Fry

Ultimate Make-at-Home Buffalo Wings

January 27, 2012
4
4 Ratings
Photo by Stephanie Bourgeois
  • Prep time 8 hours 15 minutes
  • Cook time 25 minutes
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

The first time I ever made chicken wings at home I set the oven on fire. Since then I've tended to only make them in the restaurant- where I have someone to help me clean up. But these days the only way I can appease my wife into ok'ing an afternoon of watching football is to make her all-time favorite indulgence- buffalo wings. So out of necessity, I devised the perfect way to make chicken wings at home with no mess, splattering oil or potentially undercooked chicken.

Check out this recipe and more at www.justmarriedandcooking.com
Chef James

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Brine
  • 3 cups water
  • 5 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 4 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 6 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 tsp dry thyme
  • 2 pounds to 3 pounds chicken wings
  • 1/4 cup Frank's Red Hot
  • Buffalo Sauce
  • 1/4 cup Frank's Red Hot
  • 4 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
Directions
  1. Combine the water, sugar and salt in bowl and whisk until disolved. Add the hot sauce, garlic, thyme and chicken wings. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator overnight, up to 48 hours.
  2. Transfer the chicken wings and brine to a medium sauce pot. If the wings are not completely covered, add water to the pot until they are. Place the pot on the stove over high heat and bring to a boil. When the pot reaches a boil, turn off the heat and allow the wings to cool in the liquid for 15 minutes. Remove the wings from the liquid and store in the refrigerator, covered, until ready to serve.
  3. To serve, remove the chicken from the refrigerator and set aside at room temperature while you prepare the oil and sauce. Place a large saute pan on the stove and full with canola or vegetable oil to a depth of approximately 3/4 inch. Turn the heat to medium.
  4. Pour the hot sauce into a small sauce pot and place over high heat. Add the butter and whisk until melted and fully incorporated. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl or a second large saute pan and hold next to the stove.
  5. Place the flour in a mixing bowl or baking pan and season well with salt and pepper. Roll the chicken wings in the flour to coat completely. To test the oil sprinkle a pinch of flour into the pan. If the oil sizzles immediately it is ready to fry. Remove the wings from the flour one-by-one and pat off any of the excess flour. Carefully place the chicken in the hot oil- the oil should only come half way up the side of the wing.
  6. Let the wings cook until golden brown, 1-2 mintues, then turn with a pair of tongs and brown again on the second side. Transfer the browned wings to the bowl of hot sauce. Keep the pan of oil full of wings but try not to let the wings touch one another. Every time you remove one wing, replace it with another until the wings have been browned.
  7. Toss all of the wings in the bowl coat with the sauce and serve immediately.
  8. Leave the oil to cool on top of the stove. When cooled, pour the oil into a bottle with a screw on lid and discard.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • sexyLAMBCHOPx
    sexyLAMBCHOPx
  • Chef James
    Chef James
  • Eddie Merrill
    Eddie Merrill

4 Reviews

sexyLAMBCHOPx February 7, 2012
OK, checking back in... Awesome recipe. I made them for the Super Bowl game and they tasted amazing. I felt that the recipe was great for me because frying really turns me off. The brining and poaching were genius. Managebale quick frying that didnt want to make me scream. They turned out like your picture, which is a major coup for me (simple home cook, here) I didnt have a can for the oil. so left the pan until co,pletewly cooled and poured into a large ziploc bag) and viola! The technique has made me think of other ways to present & flavor the wings. Well done, Bestie!
 
sexyLAMBCHOPx January 28, 2012
Wow, if this works for me will you be my new best friend? I'll comment back when I try. I never fry in my home, many of the reasons you noted above. But man do I love wings.
 
Chef J. January 30, 2012
You're on! Look forward to hearing how it goes
 
Eddie M. February 3, 2018
If I cook them for a super bowl party will they get soggy to keep warm in a crock pot ?