Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dip
Crispy chicken wings in a spicy, buttery Buffalo sauce, served with a cool blue cheese dip.
- Preparation
- 15 min
- Cook/bake time
- 45 min
- Total
- 1 hr
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
Crispy chicken wings in a spicy, buttery Buffalo sauce, served with a cool blue cheese dip. The secret to crispiness without frying is baking powder in the dry rub, which breaks down the skin and lets it become glassy and crispy in the oven. A staple of every American game night since 1964.
Step-by-step instructions
- 1
Dry the wings
Pat the split wings really thoroughly dry with paper towels, as any remaining moisture will cost you crispiness later. Then toss them in a bowl with baking powder, salt, and garlic powder until all pieces are evenly and thinly dusted. The baking powder raises the pH level of the skin, causing it to break down and become crispy in the oven.
- 2
Pre-bake in the oven
Preheat the oven to 130 °C convection and place the wings spaced apart on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Bake them initially for 25 minutes at a low temperature. During this phase, the fat under the skin renders out, which is the prerequisite for them becoming truly crispy rather than rubbery later.
- 3
Bake until crispy
Increase the temperature to 220 °C convection and bake the wings for another 20 minutes until they are deep golden brown and the skin is visibly bubbling. Flipping is not necessary thanks to the wire rack, as the heat circulates from all sides. They should sound light when tapped.
- 4
Sauce and dip
Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat, remove it from the stove, and stir in the pepper sauce, honey, vinegar, and garlic powder until a smooth, bright orange emulsion forms. For the dip, mix the blue cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and lemon juice, intentionally leaving a few cheese chunks whole.
- 5
Toss and serve
Place the hot wings in a large bowl, pour the sauce over them, and toss them quickly until every piece is glossy. Work fast and serve immediately, because they lose crispiness with every minute in the sauce. Serve with the dip and celery sticks, whose freshness wonderfully balances the heat.
