Buffalo wings are a game day FAVORITE! Learn how to make WINGS in a few easy steps. Homemade baked buffalo wings are super easy to make and so incredibly delicious!
With just 6 ingredients including delicious, tangy homemade buffalo sauce, these easy homemade buffalo wings are a real winner! Serve them for a game day party, and everyone will be hooked.
Baked Buffalo Wings are the Best Homemade Buffalo Wings
There is nothing, and I mean nothing, more addicting than a big stack of homemade buffalo wings! Few things in this world will test your self-control more than the tangy scent of spicy chicken wings wafting in from the kitchen.
I’m not a sports person by any stretch of the imagination, but I’ll show up to any game day party if buffalo wings are on the menu!
What makes buffalo wings SO addicting? If you prepare them correctly, they’re plump and juicy on the inside, the skin on the outside is perfectly crispy, and, of course, you can’t forget the buttery, delicious buffalo sauce.
I serve my spicy buffalo wings with tangy blue cheese dressing. You can make them easily at home – and the dressing, too! We are excited to show you how to make the best buffalo wings in just a few simple steps.
What are buffalo wings?
The foundation of buffalo wings is, of course, chicken. Chicken wings come in two portions: the wingette and the drumette. The chicken wings you purchase may already be ready to use; this is the easiest option.
Buffalo wings are chicken wings coated in buffalo sauce, which is a slightly spicy, tangy sauce made with just three ingredients. We have our homemade buffalo sauce available to you in the ingredients list!
Buffalo Wing Ingredients
- 3 lbs. chicken wings pre-cut or whole wings
- 1 Tbsp. baking powder (NOT baking soda)
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1/8 tsp. salt and pepper
- Buffalo sauce for coating – learn How to Make Buffalo Sauce with 3 ingredients
How to Cut Chicken Wings
If you purchase whole chicken wings, you must cut them at home.
- Thaw the package of chicken wings completely.
- Lay them out on a cutting board and flip each chicken wing over.
- One at a time, stretch each wing out with your fingers.
- There are two joints in the chicken wing. Feel for the first joint (you should be able to feel a ridge with your fingers). Once you find it, cut through the joint with a sharp knife.
- Feel for the second joint with your fingers. Once you find it, cut through that joint (this will leave the chicken wing in 3 separate pieces).
- The second cut will remove the wingtip. You don’t normally eat wingtips, so feel free to discard them, or, better yet, use them for chicken stock.
- Repeat with the remainder of the chicken wings.
How to Make Buffalo Wings
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Lay the prepared wings out on a flat surface and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Combine 1 Tbsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. smoked paprika, and 1/8 tsp. of salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Place the chicken wingettes and drumettes in a bowl.
- Sprinkle half of the baking soda mixture over the chicken wings and toss to combine. Repeat with the second half of the mixture.
- Make sure all of the chicken wings are evenly coated.
How to Bake Buffalo Wings
- The next step is to pop the buffalo wings in the oven and bake them. With the oven preheated to 400°F, bake the chicken wings for 45 minutes.
- Rotate the pan halfway through cooking to ensure all the wings are roasting evenly.
- Remove the pan from the oven when finished.
- Serve warm with our homemade blue cheese dressing.
Typically, buffalo wings you find in a restaurant are deep-fried, which makes them delicious, but also calorie-rich. If you make them at home, you can fry or bake them. I prefer baking my homemade buffalo wings.
Is it possible to get crispy skin when baking chicken wings?
Absolutely! Achieving crispy skin is as simple as tossing the wings in a combination of baking powder (not baking soda!) and some spices for flavor.
A chemical reaction occurs between the baking powder and the chicken skin, resulting in a crispy skin and juicy inside. It’s perfect for getting that crispy chicken skin everyone loves without the calories from frying.
Chicken Wing Cooking Tips
- Bake on a wire rack: It’s best to bake the chicken wings on a wire baking rack or some kind of raised roasting pan. This is in order to allow the air to circulate around the wings as they cook, giving you crispy wings.
- Use tin foil: Wrap the bottom portion of the baking sheet in tin foil. The tinfoil will catch the juices as the chicken wings bake and allow for easy cleanup.
- Place the wire baking rack over the foil-wrapped bottom rack.
- Place the chicken wings on the baking rack. Try not to over-crowd them as you do this. It will help them bake evenly.
What to Serve with Buffalo Wings
My favorite thing to serve with buffalo wings is a blue cheese dressing or a blue cheese dip. You can purchase a ready-made blue cheese dressing but I love to make my own.
This can be done while the wings are baking in the oven. Find my link to how to make blue cheese dressing just above in the instructions!
Ranch dressing is another popular option to serve with buffalo wings. Celery sticks are a common choice, too. The celery is a great way to cool your mouth down in between bites of spicy chicken wings!
Buffalo Wings Sauce
Once the buffalo wings are fully cooked and have been removed from the oven, it’s time to toss them in some homemade buffalo sauce!
Check the ingredients list above for an easy guide on how to make buffalo sauce with 3 ingredients.
- Place the chicken wings in a large bowl and pour a desired amount of sauce over the wings.
- Toss to coat in the sauce.
- Repeat with more sauce if you like.
The key to crispy chicken wings is to make sure all of the chicken wings are coated.
The Best Buffalo Wings, Ever
You can customize the level of sauce to your liking. Some people prefer a saucier wing, and some like them lightly coated. You can add as much or as little sauce as you like.
Serve the wings as-is or place them back in the oven with the sauce to crisp them up more. If you return them to the oven, simply bake them for 2-3 more minutes and remove the pan after that.
Enjoy these buffalo wings on their own or dipped in the homemade blue cheese dressing or any dipping sauce of your choice! Serve them alongside some chopped celery sticks and you’re good to go. These wings are sure to be the hit of your next party!
Did you make this recipe? We’d love to know what you think! Rate the recipe and leave a comment!
Want more delicious recipes and guides like how to make buffalo wings? Try these…
- How to Make Eggs Benedict
- How to Make Teriyaki Sauce
- Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken
- How to Make Alfredo Sauce
- Yum Yum Sauce
How to Make Buffalo Wings
🥘 Ingredients
- 3 lbs. chicken wings pre-cut or whole wings
- 1 Tbsp. baking powder (NOT baking soda)
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. smoked paprika
- 1/8 tsp. salt and pepper
🔪 Instructions
- Heat oven to 400°F.
- Thaw 3 lbs. of chicken wings. If chicken wings are whole, they will need to be cut into wingettes and drumettes. See recipe notes for how to cut chicken wings.
- Lay the wingettes and drumettes out on a flat surface and dry them with a paper towel.
- Make the spice mixture: Combine 1 Tbsp. baking powder (NOT baking soda), 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. smoked paprika, and 1/8 tsp. salt and pepper in a small bowl. Stir to combine completely.
- Once the chicken wings have been patted dry, place them in a large bowl. Sprinkle half of the baking powder mixture over the wings and toss to coat. Repeat with the second half of the mixture.
- Line the bottom portion of a wire baking rack with foil. Fit the top portion of the wire baking rack firmly in the bottom portion.
- Place the chicken wings on the wire baking rack. Make sure not to over-crowd the wings on the rack.
- Place the baking rack in the oven and bake for 45 minutes. Remove the pan once the chicken wings are fully baked.
- Place the chicken wings in a large bowl. Toss with desired amount of buffalo sauce. Toss to coat completely. Repeat with more sauce if desired.
- Optional: Return the coated chicken wings to the pan and place in the oven for an additional 2-3 minutes. This will crisp them up more and optimal if you like the wings less saucy.
Notes
- It’s best to bake the chicken wings on a wire baking rack or some kind of raised roasting pan in order to allow the air to circulate around the wings as they cook. This will ensure crispy wings.
- Do not overcrowd the chicken wings on the rack.
- Wrap the bottom portion of the baking sheet in tin foil. The tinfoil will catch the juices as the chicken wings bake and allow for easy cleanup.
- Place the wire baking rack over the foil-wrapped bottom rack.
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