Crispy Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings {Whole30 + Paleo + Gluten Free + Keto}

These crispy baked buffalo chicken wings are so easy to make and super delicious! Perfect for a party, game day, or main course at dinner. Baked in the oven (made without frying!) until crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and tossed in a zippy, hot buffalo sauce. So good dipped in creamy ranch dressing! Whole30 compatible, paleo friendly, gluten free, and keto / low carb.

The best homemade chicken wings

Something about zippy, spicy, CRISPY buffalo chicken wings that is just so irresistible.

Especially served with some celery sticks and mega creamy homemade ranch dressing.

*Drool*

I didn’t realize until a year or so ago when I made wings for the super bowl how easy it was to make them from scratch at home and I haven’t stopped since.

Because it is seriously SO easy.

And like anything, when you make them at home you get to control what ingredients you use and how you make them.

Which means no flour or frying required for this recipe!

Which also means that this recipe is paleo friendly, Whole30 compatible, gluten free, and keto.

My favorite thing is turning out healthy versions of comfort foods that can easily be made at home, and these fit right into that category.

Let’s dig in!

Why you’ll love these oven baked wings

They are:

• Crispy
• Healthy
• A yummy appetizer
• Easy to make
• Perfectly cooked
• Savory and spicy
• Perfect for game day or a party
• Satisfying
• Whole30, paleo, gluten free, and keto
• SO dang tasty!

Ingredients and substitutions

The ingredients for these healthy wings are super basic. Many you’ll probably already have on hand in your pantry!

Here’s what you need

• Split chicken wings – Also called party wings. Split chicken wings are a whole wing that is cut into two pieces – the flat and the drummette.
• Avocado oil – Avocado oil is used to coat the wings with spices before baking, so you just need a small amount. You could also use melted ghee or coconut oil, but it will seize up once poured over the cold wings, so it’s not my first choice.
• Garlic powder – Garlic powder is the perfect simple wing seasoning (along with salt and pepper) to give the wings a little extra flavor as they bake. Onion powder will also work.
• Salt and pepper – Just enough to season the wings before tossing with the sauce.
• Buffalo sauce – Our all time favorite buffalo sauce is this Whole30 compatible one, but you could also whip up a quick batch of homemade buffalo sauce instead.

Where to buy Whole30 compatible buffalo sauce?

The buffalo sauce that I use in this recipe is made by The New Primal.

We put this stuff on everything!

It is that good. You can either buy it on Amazon, or on Thrive Market.

If you can’t get your hands on a bottle there’s also lots of recipes out there for healthy homemade buffalo sauce, usually made with Frank’s Red Hot hot sauce.

How many chicken wings should you make per person?

Because chicken wings have a higher bone to meat ratio, you’ll want to plan to serve more than the average 1/4 pound protein per person.

On average there are about 10 split wings per pound.

Which means that for 4 people this recipe will serve approximately 5-6 wings per person.

That would be enough for 4 people if the wings are for a party and there will be other things to eat, but if you’re making them for dinner two pounds is better suited for 2-3 people.

How to make crispy oven baked buffalo chicken wings

Like I mentioned above, this recipe is so simple to make.

Only a few simple steps and less than an hour in the oven and you’ll be digging into these finger-licking-good wings before you know it.

Here’s the step-by-step

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Pat the wings dry. Using paper towels pat chicken wings as dry as you possibly can. This helps ensure that they will get nice and crispy in the oven.
• Bake until crispy. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add wings to a bowl with avocado oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to thoroughly coat. Arrange in a single layer on the baking sheet to promote even cooking. Transfer to the oven and bake for 40-50 minutes, flipping halfway through, until cooked through and crispy.
• Warm the buffalo sauce. Shortly before wings are done baking gently warm buffalo sauce in a small saucepan or in the microwave. Set aside.
• Turn up the heat. For extra crispy skin turn the heat up to broil and broil the chicken wings for 2-3 minutes before removing from the oven.
• Toss with buffalo sauce. Remove from the oven and transfer to a large bowl. Pour buffalo sauce over the wings and toss to coat.
• Serve immediately with celery sticks and a yummy dip like this Whole30 Compatible Ranch.

How to make sure your wings are crispy

It’s true that you don’t need to fry your wings to make them crispy, but there are a few simple tips that are important to get perfectly crispy wings every time in the oven.

• Make sure they’re super dry. Moisture is the enemy to crispy anything. Which is why it’s so important to properly dry your wings before baking them. I like to line a large cutting board with paper towels and spread the wings out in a single layer. Then take another few pieces of paper towel and pat them as dry as you possibly can.
• Don’t crowd the pan. Once your wings are dry and coated with oil and spices, place them on the baking sheet in a single layer, so that there’s as much space as possible between each wing. This will allow the hot air to circulate and nicely crisp up the skin.
• Flip them halfway through. To make sure that both sides of the wings get crispy, flip them over halfway through cooking.
• Broil at the end. If the wings are done but you’d like the skin just a bit crispier, throw them under the broiler for a few minutes. But make sure to watch them closely so they don’t burn.

How long to bake wings in the oven at 400° F

At 400° F split chicken wings should be done in 40-50 minutes.

You may want to keep them in the oven for a bit longer for extra crispy skin, or even bump the temperature up to broil for a few minutes before pulling them out to toss with the sauce.

Are these buffalo wings spicy?

There is nothing spicy added to the wings except for the buffalo sauce, so they will only be as hot as your buffalo sauce is.

I’d say that generally buffalo sauce tends to fall into the category of medium spiciness.

But the best way to tell is to give your buffalo sauce a taste before you coat your wings with it.

If it’s too spicy, you may want to use less or leave it on the side to dip your wings in as you eat.

What to serve with buffalo chicken wings

Traditionally, all things buffalo are served with a blue cheese dip. Which is totally an option for this recipe if you’re not doing a Whole30 or looking for a dairy free recipe!

But if you want a Whole30 approved dip this dairy free ranch dressing is our favorite dip to serve with these wings.

That along with some cut veggies like celery and carrots makes the best game day snack!

How long do chicken wings last in the refrigerator

If you have leftover wings they will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

How to re-heat chicken wings

The best way to reheat chicken wings is in the oven or in a toaster oven. I imagine an air fryer would also work really well!

To re-heat in the oven or toaster oven: Preheat to 400° F and place wings on a lined baking sheet. Warm until crispy and heated through – about 5-8 minutes.

You can also reheat them in the microwave but you’ll lose the crispiness of the skin.

Love this healthy Whole30 recipe? Check out these other yummy recipes!

• Healthy Chicken Patties
• Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers
• Classic Whole30 Meatloaf
• Super Easy Whole30 Chicken Salad
• Creamy Whole30 Smothered Pork Chops
• Whole30 Beanless Chili
• Nourishing Chicken and Cauliflower Rice Soup
• Garlicky Grilled Shrimp Skewers

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