Restaurant-Style Buffalo Chicken Wings

By BBecker

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 10 chicken wings
• canola oil for deep frying (not needed for baking method)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup hot sauce (like Frank's Hot Sauce)
• 1 dash ground black pepper
• 1 dash garlic powder
• BLUE CHEESE DIPPING SAUCE (combine all & chill at least 6 hrs - best if overnight)
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup real mayonnaise
• 2/3 cup crumbled blue cheese (not Gorgonzola)
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp onion powder

Details

Servings 5
Preparation time 25mins
Cooking time 120mins
Adapted from esquire.com

Preparation

Step 1

In a large zip lock bag add the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt. Place chicken wings in the bag, zip the bag and flip the bag over & over until they are evenly coated. Place the bag in the refrigerator *, make sure the wings are laying flat and refrigerate for 1 to 1.5 hours.

Heat oil in a deep pan or deep fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). The oil should be just enough to cover wings entirely, an inch or two deep. Baking method below **.

While the oil is heating up, combine the butter, hot sauce, pepper and garlic powder in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir together and heat until butter is melted and mixture is well blended. Remove from heat and reserve for serving. If hotter sauce is desired, decrease the butter and increase the hot sauce in equal proportions.

Fry coated wings in hot oil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until parts of wings begin to turn brown. Remove from heat, place wings on a paper towel to drain.

Next combine the wings and hot sauce mixture in a bowl and stir together. Turn out into serving dish along with celery stalks & blue cheese dipping sauce.

*Don't skip the refrigeration step - the rest/chilling allows the spiced flour on the wings to become sticky (this is the secret to great breaded wings).

**BAKING METHOD
Bake on a rack set over a baking sheet (w/sides) at 350 for 45 minutes. Turn oven up to 375 and spray the wings with Pam. Bake 5 more minutes, until crispy.