These garlic butter chicken wings are easy to make and packed with flavor. Crispy chicken wings are generously coated in a melted butter garlic sauce.
They are great for a busy weeknight dinner or as an appetizer for your favorite party!
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the best garlic butter wings
These crispy chicken wings are coated in a delicious garlic butter sauce. It still provides a touch of the classic buffalo flavor and heat.
Party wings (flats and drumettes) are seasoned with salt and pepper and then baked until perfectly crispy. Once they’re nice and crispy, they’re tossed in a garlic butter sauce.
Garlic-buttered chicken wings are a great variation of the original hot wing. Crispy, tender and so succulently saucy.
They’re great on their own as a party appetizer or serve them as part of a larger family meal.
why you’ll love this recipe for garlic chicken wings
There is so much to love about these garlic wings! Not only are they crispy and easy to make, but they are coated in a super flavorful sauce.
The garlic butter sauce is a combination of butter, garlic, lemon juice, and buffalo sauce. You get the savory combination of melted butter with garlic and a touch of heat from the buffalo sauce.
They are easy to make with simple ingredients. There are no difficult to find ingredients, and you may already have some on hand.
These wings make a great appetizer with all the dipping sauces or main meal when paired with some tasty side dishes.
ingredients
- chicken wings (flats and drumettes) – You’ll want to get party wings for this recipe. Party wings are a combination of flats and drumettes.
You can often find them in the freezer section, at the meat counter, or even in large bags at Sam’s Club.
This recipe is meant to be used on party wings, but it can also be used on full-size chicken wings. - coarse kosher salt – I prefer to use coarse kosher salt in my recipes. Not only will this give excellent flavor and crunch, but you won’t find yourself oversalting the recipe.
- ground black pepper – freshly ground is great, but any ground black pepper works well here
- unsalted butter – Unsalted butter will give you better overall control of the salt level in the recipe. You can use salted butter, just be more aware of how much salt you’re using to season the wings. You may want to use less.
- garlic – this recipe uses minced garlic. You can use the pre-minced kind for a quick shortcut, or chop it up yourself. Both ways work well!
- lemon juice – Lemon juice is just the right amount of acidity when combined with the rest of the sauce. It’ll give it a bright zest of flavor. You can use freshly squeezed (what I prefer) or you can use the shortcut bottled kind.
- buffalo sauce – You’ll want to use your favorite brand of buffalo sauce. My favorite is Frank’s, but use whatever you prefer.
It’ll lend the perfect heat and flavor to the sauce while still being primarily garlic butter flavored.
how to make chicken wings in garlic sauce
Step 1
Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel and place them in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2
Season the wings with salt and pepper and toss to coat.
Step 3
Place the wings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a single layer. Bake the wings in the oven for 30-35 minutes. Bake them until the internal temperature of 165°F and the outside is crispy.
Step 4
While the wings are cooking, start making the sauce. Start by adding the butter to a saucepan over medium heat until it’s melted. Be sure not to brown the butter.
Step 6
Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 7
Remove the sauce from the heat.
Step 8
Add the cooked wings to a clean mixing bowl and pour the sauce over them. Toss to combine until they are fully coated.
How to Make Garlic Butter Sauce for Chicken Wings
- While the wings are cooking, start making the sauce. Add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat until it’s melted. Be sure not to brown or burn the butter.
- Next you’ll add the garlic, lemon juice, and the buffalo sauce to the saucepan with the melted butter.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the sauce from the heat until the wings are cooked and ready to be tossed and sauced.
Substitution Options for Garlic Butter Wings
- For the Butter – If you are dairy intolerant, you can sub a vegan/dairy free butter for the dairy butter.
- For the Buffalo Sauce – If you like things a little spicier, try a regular tabasco-style hot sauce. Or you can use your favorite hot sauce. Just remember, not all hot sauces are the same.
tips and tricks for the best garlic butter wings
This chicken wing recipe doesn’t require using a wire rack. I don’t find it necessary, but you can always use one if you prefer.
For extra garlicky wings, add 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of garlic powder to the salt and pepper mix before dry-seasoning the wings.
faqs
If you’re trying to get your seasoning to stick to the wings, make sure they are dry first. You can do this by gently patting them with a paper towel.
Tossing or shaking the raw wings in a seasoning mix rather than just sprinkling the seasonings on before cooking them helps the dry seasonings flavor the meat better.
For more sauce, toss the wings in the sauce. Leave them in there to cool for a minute or two, then toss again and plate.
For crispy wings, it is better to sauce the wings after baking them. For the sauciest wings, you can sauce them when they are done cooking. Place them back on the baking sheet in the oven for 5-7 minutes, then sauce again.
The best method to cook chicken wings depends on your preference and desired results. You can have great chicken wings by baking, air frying, deep frying, grilling, and smoking.
Some people swear that only deep frying them results in the crispiest wings. But those looking to avoid excess oil, and excess mess, prefer air-frying or baking them.
It is important to season wings before you cook them for the best flavor and results. You’ll want to season the wings, cook them, and then toss them in your favorite sauce.
I don’t find it necessary to use baking powder on the wings. Baking powder can help the exterior crisp up, it can sometimes have an effect on the overall taste of the wings. I prefer to omit it entirely.
how to store leftover wings
Leftover chicken wings should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
These wings also freeze really well! To freeze, place them on a baking sheet and flash freeze them. Once frozen, place them in an airtight container. They will stay fresh for up to 3 months.
how to reheat leftover wings
To reheat refrigerated leftover garlic butter wings, preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the wings on a baking sheet in a single layer.
Bake for 20 minutes, covered. Then uncover and place the wings under the broiler for them to really crisp up.
You can also reheat the wings in the air fryer on 350° for about 10-15 minutes until crispy and warmed through.
NOTE: You may want to resauce the wings after reheating them.
How to Serve These Buttery Garlic Wings
These buttery garlic wings are great on their own, with some dipping sauces of course. But they’re also great as part of a larger meal. Try them with
- Boursin Mashed Potatoes
- Southern Mashed Potatoes
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Lemon Ricotta Pasta
- Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
kitchen tools needed to make garlic chicken wings
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Garlic Buttered Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 2 pounds wings wing and drumettes
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher or sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon buffalo sauce
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Pat the wings dry and add them to a large mixing bowl.
- Season the wings with salt and pepper and toss to coat.
- Place the wings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a single layer.
- Bake the wings in the oven for 30-35 minutes. The internal temperature needs to be 165°F and the outside crispy.
- While the wings are cooking, start making the sauce. Start by adding the butter to a saucepan over medium heat until it’s melted. Be sure not to brown the butter.
- Add the garlic, lemon juice, and buffalo sauce to the sauce pan with the butter.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the sauce from the heat.
- Add the cooked wings to a clean mixing bowl and pour the sauce over them. Toss to combine until they are fully coated.
Video
Notes
- A wire rack is not necessary for these wings.
- If you want your wings extra garlicky, season them with garlic powder while you’re adding the salt and pepper.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
