Barefoot Contessa’s Zesty Buffalo Chicken Wings Recipe – Finger-Licking Joy

Sizzling buffalo chicken wings promise a flavor explosion that will tantalize your taste buds.

Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa buffalo chicken wings recipe delivers a mouthwatering experience straight from her legendary kitchen.

These crispy, spicy wings pack a punch of intense flavor that goes beyond ordinary game-day snacks.

The secret lies in her perfectly balanced marinade and precise cooking technique.

Succulent chicken pieces get coated in a zesty sauce that balances heat and tang with remarkable precision.

Each bite promises a crispy exterior giving way to tender, juicy meat that melts in your mouth.

Grab your apron and get ready to become the star of your next gathering with these irresistible wings.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 22 minutes

Calories: 650 kcal

Servings: 6

Buffalo Chicken Wings Ingredient Roundup

• Chicken Wings: Fresh wings create the best crispy texture, choose plump and evenly sized pieces for consistent cooking.
• Butter: Adds rich flavor and helps create golden, crispy exterior while enhancing sauce adherence.

• Cayenne Pepper: Delivers intense heat and vibrant color to the wings, select high-quality ground pepper.
• Hot Sauce: Creates signature buffalo flavor, Frank's or Tabasco recommended for authentic taste.
• Kosher Salt: Balances and enhances overall seasoning, provides perfect savory background.

• Blue Cheese: Provides tangy, bold flavor profile, select creamy and pungent variety.
• Mayonnaise: Creates smooth, rich base for dipping sauce.
• Sour Cream: Adds creamy texture and slight tanginess.
• Milk: Helps adjust dip consistency, ensures perfect dipping thickness.
• Worcestershire Sauce: Introduces complex, umami depth to dip.
• Black Pepper: Adds gentle heat and aromatic background to dipping sauce.
• Celery Sticks: Provides fresh, crunchy accompaniment and palate cleanser.

Wing Tools & Must-Haves for Crispy Results

• Sheet Pan: Large, sturdy baking sheet for broiling chicken wings evenly.
• Food Processor: Blends blue cheese dip ingredients smoothly and quickly.
• Broiler: High-heat cooking method to crisp and cook wings perfectly.
• Mixing Bowl: For combining butter and hot sauce mixture.
• Pastry Brush: Helps coat wings generously with spicy butter sauce.
• Sharp Knife: Used to cut chicken wings into thirds.
• Measuring Spoons: Ensures accurate seasoning for wings and dip.
• Cutting Board: Provides safe surface for preparing chicken wings.

How to Cook Buffalo Chicken Wings at Home

Spicy Chicken Wing Adventure

• Wing Preparation Slice chicken wings into perfect bite-sized pieces, removing unnecessary tips for maximum flavor potential.
• Flavor Explosion Craft a zesty butter sauce by blending rich melted butter with fiery cayenne and tangy hot sauce for an intense flavor profile that will make taste buds dance.
• Broiler Magic Position wings on a flat pan, generously coating with spicy butter mixture. Slide under blazing hot broiler, creating crispy edges and juicy interiors, flipping midway to ensure even browning.
• Creamy Blue Cheese Companion Whip together creamy blue cheese blend in a smooth mixture, creating a cool contrast to the scorching hot wings. Mix ingredients until silky and irresistible.
• Serving Celebration Present sizzling wings alongside chilled blue cheese dip and crisp celery sticks, transforming a simple meal into a culinary celebration that everyone will devour with pure excitement.

Sauce Tips & Spice Levels to Customize

• Achieve perfectly crispy wings by positioning the rack 8cm from the heat source and rotating halfway through cooking for even browning.
• Adjust cayenne and hot sauce quantities to customize heat intensity – start with less for mild flavor or add more for fiery enthusiasm.
• Marinate chicken wings in butter mixture up to 4 hours before cooking to enhance flavor penetration and tenderness.
• Experiment with blue cheese dip by adding fresh herbs like chives or dill, or swap sour cream with Greek yogurt for a tangier, lighter version.
• Try alternative protein options like cauliflower or tofu for vegetarian guests, using the same spicy butter coating technique for maximum flavor impact.

Ways to Plate & Pair Buffalo Wings

• Hosting Game Day Feast: Serve these sizzling buffalo wings as the star attraction during football parties or weekend gatherings, creating a crowd-pleasing centerpiece that keeps everyone munching and cheering.
• Fresh Veggie Pairing: Arrange crisp, cool celery sticks alongside the spicy wings to provide a refreshing crunch and balance the heat, offering guests a delightful palate-cleansing option.
• Dip and Dive Experience: Present the tangy blue cheese dressing in a separate bowl, encouraging guests to dip, swirl, and customize their wing-eating adventure with creamy, zesty coolness.
• Temperature Flexibility: Enjoy these wings piping hot straight from the broiler or let them cool to room temperature, making them perfect for flexible entertaining and leisurely snacking.

Storing Extra Wings – Freezing & Reheating Advice

• Prep Ahead Strategy: Marinate wings up to 24 hours before cooking to enhance flavor intensity and save time on meal day.
• Quick Refrigeration Technique: Store leftover wings in airtight containers for 3-4 days, keeping dip separately to maintain crispy texture.
• Smart Reheating Method: Warm wings in oven at 375°F for 10-12 minutes to restore original crispiness, avoiding microwave to prevent sogginess.
• Freezer-Friendly Approach: Freeze uncooked seasoned wings in sealed freezer bags for up to 3 months, thawing overnight in refrigerator before broiling.

Crispy Barefoot Contessa Buffalo Chicken Wings Recipe

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4.7 from 23 reviews

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

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Description

Ina Garten’s buffalo chicken wings combine spicy sauce with tangy blue cheese dressing for an irresistible game-day classic. Crispy wings and zesty flavors make this recipe a crowd-pleasing favorite you’ll want to serve at your next gathering.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 16 chicken wings (about 1.4 kg / 3 lbs)
• 115 g (4 oz) unsalted butter
• 150 g (5.3 oz) crumbled gorgonzola or other blue cheese
• 240 ml (8 fl oz) mayonnaise
• 180 ml (6 fl oz) sour cream
• 4 tsps Frank’s Hot Sauce (or 1 tsp Tabasco sauce)
• 30 ml (1 fl oz) milk
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 ½ tsps kosher salt
• ¾ tsp Worcestershire sauce
• ¾ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• Celery sticks, for serving

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Position broiler rack 8 centimeters from heat source, setting to highest intensity. Deconstruct chicken wings by separating into segments, removing wing tips.
2. Marinade Creation: Melt unsalted butter in mixing bowl, whisking in cayenne pepper, Frank’s RedHot sauce, and kosher salt until thoroughly integrated.
3. Initial Broiling: Spread wing segments on rimmed baking sheet without overlapping. Brush generously with spicy butter mixture, ensuring complete coverage. Broil for 8 minutes until golden-brown, rotating wings midway and reapplying marinade.
4. Final Crisping: Continue broiling for 4-5 minutes, watching carefully to prevent charring. Ensure internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit for safe consumption.
5. Blue Cheese Dip: Combine blue cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, whole milk, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, and black pepper in food processor. Pulse until achieving a creamy texture with distinctive blue cheese chunks.
6. Serving: Plate sizzling wings alongside freshly prepared blue cheese dip and crisp celery sticks, creating a vibrant and appetizing presentation ready for immediate enjoyment.

Notes

• Prep Wing Precision: Remove wing tips for even cooking and better texture, ensuring all wing segments are uniform in size.
• Butter Blend Mastery: Whisk sauce ingredients thoroughly to distribute heat and flavor evenly across wings, creating a consistent spicy coating.
• Broiler Monitoring: Watch wings closely during cooking to prevent burning, as high heat can quickly char the exterior before internal temperature is reached.
• Dip Texture Tip: Pulse blue cheese dip briefly to maintain small cheese chunks, balancing creamy smoothness with textural interest.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 650
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 1500 mg
• Fat: 53 g
• Saturated Fat: 20 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 9 g
• Fiber: 0 g
• Protein: 32 g
• Cholesterol: 120 mg