Fried Chicken Wings

Total Time Prep: 10 min. + chilling Cook: 20 min.
Yield about 4 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
Only salt and the right frying oil is needed for juicy, crispy-skinned fried chicken wings. Pair the wings with any of these three fantastic sauce options.

Ingredients

  • 4 pounds chicken wings
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • Oil for deep-fat frying
  • BUFFALO WING SAUCE:
  • 3/4 cup Louisiana-style hot sauce
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • SPICY THAI SAUCE:
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh gingerroot
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 minced Thai chile pepper or 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • SPICY BARBECUE SAUCE:
  • 3/4 cup barbecue sauce
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar

Directions

  1. Using a sharp knife, cut through the 2 wing joints; discard wing tips. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Toss wings with kosher salt. Place on a wire rack in a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
  2. In an electric skillet or deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Fry wings in batches until skin is crisp and meat is tender, 8-10 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
  3. For Buffalo wing sauce, bring hot sauce just to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat; whisk in butter 1 piece at a time. Stir in molasses and cayenne pepper.
  4. For Thai sauce, heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add ginger, garlic and chile pepper; cook and stir until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Stir in brown sugar and lime juice. Bring to a boil; cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro and fish sauce.
  5. For barbecue sauce, heat prepared barbecue sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in chipotle peppers, honey and vinegar. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
  6. Toss wings with desired sauce.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 87 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 218mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein.

For game days, I shake up these saucy wings. When I run out, friends hover by the snack table until I bring out more. When they ask me how to fry chicken wings, they never believe it's so easy! —Nick Iverson, Denver, Colorado
Recipe Creator

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