Name: Seriously Crispy Oven Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 3 lbs. chicken wings; 1 Tbsp baking powder; 1 tsp sea salt; 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper; ½ cup tomato sauce; 2 Tbsps butter or ghee; 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar; 1 tsp garlic powder; 2 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste); sea salt and fresh ground black pepper (to taste (about 1/4 teaspoon each))

Want to able to eat chicken wings and still be healthy? Me too! That’s why I came up with this extra crispy recipe for oven-baked buffalo wings. They are a healthier version of traditional deep fried buffalo wings, but with the same taste and texture! All I can say is, if you can please 6 teenagers with a recipe, then you know it’s a winner!

And once you master the crispy texture of these buffalo wings, try a different wings recipe like these mango habanero wings next!

Extra crispy oven-baked buffalo chicken wings.

We have 4 hungry teenage boys in our house…along with 2 even hungrier teenage girls. Buffalo wings REALLY seem to make everyone HAPPY, and if they have a few friends over, these buffalo wings are a TOTAL crowd-pleaser!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This is our FAVORITE recipe for homemade, crispy buffalo wings, that I have been making for years. They are just like deep-fried wings, but way healthier! Here are a few more reasons you’ll love them!

Half The FAT!: In a comparison study, it was found that baked chicken wings have around 6.5 grams of fat per wing where deep fried wings have around 12.5 grams of fat per wing! [source]

Extra Crispy: Many, many years ago I did a deep dive on how to make crispy wings. Turns out it is mostly about the moisture. So by adding the baking powder to the skin, it removes that moisture and creates the most amazingly crispy chicken wing.

Crowd Pleaser: Did I mention the happy teenagers?! Well, these are also a huge hit at any tailgate, BBQ, or picnic. Plus, I love having them as an appetizer with one of my favorite mocktails, this avocado pina colada.

Looking for more light and healthy buffalo recipes? Then you may love these air fryer buffalo cauliflower bites, this light buffalo chicken lettuce wrap, or this healthy buffalo chicken dip.

Ingredients:

These are the simple ingredients that make this baked buffalo wings recipe a healthy version of wings you can eat anytime.

Makes about 5-6 servings

3 lbs. chicken wings
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper

For the Sauce:

½ cup tomato sauce
2 Tbsps butter or ghee
1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste
sea salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste (about 1/4 teaspoon each)

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

Instead of baking powder: You could also try arrowroot powder, potato starch, or cornstarch.

Buy buffalo sauce: Guess what? You don’t have to make your own buffalo sauce! Just check that label and make sure it is made from clean ingredients before you buy. I prefer Tabasco Sauce because it is made from just 5 REAL ingredients like peppers, spices, vinegar, water, and salt.

How To Make Baked Buffalo Wings:

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees f.

Step 2. Place chicken wings in a large bowl and sprinkle evenly with baking powder, sea salt, and pepper. Using your hands give it a good toss to get all pieces nicely coated.

raw chicken wings sprinkled with baking powder for a crispy skin.

Step 3. Place chicken wings on roasting tray, making sure you leave a bit of space in between each one – this will help them to get crispier while baking.

raw chicken wings being placed on a rack and baked in the oven until crispy.

Step 4. Bake in your preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes. Check after about 30 minutes, and flip them onto their other side.

showing the crispy skin on the oven baked chicken wing.

Step 5. While the wings are cooking, add all sauce ingredients to a small sauce pan. Whisk and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally.\

Buffalo sauce being added to crispy oven baked chicken wings.

Step 6. Once the chicken wings are cooked through to the middle and crispy on the outside, place them in a large bowl and drizzle with your sauce mixture. Gently and carefully toss to coat (they are hot!).

Enjoy!

Rachel

Buffalo style recipes are some of our favorites, so there are a lot on the site! Here are a few more you can try like this buffalo stuffed peppers recipe, this cold buffalo chicken lunchbox recipe, or these healthy buffalo chicken meatballs.

Serving Ideas:

These buffalo wings are great by themselves, but I also love to serve them with some of the following:

celery sticks
sliced green onions
chopped parsley
ranch dip
Greek yogurt
blue cheese crumbles
healthy blue cheese dressing

Recipe FAQ’s

Can I keep leftover chicken wings in the refrigerator?

The short answer is yes, you can keep leftover chicken wings in the refrigerator. If you have not added sauce yet, store them without the sauce, then warm up the wings for a few minutes in an air fryer or under the oven broiler to crisp the skin before adding the sauce. This will help maintain the crispiness. If you are storing the wings with the sauce on them, they may not turn out as crispy, but still warm them in the air fryer or under the broiler for a few minutes to help crisp up the skin.

Are buffalo chicken wings healthy?

Healthy buffalo chicken wings are possible if you make them in the oven versus deep frying them. Our oven baked chicken wings recipe is even healthier because it includes a homemade buffalo sauce made from natural, whole food ingredients.

How long do you cook wings in the oven?

Chicken wings can cook in the oven at 350°F for 40-45 minutes, flipping at about the half way mark (20-30 minutes). This lower temperature and longer cooking time increases the tenderness of the chicken and the crispiness of the skin.

Should I bake wings covered or uncovered?

It is best practice to bake wings uncovered in order to keep the moisture level low. Covering the wings can trap the moisture from the wings and cause the skin to turn out soggy.

Is it better to bake wings on a rack?

Baking wings on a rack ensures that any extra fat from the wings drips down off the wings. This does two things: 1. It helps the wings get crispier, and 2. It helps reduce the amount of fat the wings contain so they are healthier.