Barefoot Contessa’s Irresistible Buffalo Chicken Wings Recipe

Buffalo chicken wings combine spicy heat with crispy texture, delivering major flavor in every bite.

A tangy hot sauce clings to the wings and builds just enough kick to keep things exciting.

Oven-baked or fried, the skin becomes crunchy while the inside stays tender and juicy.

Wings work for game days, casual get-togethers, or whenever a bold snack is needed.

Serve them with celery sticks and blue cheese or let them shine solo.

It’s impossible to eat just one.

What Makes Barefoot Contessa Buffalo Chicken Wings So Popular

• Spice Up Your Snack Time: These buffalo chicken wings deliver a fiery kick that transforms an ordinary appetizer into a flavor explosion, perfect for game day or casual gatherings.
• Crispy Texture Magic: The broiling method creates incredibly crispy wings with a golden exterior and juicy interior, giving you that restaurant-quality crunch right in your own kitchen.
• Quick and Easy Crowd-Pleaser: With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, these wings come together in under 20 minutes, making them an ideal solution for spontaneous get-togethers or last-minute cravings.

Crucial Elements for Barefoot Contessa Buffalo Chicken Wings

Main Ingredients:

• Chicken Wings: Fresh, high-quality wings for a classic buffalo-style dish, preferably without excess fat and with uniform size for even cooking.
• Wing Tips: Typically discarded to focus on the meaty parts of the wing.

• Butter: Rich, unsalted butter for creating a smooth and flavorful coating.
• Cayenne Pepper: Adds intense heat and deep red color to the wing sauce.
• Hot Sauce: Frank's or Tabasco provide authentic buffalo wing flavor with tangy spiciness.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall seasoning and balances the spicy elements.

• Blue Cheese: Creamy, tangy cheese that provides a classic wing accompaniment.
• Mayonnaise: Adds richness and smooth texture to the dip.
• Sour Cream: Provides tanginess and helps create a light, creamy consistency.
• Milk: Thins the dip to achieve desired smoothness.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Adds depth and umami flavor to the blue cheese dip.
• Black Pepper: Introduces subtle heat and complexity to the dip.

• Celery Sticks: Fresh, crisp vegetable that offers a cool contrast to the spicy wings.

How to Prepare Barefoot Contessa Buffalo Chicken Wings

Step 1: Fire Up the Broiler

Crank your broiler to high heat, positioning the rack about 8 centimeters from the top. Prepare a sturdy sheet pan for cooking.

Step 2: Breakdown the Chicken Wings

• Melted butter
• Cayenne pepper
• Hot sauce
• Kosher salt

Step 3: Sizzle the Wings

Arrange wing pieces on the sheet pan. Lavishly coat wings with spicy butter mixture. Broil for 8 minutes, flip wings, brush again with sauce, then broil another 4 minutes until golden and crispy.

Step 4: Whip Up Creamy Blue Cheese Dip

• Blue cheese
• Mayonnaise
• Sour cream
• Milk
• Worcestershire sauce
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper

Step 5: Plate and Enjoy

Serve wings piping hot or at room temperature. Accompany with blue cheese dip and fresh celery sticks for a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.

Chef’s Tips for Buffalo Wings by Barefoot Contessa

• Batch Cooking Matters: Spread wings in a single layer to achieve maximum crispiness, preventing steaming and ensuring each piece gets golden-brown edges.
• Customize Your Heat: Easily adjust cayenne and hot sauce levels to match your personal spice preference, making these wings perfect for every palate.
• Fresh Butter Transforms Flavor: Select high-quality unsalted butter for a rich, clean taste that enhances the wing's overall deliciousness.
• Perfect Cooking Test: Pierce the thickest part of a wing to confirm no pink remains, guaranteeing safe and thoroughly cooked chicken every time.
• Serve Sizzling Hot: Enjoy wings immediately after broiling to experience maximum crispiness and explosive buffalo flavor that'll impress your guests.

Maintaining Barefoot Contessa Buffalo Chicken Wings

• Cool Completely: Let wings cool to room temperature before storing to prevent moisture buildup and soggy texture. Trapped condensation can make crispy skin turn soft and unappetizing.
• Vacuum Seal: Pack wings in vacuum-sealed bags for maximum freshness and prevent freezer burn. This method locks in flavor and maintains optimal texture for up to 3 months, significantly extending traditional storage life.
• Layer Strategically: When refrigerating, separate wing layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking and preserve individual wing crispness. Stack carefully to maximize storage space and maintain wing integrity.

Flavorful Takes on Barefoot Contessa Buffalo Chicken Wings

• Spicy Honey Glaze Wings: Swap hot sauce with honey, add red pepper flakes for heat, and brush wings with a sweet-spicy glaze during broiling for caramelized edges.
• Herb-Infused Chicken Wings: Mix fresh rosemary, thyme, and garlic into the butter mixture, creating an aromatic herb coating that adds depth to the classic wing recipe.
• Asian-Inspired Sesame Wings: Replace cayenne and hot sauce with soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and sriracha for a tangy Asian-style wing experience, served with a quick green onion garnish.
• Mediterranean Herb Wings: Incorporate oregano, lemon zest, and olive oil into the butter mixture, then serve with a tzatziki-style dip made from Greek yogurt, cucumber, and fresh herbs.

Concluding Note on Barefoot Contessa Buffalo Chicken Wings

Buffalo chicken wings embody American culinary passion, blending spicy heat with creamy coolness.

Barefoot Contessa’s recipe elevates classic comfort food with sophisticated technique and balanced flavors.

Crispy broiled wings dripping with cayenne-spiked butter promise sensory excitement for spice enthusiasts.

Homemade blue cheese dip provides perfect counterpoint, cutting through fiery wing intensity with tangy creaminess.

Louisiana hot sauce and premium ingredients make this recipe shine beyond standard game day fare.

Wilderness of flavor awaits you: grab ingredients, channel inner chef, dive into delicious adventure, and share your epic wing experience with hungry friends on social media!

Barefoot Contessa Buffalo Chicken Wings Recipe

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4.6 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 22 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s Buffalo Chicken Wings deliver spicy, tangy perfection straight from her Hamptons kitchen. Crispy, golden wings bathe in a classic hot sauce glaze, promising a crowd-pleasing appetizer you’ll crave at every gathering.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 16 chicken wings (about 1.4 kg / 3 pounds)

Sauce and Seasoning:

• 115 grams (4 ounces) unsalted butter
• 4 teaspoons Frank’s Hot Sauce (or 1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce)
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¾ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Dressing and Garnish:

• 150 grams (5.3 ounces) crumbled gorgonzola or other blue cheese
• 240 milliliters (8 fluid ounces) mayonnaise
• 180 milliliters (6 fluid ounces) sour cream
• 30 milliliters (1 fluid ounce) milk
• Celery sticks, for serving

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Instructions

1. Elevate your broiler to its highest setting, positioning the rack approximately 8 centimeters (3 inches) from the heat source.
2. Deconstruct the chicken wings by separating them into three segments, discarding the wing tips. Gently melt unsalted butter in a mixing bowl, then whisk in cayenne pepper, Frank’s RedHot sauce, and kosher salt until thoroughly combined.
3. Arrange the wing segments on a rimmed baking sheet, ensuring they’re not overlapping. Generously coat the wings with the spicy butter mixture, using a pastry brush to distribute the marinade evenly.
4. Slide the baking sheet under the preheated broiler. Cook for 8 minutes, allowing the wings to develop a golden-brown exterior. Carefully flip each wing using tongs, and apply another layer of the butter mixture.
5. Continue broiling for an additional 4-5 minutes, monitoring closely to prevent burning. The wings should achieve a crispy, caramelized finish and reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
6. While the wings are cooking, prepare the blue cheese dip by combining crumbled blue cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, whole milk, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a food processor.
7. Pulse the mixture until it reaches a smooth, creamy consistency with small chunks of blue cheese remaining. Transfer to a serving bowl.
8. Plate the hot wings alongside the blue cheese dip and fresh, crisp celery sticks, creating an appetizing presentation ready for immediate enjoyment.

Notes

• Timing matters when broiling these wings, so stay close to the oven and watch carefully to prevent burning.
• Crispy exterior comes from proper spacing, allowing hot air to circulate around each wing for even browning.
• Temperature control is key—high heat creates that perfect golden-brown crunch without drying out the meat.
• Fresh butter transforms the coating, giving a rich, smooth flavor that elevates the entire wing experience.
• Serving these immediately ensures maximum crispiness and delivers that just-cooked, mouthwatering texture everyone craves.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Broiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 73
• Sugar: 0g
• Sodium: 150mg
• Fat: 5.1g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5g
• Carbohydrates: 0.5g
• Fiber: 0g
• Protein: 6g
• Cholesterol: 20mg