Classic Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings

Crispy, spicy, warm, and tender, these baked buffalo wings are a game day food must-have. And they happen to be really easy to make from scratch! Any time you’re craving a zingy appetizer, chicken wings are guaranteed to satisfy. Saucy, spicy, and still a bit crispy from the oven, baked buffalo chicken wings are perfect dipped in creamy bleu cheese dressing.

You can use whichever buffalo hot sauce you like best for this recipe. In addition to the flavor from the sauce, the wings are coated in a homemade buffalo spice rub that will make your taste buds sing. You could even enjoy these chicken wings as a main dish by serving larger portions or doubling the recipe!

Why This Baked Buffalo Wings Recipe Works

• Just as crispy. In my opinion, baking chicken wings is much better than frying them. You can hardly taste the difference. In fact, I find that baked wings get even crispier on the outside than fried ones do.
• Less oil. Baking uses a lot less oil than frying, making these baked buffalo chicken wings a lighter option. You also don’t have to hang around a hot stove. Between this recipe and my air fryer buffalo wings, your chicken wings won’t touch a frying pan ever again!
• 10 minutes of prep. I’ll show you how to prepare these wings so they bake up extra flavor-packed and crispy. It takes all of 10 minutes, and the rest of the work is left to the oven.

Key Ingredients

You’ll appreciate the short and sweet list of ingredients required to make crispy baked buffalo wings at home! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Chicken Wings – You’ll need 3 pounds of bone-in chicken wings. Use a combination of wings and drumettes, or whichever cut you’d like.
• Smoked Paprika – For a touch of smoky spiciness. Swap paprika for cayenne for even spicier wings.
• Garlic Powder – This provides depth of flavor. Onion powder is a close substitute in a pinch.
• Chipotle Chili Powder – For a more intense heat. Feel free to use less or omit this entirely for milder wings.
• Ground Cinnamon – Half a teaspoon of cinnamon adds that lightly sweet warmth that makes buffalo chicken wings so irresistible.
• Canola Oil – Or vegetable oil. Just a little is needed to encourage crispiness.

For the Buffalo Sauce

• Buffalo Hot Sauce: Use whichever brand you have on hand. We like Frank’s Original or Frank’s Buffalo.
• Coconut Oil: To help the sauce adhere to the chicken. You can also make the sauce the traditional way, with melted butter.

How to Make Crispy Baked Buffalo Wings

These baked buffalo wings come together with minimal effort. After you cook the chicken, you’ll want to broil it to get it nice and crispy. Yum! Here are the steps:

• Make the spice rub. While the oven preheats to 400ºF, mix the smoked paprika, garlic powder, chipotle chili powder, and cinnamon in a small bowl.
• Season the chicken wings. Next, add the chicken wings to a large bowl. Pat the wings dry with paper towels. This makes it easier for the spice rub to adhere to the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with the spice blend, drizzle in 1 tablespoon of canola oil, and toss to coat.
• Prepare for baking. Now, arrange the seasoned wings on a wire rack set over a baking sheet lined with tin foil. The first secret to crispy baked chicken wings is air flow! However, if you don’t have a wire rack, just line the pan with parchment paper.
• Bake. Bake the chicken wings at 400ºF for 40 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Broil. My second tip for perfect oven-baked wings. Turn the broiler on to HIGH. Once the oven is ready, place your wings under the broiler for 8-10 minutes to crisp the edges and brown the skin.

Make the Buffalo Sauce

• Prepare the buffalo sauce. While the wings bake, heat a saucepan over medium heat. Add in the buffalo sauce and coconut oil, stirring until the oil is melted and the sauce is warm, approximately 5-7 minutes.
• Sauce the wings. Remove your wings from the oven. Place them in a large bowl and pour the buffalo sauce over them. Use a pair of tongs to toss the wings until all of them are coated with the sauce.
• Enjoy! Serve your buffalo chicken wings with ranch dressing and/or bleu cheese.

Tips for the Best Buffalo Wings

• Season to taste. Some may find these wings to be too spicy, while others will crave even more heat. Feel free to adjust the amount of spices you use to suit your preference!
• Dry the chicken well. Before you coat your chicken in the spice rub, be sure to dry it off very well. You can do this using paper towels. If you don’t dry off the wings, they won’t be able to get as crispy.
• Broil it up! Broiling your chicken after baking it is SO worth the small amount of extra effort. It gets the outsides super crispy while allowing the insides to remain juicy and tender. Perfection!

What to Serve With Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings

There are plenty of things you can pair with buffalo chicken wings besides ranch and bleu cheese. Add them to a game day charcuterie board or have them on a weeknight with crispy air fryer roasted potatoes on the side. Here are more delicious ideas!

• Serve with raw veggies. There’s a reason why raw carrots and celery are often served with wings. The coolness of the veggies goes so well with the spiciness of the chicken. Plus, you can dip the veggies in the bleu cheese dressing.
• Pair with mac & cheese. My sriracha macaroni and cheese is the ultimate comfort-food pairing for these baked buffalo wings. It’s lighter than your average mac and cheese recipe!
• Serve with salad. Try cutting up your chicken wings and serving them in this dreamy buffalo chicken salad. If you’d like to do this, I suggest using boneless wings for easier dicing.
• Serve with avocado fries. These creamy and refreshing air fryer avocado fries have a crispy coating that’s made using gluten-free panko. They make a great partner for these spicy wings.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Refrigerate. Leftover wings should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Enjoy them within 3-4 days.
• Reheat. To reheat your wings, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Heat them in a 350°F oven for about 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the biggest wing reaches 165°F.
• Freeze. Baked buffalo wings freeze well for up to 4 months. Just make sure you keep them in a freezer-safe container. Thaw them out in the fridge the night before you plan to eat them and reheat them according to the guidelines above.

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More Easy Chicken Recipes

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• Grilled Chimichurri Chicken
• Shredded Chicken Tacos
• Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
• Green Chili Chicken Enchiladas