Truly Crispy Oven Baked Buffalo Wings Recipe
These Truly Crispy Oven Baked Buffalo Wings offer a healthier twist on the classic fried favorite, delivering perfectly crispy skin using baking powder without frying. The wings are baked in two stages for ultimate crunch, then tossed in a tangy and spicy Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo sauce. Served with a creamy blue cheese dip and celery sticks, this recipe is perfect for a game day snack or casual party appetizer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus optional overnight drying)
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes (plus optional overnight drying)
- Yield: 4 servings (about 16-20 wings) 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Wings
- 4 lb / 2kg chicken wings, wingettes & drumettes
- 5 teaspoons baking powder (NOT baking soda / bi-carb soda)
- 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt / cooking salt
Buffalo Sauce
- 4 tbsp (60g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup Frank’s Original Red Hot Sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt / cooking salt
Blue Cheese Dip
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (I use gorgonzola), softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise (preferably whole-egg)
- 1 clove small garlic, minced
- 1 – 3 tbsp milk (to desired consistency)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt / cooking salt
- Black pepper (to taste)
Other
- Celery sticks (for serving)
- Lots of beer! (recommended with wings)
Instructions
- Dry Wings Overnight (Optional) – For extra crispy skin, lay the wings on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking tray and dry uncovered in the fridge overnight. If short on time, simply pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
- Preheat Oven – Preheat your oven to 250°F (120°C) and adjust your racks so one is in the lower quarter and one is in the upper quarter of the oven.
- Prepare Baking Tray – Line a baking tray with foil, place a wire rack on top, and spray the rack with oil to prevent sticking.
- Coat Wings – Put the wings in a large bowl, sprinkle with the baking powder and kosher salt, then toss thoroughly with your hands or shake in a sealed bag to evenly coat all pieces.
- Bake at Low Temperature – Arrange the wings skin side up on the prepared rack, allowing them to shrink but keeping them snug is fine. Place the tray on the lower oven shelf and bake for 30 minutes at 250°F (120°C).
- Bake at High Temperature – Move the tray to the upper oven rack, increase the temperature to 425°F (220°C), and bake for an additional 40-50 minutes. Rotate the tray halfway through baking for even crisping. The wings are done when they are dark golden brown with very crispy skin.
- Prepare Buffalo Sauce – While wings bake, whisk together melted butter, Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, brown sugar, and a pinch of kosher salt until the sugar dissolves. Keep warm or reheat before tossing.
- Toss Wings in Sauce – Once wings are baked, transfer to a large bowl and pour the Buffalo sauce over them. Toss well to coat evenly. Alternatively, serve plain wings with sauce on the side for dipping.
- Make Blue Cheese Dip – Mash blue cheese with sour cream until smooth. Add mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, a pinch of kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix well, adding milk until dip reaches your preferred consistency. Refrigerate until serving, then remove 15 minutes prior to enjoy.
- Serve – Serve wings immediately with the blue cheese dip and fresh celery sticks alongside. Don’t forget your favorite beer for the perfect pairing!
Notes
- Using baking powder (not baking soda) is crucial to achieve crispy skin in the oven due to its alkaline properties which help break down proteins and draw out moisture.
- Drying the wings overnight in the fridge is optional but highly recommended for extra crispiness.
- Use kosher salt instead of table salt as it has a coarser grain which gives better seasoning control during coating and in sauces.
- Gorgonzola works well for the blue cheese dip but any creamy blue cheese can be substituted.
- Adjust milk in the blue cheese dip to achieve preferred thickness.
- The wings can be served plain with sauce on the side for a less saucy option.
Keywords: oven baked buffalo wings, crispy chicken wings, buffalo sauce, blue cheese dip, game day appetizer, healthy wings
