Truly, these are the best buffalo wings. The spice blend is bold, with a surprise of crunchy celery seeds, which pairs perfectly tossed in the creamy, spicy homemade buffalo sauce. Grab a bucket and let’s go!

A bold claim, I know.

OK, I’ve got you on the edge of your seat. You’re either ridiculously excited to learn the secrets for the best buffalo wings ever, or you’re about to rip into my recipe. Perfect, you’re right where I want you. Time to convince you.

These smoked buffalo wings are coated with a popping spice mix and tossed with a creamier buffalo sauce, making them incredibly exciting to bite.

Buffalo wings are probably my deserted island food. Crispy, fatty, and spicy, triggering so many childhood memories. Anytime you’re eating buffalo wings, you’re probably celebrating or in a good place in life.

Related: Don’t forget to pair these with a great sauce, such as Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing, or BBQ Ranch Dressing.

chicken wings are being seasoned with my spice recipe — *Generously seasoned and dry brined*

Table of Contents

Buffalo Spices and Buffalo Sauce

Let’s get right to it. Most buffalo wings you eat in restaurants don’t have much for spices before they are fried. We’re making up for that by treating them on the smoker. I’ve got a general rub that I like to use that’s VERY simple, and you should have most of the ingredients at home:

Buffalo Spice Recipe

2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp chile powder
2 tsp salt
1 tsp celery seeds

See? How easy is that? YES celery seeds. The acidic and fresh pop of the seeds with each bite is the subtle contrast in the spice mix that absolutely stands out. With every bite, you have that nostalgia of eating the celery stick. Maybe you’ll eat those along with these buffalo wings – GREAT. Then the flavors tie together even more.

OK – now the big reveal. The sauce. It’s very controversial so get ready.

buffalo sauce ingredients melting together in a pot — *Melt it all together for an easy buffalo sauce.*

Buffalo Sauce Recipe

1 stick butter
2/3 cup hot sauce (I used Franks)
1/3 cup mayo
2 garlic cloves grated
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
salt to taste

WHAT? Mayo? Worcestershire? What the heck is going on?

Trust me. This works and it’s going to change the game. Have you ever had Alabama White Sauce before? Look at the ingredients and tell me that doesn’t work. It DOES and it’s so amazing with chicken. Adding in hot sauce and adjusting some elements ends up creating this brand-new take on buffalo sauce. Taste it, it’s recognizable, it just has more depth. The texture and flavors are creamier, and layered, complementing the spices. You don’t get that with just butter and hot sauce!

Best buffalo wings piled on a plate. — *Trust me! Grab one!*

Tips for Success

You’ve made it this far down, which means you might try the BEST buffalo wings recipe. Let’s talk about a few suggestions to make sure you get the best experience.

Overcook your wings. Chicken is safe to eat at 165 but they are much more tender if you let them go a bit. Sometimes 175-180 is the magic texture: crispy, yet tender. They can take a little punishment!
Prepare the buffalo sauce while the wings are smoking. Don’t wait until the last minute. The sauce thickens up significantly as it starts to cool, which is what you want. Prepare it and allow it to cool, it’ll warm up again when you toss the wings.
Dry brine. Season your wings and let them chill out in the fridge for 1-2 hours. It helps draw out excess moisture and allows for flavor penetration. You will have tastier, more moist, crispy wings.
Make plenty. I can easily mow through a pound of chicken wings. If you’re cooking for a bunch of guys like me, buy more. This recipe is made for 2 pounds.

The BEST Buffalo Wings

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These smoked buffalo wings are coated with a popping spice mix and tossed with a creamier buffalo sauce, making them incredibly exciting to bite.

Total Time: 90
Yield: 3-4 1x

Ingredients

Scale

2 pounds of chicken wings

Buffalo Spice Ingredients

2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons chile powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoons celery seeds

Buffalo Sauce Ingredients

1 stick butter
2/3 cup hot sauce
1/3 cup mayo
2 garlic cloves, grated
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Kosher salt to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Season the wings. Place in the fridge uncovered for 1-2 hours for extra flavor (optional).
Preheat the grill or smoker to 300F, indirect heat.
Smoke the wings for 70-90 minutes, until they are at least 175-180F.
Prepare the sauce while the wings are cooking. Mix all ingredients together in a saucepan and cook on medium-low. You want everything to melt together, just for about 5-6 minutes. Take off the heat and allow it to cool, it will thicken.
Remove the wings when finished and toss in the sauce.