If you’re looking for the ultimate crispy baked buffalo chicken wings recipe, you’ve found it. These oven baked buffalo wings are perfectly crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and coated in a buttery homemade buffalo sauce that delivers the perfect amount of heat.
The best part? No deep fryer required.
These easy baked buffalo wings are a favorite for game day parties, football season, family gatherings, and anytime you’re craving restaurant-style wings at home. With just a handful of simple ingredients and a few easy steps, you’ll have crispy buffalo wings that rival your favorite sports bar.
Whether you’re serving them for the Super Bowl, tailgating, or a weekend appetizer, this recipe is guaranteed to disappear fast.
More Easy Appetizers You’ll Love
Why You’ll Love These Crispy Baked Buffalo Wings
- Crispy skin without deep frying
- Easy homemade buffalo sauce
- Perfect game day appetizer
- Budget-friendly recipe
- Great for parties and gatherings
- Naturally low carb
- Better than takeout
What Makes Baked Wings Crispy?
The secret to crispy baked chicken wings is removing as much moisture as possible before baking and cooking them at a high temperature. Patting the wings dry and baking them on the upper oven rack helps achieve that golden, crispy exterior everyone loves. Many modern wing techniques also emphasize thoroughly drying the wings and using high heat for maximum crispiness.
Ingredients
Wings
- 3 to 4 pounds chicken wingettes and drumettes
- Grapeseed oil or another neutral oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Light dusting of all-purpose flour
Buffalo Sauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ⅔ cup Frank’s RedHot Sauce
- Splash of white vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional for Serving
- Celery sticks
- Carrot sticks
- Blue cheese dressing
- Ranch dressing
How to Make Crispy Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings
Step 1: Prep the Wings
Preheat your oven to 425°F.
Rinse the wings and pat them completely dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture helps create crispier skin.
Step 2: Season
Place wings on a foil-lined baking sheet.
Drizzle with oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss to coat and spread into a single layer.
Lightly dust with flour.
Step 3: Bake
Place the baking sheet on the upper rack of the oven.
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the wings are deeply golden and crispy.
For extra crispy wings, bake an additional 5 minutes.
Step 4: Make the Buffalo Sauce
While the wings bake, combine:
- Butter
- Hot sauce
- Vinegar
- Garlic powder
- Cayenne
- Salt and pepper
Heat over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth and fully combined.
Step 5: Toss and Serve
Transfer baked wings to a large bowl.
Pour buffalo sauce over the wings and toss until evenly coated.
Serve immediately with celery sticks and blue cheese dressing.
Tips for the Best Buffalo Wings
- Pat wings completely dry before baking.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Use the top oven rack for better browning.
- Toss wings in sauce immediately before serving.
- For even crispier skin, place wings on a wire rack during baking. High heat and good air circulation help create crispier baked wings.
Variations
Extra Hot Buffalo Wings
Add additional cayenne pepper or extra hot sauce.
Garlic Buffalo Wings
Mix in minced garlic or roasted garlic.
Honey Buffalo Wings
Add 2 tablespoons honey to the buffalo sauce.
Ranch Buffalo Wings
Serve with homemade ranch dressing for a creamy finish.
What to Serve with Buffalo Wings
Crispy Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings
Description
These Crispy Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings are baked until perfectly golden and crispy, then tossed in a buttery homemade buffalo sauce. They’re the ultimate game day appetizer and a crowd favorite for football parties, tailgates, holidays, and family gatherings.
Ingredients
For the Wings
- 3 to 4 pounds chicken wings, separated into flats and drumettes
- 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
For the Buffalo Sauce
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ⅔ cup Frank’s RedHot Sauce
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Serving
- Celery sticks
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing
- Sliced green onions
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Pat chicken wings completely dry with paper towels.
- Place wings in a large bowl and toss with oil, salt, pepper, and flour.
- Arrange wings in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking.
- While wings bake, combine butter, hot sauce, vinegar, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan.
- Heat over medium-low heat until butter is melted and sauce is smooth.
- Transfer baked wings to a large bowl.
- Pour buffalo sauce over wings and toss until evenly coated.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and serve with celery sticks and ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Notes
- Patting the wings completely dry is the secret to crispy skin.
- For extra crispy wings, place them on a wire rack set over the baking sheet.
- Toss the wings in sauce just before serving for maximum crispiness.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep baked wings crispy?
Wait until just before serving to toss them in the buffalo sauce.
Can I make buffalo wings ahead of time?
Yes. Bake the wings ahead and reheat in a hot oven before tossing with sauce.
Can I freeze baked chicken wings?
Absolutely. Freeze cooked wings for up to 3 months.
What hot sauce is best for buffalo wings?
Frank’s RedHot is the traditional choice and delivers classic buffalo flavor. Buffalo wing sauce is traditionally made from cayenne pepper hot sauce and butter.
Final Thoughts
These Crispy Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings are everything you want in a wing recipe—crispy, juicy, spicy, buttery, and incredibly easy to make. They’re the perfect appetizer for football season, holiday parties, game day gatherings, or whenever a buffalo wing craving strikes.
Skip the fryer and make these oven baked buffalo wings instead. Once you try them, you’ll never go back.
