Oven-baked buffalo wings are delicious, but crispy whole chicken pieces offer a more substantial and juicy alternative. The larger pieces retain moisture better during baking, resulting in a tender and flavorful experience. Whether you smother them in classic buffalo sauce or explore other flavor combinations, this method provides a healthier and equally satisfying option compared to traditional deep-fried wings.
Crispy baked chicken pieces with buffalo sauce
This recipe focuses on achieving crispy chicken skin in the oven. The key is to understand how chicken skin crisps: it’s primarily a dehydration process involving the conversion of collagen to gelatin, evaporation of water, and rendering of fat.
Close-up of crispy chicken skin
Several factors contribute to crispy skin. Air-chilled chicken, a mixture of salt, baking powder, and cornstarch, and air-drying the chicken are all beneficial techniques. Air-chilled chicken contains less moisture than water-chilled chicken, allowing for quicker crisping. The baking powder helps with browning and creates carbon dioxide bubbles for increased surface area. Cornstarch gels on the surface and contributes to the crispy texture. Air-drying further reduces moisture content before cooking.
Comparison of air-chilled and water-chilled chicken wings after baking
Experiments comparing air-chilled and water-chilled chicken wings with varying air-drying times confirmed the effectiveness of these techniques. Air-chilled chicken crisped faster, resulting in juicier meat. While regular chicken can achieve similar crispness with longer cooking times, it risks drying out the meat.
Chicken pieces coated in a mixture of salt, baking powder, and cornstarch
For this recipe, an air-chilled whole chicken is recommended. After butchering the chicken into pieces, coat them with a mixture of salt, baking powder, and cornstarch. Arrange the chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Air-dry the chicken in the refrigerator for at least four hours, or even overnight.
Chicken pieces arranged on a wire rack over a baking sheet
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit with the convection setting on, if available. Bake the chicken for 20-25 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.
Close-up of buffalo sauce ingredients
While the chicken bakes, prepare the buffalo sauce and blue cheese dipping sauce. For the buffalo sauce, combine melted butter, your favorite hot sauce, garlic powder, and black pepper. Shake the mixture well to emulsify.
Blue cheese dipping sauce ingredients
For the blue cheese dressing, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, crumbled blue cheese, milk, lemon juice, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper.
Baked chicken pieces tossed in buffalo sauce
Once the chicken is cooked, toss it immediately with the buffalo sauce. Serve with the blue cheese dressing and celery sticks. Alternatively, explore other sauce options like barbecue, sriracha, or honey glaze. These crispy chicken pieces can also be incorporated into salads or sandwiches.
