The BEST Buffalo Wings (BETTER Than Hooters Wings)

In this BEST Buffalo Wings recipe, crunchy well seasoned chicken wings get fried to golden brown perfection then dipped in a classic spicy buffalo wing sauce taking them to another level!  If you love the crunchy and spice of Hooters Wings, then these are for you!!  They are the ultimate game day, Super Bowl or party appetizer done right!!

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A plate full of the best buffalo wings on the table with celery and dipping sauce.

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This recipe is all about improving on the classic.  These have all of the flavors you adore about traditional buffalo wings but with a wonderful batter that takes them over the top. 

Traditional buffalo chicken wings are fried without batter. In these almost Hooters Wings, you get the most incredible crunch and double the flavor.

The first time I had the battered crispy wings was at a Hooters restaurant. Right then, I knew I found a lifelong love.  I have ordered just about every crispy buffalo chicken wing in the United States (a tad bit of an exaggeration but you get the point Iโ€™m trying to make).

To save money and to cut down a tad bit on the calories, it was definitely time I stopped ordering them and started making them at home.

Buffalo chicken wings on a plate with blue cheese dip in a bowl and celery sticks on the side.

Buffalo Wings Batter Ingredients

The key to this recipe is fried chicken. Over the years, Iโ€™ve fried quite a bit of chicken (like my Big Mama’s Fried Chicken and Sweet Tea Fried Chicken) so you know you are in good hands.

Iโ€™ve toned down my usual highly seasoned flour for a milder variety so the buffalo sauce flavor takes the lead. Here’s what you need:

Ingredients to make the best buffalo wings on the counter.
  • Chicken wings: Buy disjointed wings all ready to go so they don’t require any cutting or prep.
  • Buttermilk: Soaking your party wings (or wingettes) in buttermilk for a while adds additional flavor and makes them ultra juicy.
  • All Purpose Flour: Makes the ultra crispy breading that makes these the BEST buffalo chicken wings!
  • Seasoned Salt: Gives the breading ample flavor profiles because it is more enhanced than regular salt allowing me to just cut down on other flavors added.
  • Paprika: Contributes its wonderfully intense notes to the crispy outside of the wings.
  • Black Pepper: A nice counter to the salt.
  • Garlic Powder: It always makes everything better!
  • Hot wing sauce: I am a huge fan of Frank’s hot wing sauce!
  • Butter: Gives the hot wing sauce more richness and creaminess.

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Wings

What makes Hooters Wings so crunchy is that wonderful breading.  Here are the main steps involved so you can make Hooters wings at home.

  1. Soak the wings in the buttermilk. Buttermilk adds a wonderful tangy flavor to the wings and also helps the breading stick to the wings.
  2. Combine the flour, seasoned salt, paprika, black pepper, and garlic powder in a paper bag and shake well to mix it all up.
  1. Bread the wings. Dip each piece of chicken into the seasoned flour thoroughly coating it on all sides.
  2. Lay the breaded chicken wings on a baking sheet to rest. Let them sit for 10-15 minutes to allow the coating to set.
Dipping the chicken wings in the flour breading.
Chicken wings on a baking tray after breading.
  1. Heat the oil in a medium-sized deep pot or deep fryer and heat over medium-high heat. Also, turn on the oven to 275 degrees.

PRO TIP: Make sure the oil is hot before frying! My test for knowing when the oil is ready is to toss a tiny bit of flour in the oil and if it begins to fry and sizzle, the oil is ready.

  1. Fry the wings until golden brown and place them on paper towels to drain for only 1 minute per wing before tossing them in the sauce.

How To Make Buffalo Sauce for Wings

The buffalo wing sauce used for these crispy wings is basically the same as the original buffalo wings recipes.

  1. Whisk together your favorite hot sauce (I like Frank’s) and melted butter. Then warm it up in the microwave.
  2. Toss the wings in the buffalo sauce. Then hold them in the oven to keep them warm.
Ingredients to make the buffalo wing sauce in a bowl.
Drizzling the buffalo wing sauce over the wings.

I canโ€™t tell you how many times I plan on making this amazing buffalo wings recipe for football games, especially the Super Bowl. But I can tell you that if you decide to make them too, you will be very happy indeed.

What to Serve with Buffalo Wings

You can’t go wrong with the traditional celery and blue cheese dip for wings! Ranch is also a great alternative for anyone who doesn’t like the blue cheese.

For game day, add on other popular favorites like pizza nachos, air fryer mozzarella sticks, and fried pickles!

They also make a fun dinner option too! Serve them up with favorites like fried onion rings, baked beans, or baked potato salad.

Expert Tips

If you’re wondering how to cook buffalo wings easily and with excellent results, keep these tips in mind!

  • Let your chicken rest after breading it! This is something I do whenever I fry chicken.  It helps make sure that it doesn’t fall off in the oil when you are frying.  It helps it stick like glue to the chicken.
  • Test your oil! This is the secret to crispy buffalo wings! Big Mama always tossed a tiny bit of flour in the oil and if it began to fry and sizzle, the oil was ready.
  • Take the time to soak. Give the wings a good two to three hours in the buttermilk.
  • Enjoy your buffalo hot wings freshly made. If you do have leftovers store them in the fridge for up to four days and reheat them in the oven.

FAQs

Can I make homemade buffalo wings for a crowd?

Yes, most definitely! What I recommend is soaking, breading, and frying all your chicken wings in advance. Hold off on tossing them in the buffalo sauce. This can be done up to 24 hours in advance if necessary. Store them in the fridge. Then lay them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and warm them in a 325 degrees F oven for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Heat up your buffalo sauce and toss the wings in the sauce when after reheating in the oven.

Can I use a different sauce?

Of course! If you simply don’t enjoy buffalo sauce or are looking for a less spicy alternative I find that barbecue sauce goes great! You can also leave them naked and serve up different sauces such as buffalo, bbq, and others on the side for your guests to choose their favorite.

A platter of crispy buffalo wings with a dipping sauce in a bowl on the plate.

Some of my favorite wing recipes

Other Game Day Recipes

If you like this crispy buffalo wings recipe, you will definitely love some of my other Super Bowl and tailgating recipes.

*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!

Crispy buffalo wings on a plate with sauce.

The BEST Buffalo Wings

In this Perfect Buffalo Wings recipe, crunchy well seasoned chicken wings get fried to golden brown perfection then dipped in a classic spicy buffalo wing sauce taking them to another level!ย ย 
4.80 from 24 votes
Prep Time 2 hours
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

For The Chicken:

  • 1 pound disjointed chicken wings
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 ยฝ cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • ยฝ teaspoon garlic powder

For the Sauce:

  • โ…” cup Frank’s hot wing sauce
  • ยฝ cup melted salted butter

Instructions

For the Chicken:

  • Add chicken wings to buttermilk and let marinate for at least 2-3 hours.
  • While chicken marinates, add flour, seasoned salt, paprika, black pepper and garlic powder to paper bag and shake well to evenly distribute flavors.
  • Dip each piece of chicken into seasoned flour thoroughly coating each piece then add piece to baking sheet to rest.
  • Finish coating all chicken and let sit for 10-15 minutes until coating has set.
  • While coating sets, add 2 1/2-3 inches of oil to a medium sized deep pot or deep fryer and heat over medium high heat. Also turn on oven to 275 degrees.
  • This is my test for knowing when the oil is ready: Big Mama always tossed a tiny bit of flour in the oil and if it began to fry and sizzle, the oil was ready.
  • Fry all pieces until golden brown and place on paper towels to drain for only 1 minute per wing before tossing in sauce.

For the Sauce:

  • Whisk together hot sauce and melted butter and heat in microwave to make sure it is hot.
  • Add half of sauce to another large bowl and carefully toss several wings in sauce until completely covered. Add more sauce if you like them really saucy like me then serve immediately.
  • Celery and ranch or blue cheese is a nice complement.
  • If not serving immediately, place in the oven to keep warm.

Notes

Let your chicken rest after breading it! This is something I do whenever I fry chicken.ย  It helps make sure that it doesn’t fall off in the oil when you are frying.ย  It helps it stick like glue to the chicken.
Test your oil! This is the secret to crispy buffalo wings! Big Mama always tossed a tiny bit of flour in the oil and if it began to fry and sizzle, the oil was ready.
Take the time to soak. Give the wings a good two to three hours in the buttermilk.
Enjoy your buffalo hot wings freshly made. If you do have leftovers store them in the fridge for up to four days and reheat them in the oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 470kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 4556mg | Potassium: 251mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 993IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @GrandbabyCakes or tag #grandbabycakes!

 

This post was originally published August 2015. It has been updated with new images and content.

Filed Under:  Chicken, Super Bowl and Game Day Party

Comments

  1. Jocelyn these wings are going to be the perfect appetizer for the upcoming football season! Your photos are REALLY making me hungry!

  2. LOVE buffalo wings. I need to try them crispy though. Imagine all that spicy goodness the crispy batter soaks up. Mmmm!

    1. I was wondering the same thing, but after reading the last line, I believe it was simply turned on to keep them warm if not serving immediately.

  3. We go through so many buffalo wings during football season! Definitely need to add your variation to our rotation!

  4. I’ve made wings at home before, but nothing quite like these. The crispy fried batter just took wings to a whole new level!

  5. Whoa! Paul is going to love these wings!!! love the Frank’s hot wing sauce mixed with the melted salted butter!!! delicious!

4.80 from 24 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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