Buffalo Wings!

I will tell you a secret. Before this video, I had never eaten a buffalo wing, nor was I very interested in them. I know; it is blasphemy, considering how much I enjoy cold pints and spicy food and sweaty men and frying things. But there you have it.

Chicken Wing Virgin.

And then I met Jenny Kelley.

Hilah Johnson and Jenny Kelley eat Buffalo Wings

Well, first we met on the internet, thanks to the fact that she has an innernet cookin’ show, too! We were able to meet in person thanks to The Fates, who saw to it that we live within driving distance of each other. Thanks, Fates!

When we were planning this episode, you know, chattin’, rappin’, brainstormin’ about what we could make (and what we were gonna wear) and she mentioned she had a special, extra-spicy hot wings recipe, I was sold. I thought, “If anyone knows anything about hot wings, it is this chick right here”. And she does. Boy howdy, does she ever.

Buffalo Wings Recipe

So here is Jenny showing me how to make buffalo wings, a.k.a. hot wings, just in time for the Superbowl. Yay for special guests! Yay for Superbowl parties! We had a ton o’ fun as I’m sure you can tell in the video. And the chicken wings were outstanding. We didn’t even need no dips. Then we drank wine and chatted while enjoying an incredibly warm and clear January day in Texas. Of course, four hours later it was sleeting and hailing and freezingbuttasscold outside, but it was nice while it lasted.

Ingredients

  • 2-2.5 lb chicken wing portions
  • 1 packet of dry Ranch dressing mix
  • 2 tsp Goya Adobo seasoning (although you could probably use just about any seasoning salt mix you have around)
  • 32-48 oz vegetable oil for frying

The Sauce

  • 1 c wing sauce (we used Hooter’s, but there are many on the market)
  • 1/2 c brown sugar
  • 1/2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tbsp onion powder
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/8 tsp paprika
  • 1 pinch (< 1/8 tsp) Hot Shot! (red pepper seasoning)
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • Optional: 2 tbsp of any crazy hotsauce you like to make it extra hot!

For the wings, toss them with the Ranch mix and seasoning salt until they are all coated and so are your hands (or you can use tongs, sheesh!). Let that marinate overnight if you want to, or just let it hang out while your oil heats up. Pour the oil into a large pot; use as much as you need to get it to about 1 1/2 inches deep. Heat over high about 10 minutes. Use the wooden spoon trick to test it: put the handle of a wooden spoon into the oil and if it bubbles, the oil is hot enough.

When it’s hot, put the wings in carefully to avoid splooshing oil all over your awesome Superbowl outfits. They don’t need to be in a single layer or anything; just get them all in. Give them a little stir. Let cook about 25 minutes until they are dark brown and crispy. Stir occasionally just to be sure they aren’t sticking to the bottom, but they really don’t take much attention. We kept the heat on high the whole time and cooked them covered with Jenny’s splatter screen and they took exactly 25 minutes.

While the wings cook, put all the sauce ingredients together and let it simmer to combine all the flavors. This makes a delightfully sticky, spicy sauce that reminds me of Korean barbecued short ribs. Mmm.

Once the wings are done cooking, pick them out and lay on some paper towels to absorb excess oil. Put them in a big ol’ bowl and pour the sauce over. It will seem like too much sauce at first but just keep stirring gently until the wings are fully coated and also a little cooled off to that you don’t burn the shit out of your tongue.

Eat them right out of the bowl if you are feeling primal, or put them on a plate if you are feeling polite.

24 Comments

  1. Steve Singler on January 11, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    ANYTHING that involves finger lickin’ ……….
    I’M IN! Toes to.
    After all, enjoying food is a sensual pleasure, is it not?

    • Hilah Cooking on January 11, 2011 at 8:14 pm

      I hear ya, Steve!

  2. Mariojpena on January 12, 2011 at 8:36 am

    Best.Episode.Ever.

    • Hilah Cooking on January 12, 2011 at 1:53 pm

      Thanks, Mario!

  3. Brady on January 12, 2011 at 3:13 pm

    Great episode Hilah! The only thing missing was a cold frothy beverage 😉

    • Hilah Cooking on January 12, 2011 at 6:11 pm

      No kidding, Brady! What were we thinking?!? 😉

  4. Raymund on January 30, 2011 at 8:18 am

    Love that first pic, it really is lip smacking and finger licking good

    • Hilah Cooking on January 31, 2011 at 4:42 pm

      Agreed.

  5. Frank The Tank on January 31, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    Bacawwwwww! Wow. What an episode folks, what an episode. Solid recipe. Straight animalbalistic.

    • Hilah Cooking on January 31, 2011 at 3:59 pm

      Thanks, Tank! 🙂

  6. SeekerKC on February 4, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    I made two versions of these wings for friends we had over to watch the Steelers vs. Jets game a couple of weeks ago -GO STEELERS!-, and both batches were BIG WINNERS! As a matter of fact, neither my husband nor child like buffalo wings, but this recipe is the exception!

    First, I was disappointed to learn that our local Hooters manager never even heard of the franchise selling their wing sauce (although my husband didn’t seem to mind having been sent on this particular wild goose chase!). Instead, I used equal amounts of Frank’s RedHot Original & Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Wings sauces.

    As for the rub, I followed your recipe (I had all but the red & black pepper seasoning mix in my cabinet) for the main batch. For the mild batch, I used Adobo sin pimienta (w/o pepper) instead of the Adobo Picante seasoning.

    Also, I kept the sauce as a side/option for the mild wings. The spicier wings I just went ahead & coated…they were gorgeous! Actually, both versions looked, & were, utterly delectable!

    Thanks for a fantastic recipe!

    • Hilah Cooking on February 4, 2011 at 3:09 pm

      Wonderful! I’m so happy it turned out. And just in time for the Superbowl!
      The Hooter’s sauce can actually be purchased at the grocery stores here in Texas. Not sure where you are, but you might want to take a look. I’m sure the Frank’s worked out great, though! And as long as your husband didn’t mind the wasted trip… 🙂

      • SeekerKC on February 4, 2011 at 3:30 pm

        re: my husband & Hooters <–lol He sure didn't. XD As for the Hooters sauce, I'd like to try so I'll definitely check the grocery stores. Thanks for the heads-up!

  7. James Goacher on February 9, 2011 at 12:21 pm

    Now I am English, so why Buffalo?
    I can accept Chips when you mean Crisps.
    Then again they may be called Buffalo Chips?
    Strange “common” language we have.
    Great podcasts.

    James

    • Hilah Cooking on February 9, 2011 at 4:16 pm

      Hi James! They’re called Buffalo wings because they were created in Buffalo, NY. Originally made with just butter and hot sauce as the glaze and served with blue cheese dressing.
      I love the funny things that have changed within the English language. It is amazing what a difference 250 years apart will make.
      Thanks for watching, neighbor!

  8. James Goacher on February 12, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    Thanks for the enlightenment Hilah. I am irritated with myself because I am fairly certain Mr Google could have told me that.
    From my brief sojourns to South Carolina over a couple of years a few years back, I also recall (I think) Buffalo Chips which were thinly scalloped potatoes lightly fried. The near equivalent to what we would call potato crisps (if they were crisp), which I used to cook in Iraq as nibbles for my engineers (nostalgia).
    Overall some of the food I could not eat (Grits e.g.) but I enjoyed the (sort of) home-made nature (hash browns e.g.) of some of the processed crap which serves for Cafe food here in England.

    James

    • Hilah Cooking on February 12, 2011 at 5:37 pm

      Don’t beat yourself up too bad, dear James. I am sure Mr Google would have told you that, but he just as likely could have told you something completely false instead. With Mr Google, one can never be sure.
      Buffalo Chips, eh? Never heard of those. Deep fried? Pan fried? Mmm fried.

  9. Elsie on August 9, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    they look sooo good! I will definitely try and make these!

    • Hilah on August 9, 2011 at 9:40 pm

      Thanks, Elsie! I hope you do!

  10. Simone on April 23, 2012 at 12:58 am

    A great episode, indeed. I just love the recipe. The wings are absolutely delicious.

  11. Nida on July 26, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    Saw your Chik-fil-Gay video last night through a friend, then creeping through your Youtube channel, I found this! Loved the vid, came here for the recipe, and making them tonight! I’m also in Houston 🙂 Unfortunately, the Kroger I went to did not have Hot Shot! 🙁 But I will make do with straight chili powder for this batch 😉

    • Hilah on July 27, 2012 at 8:58 am

      Hi Nida!
      That’s great! You can also do a traditional buffalo wing sauce like the one we did on the boneless buffalo wings. Either way it will be great! Enjoy!

  12. David on February 2, 2013 at 3:58 pm

    Hilah,

    GREAT webiste and awesome recipe. I have made this a few times last year and will be making it tomorrow. EVERYONE loves these wings. I had trouble finding Hooters Sauce too so I use Franks Wings Sauce. Can’t wait to make some of your other stuff !

    • Hilah on February 2, 2013 at 7:24 pm

      Thanks, David! Glad you liked them. I just put up a baked version you might like, too. Have a fun Superbowl Sunday!

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