Buffalo Chicken Competition

Yesterday, I entered my FIRST recipe competition!! I was so excited, because I have always wanted to enter a recipe contest, but for one reason or another I never have. This recipe contest was so fun for me, because it was a Chicken Wing Cookoff!

It was sponsored by the Today Show, which I just happened to be watching one morning, and found out about it! Chicken wings are one of my favorite foods, but not really to get out at a restuarant. I like to make my own! And it has become a tradition that when I go visit Marshall, we ALWAYS make a batch of grilled chicken wings.

Grilled chicken wings are far superior to fried chicken wings! Let’s think about it: chicken wings by themselves have a lot of fat…. and then get deep-fried…. and then they get doused in a butter + buffalo sauce mixture. That means fried chicken wings are literally, fat on fat on fat!! No so good in my book!

Grilled Chicken Wings, however, allow the fat to drip off and when you make them yourself, you can control the butter and sauces to toss them in. And the taste is a million times better too! Follow my (hopefully) winning recipe (knock on wood) and get ready to have your mind blown!

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Wings

Print this recipe!

Ingredients

3 pounds chicken wings, split
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 cup wing sauce (Bella’s wing sauce is preferable)
1 tablespoon butter

Directions

Rinse the split chicken wings under cold water and trim off any excess fat. Pat dry and place in a large bowl.

Combine all the spices together, and pour over the wings. Toss the wings to combine, making sure all wings are evenly coated in spices.

Grill wings over a medium high flame turning every 2 – 3 minutes. Continually turn the wings until fully cooked, about 10 – 15 minutes.

*Alternatively, wings can be cooked under the broiler on a foil lined cookie sheet with a cooling rack placed on top. Wings will be turned about every 6 minutes, taking about 15 – 18 minutes until fully cooked.*

While the wings are cooking, place the wing sauce and butter in a microwave safe bowl. Heat sauce in 30 second intervals until hot, stirring after each interval.

In a large bowl, toss the wings in the sauce and serve! Carrots, celery, and low fat ranch/ blue cheese make wonderful accompaniments.

While most chicken wing recipes are fried, this one is different! Grilling or broiling the wings allows the fat to drip off, saving you from eating excess calories and fat. They are still juicy and flavorful and you will never go back to fried wings after you have tasted these!