Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings

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These are the best baked chicken wings around. Cooking the wings in the oven, not the fryer, reduces fat and calories. Just like the original Buffalo wings, these baked Buffalo wings are coated in a tangy, spicy sauce and served with carrots, celery and your favorite creamy dipping sauce. 

Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings
Credit: Jennifer Causey
Active Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 5 mins
Servings:
8
  • These chicken wings are coated in a tangy, flavorful sauce made with honey and cider vinegar.
  •  Carrot sticks provide beta carotene, which is good for your skin and health.
  • Adding baking powder to the wings makes the skin crispy and golden brown.

Do you love chicken wings, but not the deep frying? Our Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings answer your craving—but by reducing fat and calories and keeping the crispy exterior you need. The Buffalo sauce is perfectly complemented by the sweet honey and tangy cider vinegar. Cool it off with crisp and antioxidant-rich carrots and celery and a creamy dressing—choose a yogurt-based dressing to add more good-for-you nutrients. Keep reading for our expert tips, including how to cook the wings just right.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • To ensure chicken wings get perfectly crispy, it's important to dry them completely before cooking. Any moisture can prevent them from achieving that desirable crispness. Adding 1 teaspoon of baking powder (not more) will also enhance the crispiness and promote browning of the skin.
  • Chicken wings can safely stay out of the fridge at room temperature for about 2 hours (or 1 hour if the temperatures reach 90°F), ideal for game-day appetizers.
  • For this recipe, we add the Buffalo sauce to the wings after the chicken has cooked. This allows the sauce to cling better.
  • If you want to keep the wings warm for a party, a chafing dish always comes in handy or a slow cooker set to the warm setting. But you can also use your oven as a warmer. A low oven temp of 160°F will keep them warm.

Nutrition Notes

  • Chicken wings can certainly fit into a healthy diet, especially when you change the cooking method from deep-frying to baking. The skin is high in saturated fat, which should be limited, but you'll get some lean protein from the chicken meat. Chicken also contains B vitamins for metabolic health, potassium for your heart and choline for memory and mood.
  • Carrot and celery sticks are often considered the sidekick veggies of Buffalo wings, but they bump up the nutrition of this meal. Carrots are high in beta carotene, a powerful anti-inflammatory nutrient that is also great for your skin. Celery does not get enough attention—it contains calcium for bone health and vitamin K for optimal blood clotting.
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 2 pounds chicken wings, separated if necessary

  • 1 ½ teaspoons neutral oil, such as canola or avocado

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 3 tablespoons Buffalo-style hot sauce (such as Frank's RedHot)

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • 2 teaspoons cider vinegar

  • Blue cheese or ranch dressing, carrot and celery sticks for serving

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place a wire rack on the baking sheet; coat with cooking spray. Pat 2 pounds of wings dry and place in a medium bowl. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons oil and 1 teaspoon baking powder; toss to coat well. Arrange the wings in an even layer on the prepared rack. Bake until the skin is crispy and the chicken is thoroughly cooked, 45 to 50 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, combine 3 tablespoons hot sauce, 2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon honey in a small saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, swirling occasionally, until slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in 2 teaspoons vinegar.

  3. Transfer the wings to a large bowl. Add the Buffalo sauce; toss until evenly coated. Transfer to a platter. If desired, serve with dressing, carrots and celery.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What's the difference between baking powder and baking soda?

    While both are used in rising baked goods, there is a difference. Baking powder alone can raise baked goods, and it helps crisp up the chicken wings in this recipe. On the other hand, baking soda needs an acid like vinegar or lemon juice to get it working. If a recipe calls for one or the other, it's best to follow the recipe, as they are not substitutes for each other.

  • What should I serve with chicken wings?

    Wings are perfect appetizers, potluck offerings and party food, but we like them for lunch and dinner, too. Try pairing them with salads like our Winter Salad with Toasted Walnuts, beans and rice dishes like our Bean & Veggie Taco Bowl and easy potato recipes like our Crispy Lemon-Herb Roasted Potatoes.

  • How should I store and reheat leftovers?

    Store the chicken wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they will remain good for about 3 to 4 days. When you're ready to reheat them, allow them to sit out until they reach room temperature. You can then heat them in an air fryer or a 350°F oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, until they reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F. Alternatively, if you choose to use a microwave, wrap them in a damp paper towel to prevent them from drying out too quickly. Heat on High power in short 1-minute bursts until they reach the safe temperature.

EatingWell.com, December 2020; updated November 2022

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

178 Calories
13g Fat
3g Carbs
13g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size about 2 wings
Calories 178
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 13g 26%
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 83mg 28%
Vitamin A 334IU 7%
Sodium 335mg 15%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Sarah Pflugradt, Ph.D., RDN, CSCS
Sarah Pflugradt

Sarah Pflugradt is a registered dietitian who holds a Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Her extensive background in dietetics has made her a sought-after expert in family and youth sports nutrition.

and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.