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Ingredients
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Chicken & Basic Seasoning
Frying / Oil
Buffalo Sauce
Blue Cheese Ranch Dip
To Serve
Method
Chicken & Prep
Prep wings
Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels. Remove tips if still attached and separate drumettes from flats. Drying the skin helps it crisp.
Season & coat
In a large bowl, toss the wings with kosher salt, black pepper, and baking powder until evenly coated. Baking powder helps create a crispy skin when frying or baking.
Frying
Heat oil
Pour oil into a heavy pot or deep skillet to a depth of about 1 to 1.5 inches (use a deep-fry thermometer if available). Heat over medium-high until oil reaches 350°F (175°C). If you don't have a thermometer, test with a small piece of bread — it should brown in about 60 seconds.
Fry wings
Working in batches (do not overcrowd), carefully add wings to the hot oil. Fry until golden and cooked through, about 8–10 minutes per batch, turning occasionally so they cook evenly. Internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) and skin should be crisp. Remove wings to a wire rack set over a baking sheet or onto paper towels to drain briefly.
Buffalo Sauce
Make sauce
In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Stir in the hot sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and cayenne (if using). Heat until just warm and combined, whisking to emulsify. Taste and adjust balance of heat, acidity, or sweetness as desired. Keep warm until ready to toss with wings.
Toss wings in sauce
Place the fried wings in a large clean bowl. Pour the warm buffalo sauce over the wings and toss gently but thoroughly until each wing is well coated.
Blue Cheese Ranch Dip
Make dip
In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise and sour cream until smooth. Add buttermilk a little at a time until you reach a dip consistency. Stir in crumbled blue cheese, chives, parsley, lemon juice, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. For a smoother ranch consistency, gently mash some of the blue cheese into the dressing; leave some crumbles whole for texture. Chill at least 15 minutes to meld flavors (longer if time allows).
Serve
Plate
Arrange sauced wings on a platter with celery and carrot sticks alongside. Spoon the blue cheese ranch into a serving bowl and top with extra crumbled blue cheese if desired.
Enjoy
Serve immediately while wings are hot and crisp. Provide extra napkins and a small bowl of extra buffalo sauce if guests want more heat.