All the Crunch, None of the Fryer Drama
Buffalo wings are a love language.
They’re spicy, saucy, a little messy, and somehow always taste better when you eat them with your hands.
But frying them?
Between the oil splatter, the smell that hangs around your kitchen for two days, and the post-fry cleanup… let’s just say I’ve been there, and nope.
That’s why I’m obsessed with this oven-baked buffalo wings recipe. They come out perfectly crispy, the skin shatters when you bite into it, and the inside stays juicy. All without me scrubbing oil off my backsplash afterward.
🛒 Here’s What You’ll Need (Serves 6–8)
The Chicken Part:
- 2½ lbs chicken wings (drumettes + flats)
- 2 tsp aluminum-free baking powder (yep, this is the magic)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
The Sauce Situation:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (or ghee for dairy-free)
- ½ cup Frank’s RedHot (or your fave hot sauce)
- Optional: pinch of cayenne pepper for the daredevils
On the Side (Because We’re Classy Like That):
- Celery sticks
- Carrot sticks
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping
🧰 Tools You’ll Thank Yourself for Having
- Wire rack (for that all-around crispiness)
- Baking sheet
- Aluminum foil (a.k.a. the “I don’t feel like scrubbing this later” hack)
- Large mixing bowl
- Small saucepan
👩🍳 Let’s Make Some Magic
Step 1: Preheat & Prep
Crank your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Line your baking sheet with foil, pop a wire rack on top, and give it a light spray of cooking oil. This setup means less mess and crispier wings. Win-win.
Step 2: Dry Like You Mean It
Grab some paper towels and pat those wings bone dry. Like, desert dry. This is the difference between crispy skin and sad, soggy wings.
Toss the wings in a big bowl with baking powder, garlic powder, and salt. The baking powder is your secret weapon—it pulls out moisture so the oven can work its magic.
Step 3: Bake to Glory
Spread your wings out on the rack, skin side up, with some space between each (crowding = steaming = nope).
Bake for 40–45 minutes, flipping halfway. Want that super crunch? Give them an extra 5–10 minutes at the end.
Step 4: Make the Sauce
While your wings are turning golden, melt the butter (or ghee) in a small saucepan over low heat.
Stir in the hot sauce and cayenne pepper if you like things extra fiery. Keep it warm and silky.
Step 5: Toss & Devour
Transfer your crispy beauties to a clean bowl. Pour that warm buffalo sauce all over and toss until every wing is coated in glossy, tangy perfection.
Serve immediately with celery, carrots, and your dip of choice.
💡 Pro Tips from My Kitchen
- Wire rack = crispy skin because the heat can get all the way around each wing.
- Dry them well—even a little moisture is the enemy.
- Don’t crowd the pan or they’ll steam instead of crisp.
- Sauce at the very end so they don’t get soggy before they hit the table.
🌿 Fun Twists
Whole30 / Paleo: Swap butter for ghee, use compliant hot sauce, and make a dairy-free ranch.
Boneless Version: Cut chicken breast into bite-sized pieces, season, bake 20–25 minutes, then toss in sauce.
Air Fryer: 375°F for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway.
🍺 Perfect Pairings for Your Buffalo Wings
Wings are amazing on their own, but let’s be real — they’re even better when you serve them with the right sides and drinks. Here are my favorite combos:
- Crispy potato wedges — Oven-baked, seasoned, and perfect for scooping up leftover sauce.
- Mac & cheese — Creamy, cheesy comfort to balance the heat from the wings.
- Cornbread muffins — A little sweetness to cool down the spice.
- Loaded nachos — If you’re going full game-day mode, these are a must.
- Chilled beer or cider — Because wings and a cold drink are a match made in heaven.
- Sparkling water with lime — If you want something refreshing without the booze.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’re hosting, set up a DIY wing station — keep the wings plain out of the oven, then offer a few sauces (buffalo, BBQ, honey-garlic) so guests can choose their favorite.
Leftovers? (I’ll believe it when I see it.)
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the oven at 375°F for about 10 minutes to get the crunch back.
- Avoid the microwave—unless soggy wings are your thing.
🏁 Final Bite
So there you have it: crispy oven-baked buffalo wings that taste like the deep-fried kind without turning your kitchen into an oil crime scene.
They’re easy, they’re addictive, and they might just become your go-to wing method.
Now grab some napkins, invite a friend (or don’t), and dig in.
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Oven-Baked Buffalo Wings (Crispy & Mess-Free)
Equipment
- Wire rack (fits inside baking sheet)
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Aluminum foil
- Cooking spray or neutral oil
- Large mixing bowl
- Small saucepan
- Wooden spoon or whisk
- Tongs
- Paper towels
- Instant-read thermometer (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds chicken wings drumettes and flats
- 2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup unsalted butter or ghee for dairy-free
- ½ cup Frank’s RedHot sauce or your favorite hot sauce
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
- Celery sticks
- Carrot sticks
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil, set a wire rack on top, and lightly spray with oil.
- Pat chicken wings completely dry with paper towels.
- Toss wings with baking powder, garlic powder, and salt until evenly coated.
- Arrange wings skin side up on the rack with space between each. Bake 40–45 minutes, flipping halfway. For extra crispiness, bake 5–10 minutes more.
- Melt butter (or ghee) in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in hot sauce and cayenne; whisk until smooth.
- Transfer baked wings to a bowl. Pour warm buffalo sauce over and toss to coat. Serve immediately with celery, carrots, and dip.
Video
Notes
• Crispy tip: Pat dry, use aluminum-free baking powder, bake on a wire rack, high heat.
• Make ahead: Bake, chill, reheat, then sauce.
• Baking powder: Use aluminum-free only.
• Less spicy: Use a milder hot sauce or add more butter.
• Gluten-free: Check hot sauce and baking powder labels. FAQ 1) How do I get extra-crispy oven wings? Dry very well, use aluminum-free baking powder, bake on a wire rack at 400°F, avoid crowding; broil 1–2 minutes at the end if desired. 2) Can I use frozen wings? Yes — thaw completely and pat dry before seasoning so they crisp properly. 3) What time and temp work best? 400°F (200°C) for 40–45 minutes; add 5–10 minutes for extra crunch. 4) How can I make them less spicy? Choose a milder hot sauce or increase the butter in the buffalo sauce. 5) Can I make them ahead? Bake and refrigerate up to 24 hours; reheat at 375°F for 10–12 minutes, then toss in sauce. Enjoy your homemade, crispy oven-baked buffalo wings!