the wings as crispy. For that reason, we would recommend oven roasting your Wings over Air Frying to achieve the best result

Regardless of the method you’re cooking your Chicken Wings, follow this critical step:

A critical point to remember when cooking Chicken Wings, regardless of the technique, is to ensure they are at room temperature before cooking. Because you’re cooking wings on the bone, they will not cook evenly if the internal temperature differs on parts of the wing before you cook it

Allow a good amount of time, preferably 1 hour, before beginning to cook the wings to ensure the entire wing is at the same temperature before cooking

Classic Buffalo Chicken Wings Recipe

Ingredients

• 3lbs Chicken Wings
• 1 cup Franks Red Hot Sauce
• 4 tbsp. Unsalted Butter
• 1 tbsp. White Vinegar
• Juice of ½ Lemon
• Salt and Pepper
  
  

Instructions

1. Season the Chicken Wings with Salt and Pepper then spread out evenly on a large oven tray.
2. Roast the Wings in the oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees until the internal temperature of the Wings reads 160 degrees.
3. While the wings are roasting, prepare the Buffalo sauce by simply combining Franks Red Hot Sauce, Butter, White Vinegar, Lemon Juice and 1 tsp. of Salt in a large bowl
4. Once the Wings are cooked, place into the bowl with the sauce and mix to coat the wings thoroughly. Check seasoning of the sauce and adjust if necessary
5. Serve immediately with some fresh vegetables and if you feel like it some lovely Blue Cheese Sauce
   
   

These Classic Buffalo Chicken Wings are perfect by themselves for an Appetizer and Snack. However, if you want to really go all in, try pairing these Wings with some of our delicious Dinner recipes found here. A favorite is definitely our Pork Ribs Low and Slow. Try that with some Wings and you’ve got yourself a party!

Happy Cooking!