These Copycat Hooters Buffalo Wings are just what you need for the big game. Super crispy with the best buffalo sauce.
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Buffalo wings are the ultimate football food in my book. And not any of those fancy or crazy flavored ones, just hot buffalo wing sauce for me. Like classic hooters buffalo wings.
If you’re more of a barbecue or parmesan garlic wing kind of person, I guess we can still be friends. But for me, buffalo sauce is king.
I’ll eat those other varieties but they just aren’t the same.
Once you try these Copycat Hooters Buffalo Wings you’ll totally be on my side. I promise.
To Batter or Not to Batter
I know many wing traditionalists think it’s just wrong to batter and fry a wing but we’ll just have to agree to disagree. I love the crispy coating the seasoned flour gives these wings.
It does add a bit more work and time to the process but I think it’s worth it. The juicy chicken, crispy coating and spicy sauce is just perfect to us.
I definitely don’t love frying things at home but every once and awhile I make an exception for these bad boys and you should too.
Ingredients for Copycat Hooters Buffalo Wings
Here’s what you’ll need to make these wings:
The Process – Coat the Wings
Let’s break down how to make these unbelievably crispy wings. We start off by mixing up some all-purpose flour, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt.
The wings are tossed in the spiced flour and then they need to go into the fridge for a few hours so that the coating will stick properly. If you skip this step, the coating may slide off during the frying process.
How sad would that be?!
Time to Fry
Once the wings have had time in the fridge, heat up that oil and get to frying. They’ll take about 10 to 12 minutes in a deep fryer, depending on their size.
Fry in batches so that the pot doesn’t get overcrowded. If there’s too many two things will happen.
First, the temperature of the oil will drop too much and they will end up greasy.
Second, they won’t crisp up properly because the oil won’t be touching all the surfaces of the wings.
Make the Sauce
While the first batch is frying, add all the sauce ingredients to a small saucepan and cook on low until melted. Whisk it together and you are good to go.
Toss the hot wings in the buffalo sauce and serve right away.
And don’t forget some homemade bleu cheese dressing or ranch on the side!
More Wings You Need in Your Life:
Copycat Hooters Buffalo Wings
Ingredients
For the sauce:
- 1/4 cup hot pepper sauce
- 1/4 cup butter
- Dash of pepper
- Dash of garlic powder
For the wings:
- peanut oil, for frying
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp. paprika
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 10 chicken wing pieces
Instructions
- Combine the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper and salt in a bowl with a lid that is large enough to fit the wings. Place wings in the bowl, cover with the lid and shake until they are all completely coated and are not stuck together. Put the wings in the refrigerator for 60-90 minutes (this will help the coating stick when fried).
- Heat oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees F. You want just enough to cover the wings entirely.
- Carefully place the wings into the hot oil and fry for 10-15 minutes or until they begin to turn dark brown.
- Meanwhile, combine the butter, hot pepper sauce , ground pepper and garlic powder over low heat. Heat until the butter is melted and the ingredients are well blended.
- Remove the wings from the fryer and place on a paper towel to drain. Toss the wings with the sauce in a large bowl until they are evenly coated. Serve with bleu cheese or ranch dressing, carrots and celery.
October 11, 2013 at 5:03 am
[…] my football food series and it’s Buffalo Chicken Sliders. I know I just shared some delicious buffalo wings with you all a few weeks ago, but I couldn’t resist posting these cute little sandwiches […]
March 23, 2014 at 8:31 pm
i love ther wings
January 23, 2024 at 6:28 pm
My husband and I love to stop at Hooters for their boneless wings once a year in Cancun. There isn’t one near us, so I decided to try to make some for a Superbowl party this year. I came upon your recipe and did a practice run before the big day. They were both easy to make, and delicious! Can’t wait to serve them on Superbowl Sunday!! Thank you!
May 9, 2014 at 5:03 am
[…] They are probably one of my favorite foods but I’m kind of a snob about them. Wings should be spicy and slathered in buffalo sauce, none of those foofy flavors like parmesan garlic or honey barbeque (sorry if any of you are fans […]
August 19, 2014 at 5:03 am
[…] thing going on. Well, chicken wings are pretty much one of my favorite foods (as evidenced here, here and here) but they definitely aren’t the healthiest or cleanest food to eat so I don’t […]
May 7, 2015 at 8:46 am
Sorry to say but…Hooters has nasty wings. How do we know…notta one left in Buffalo, NY. How do I know? Cause I live here.
86 the following:
-Louisiana Hot Sauce because it has very little flavor
-Flour. Chicken wings or as some call’em Buffalo wings are never battered!!! NEVER!!!
-paprika..why?
-salt
-pepper
-garlic if your make traditional wings
-ranch!!! Shame on you for even suggesting ranch.
Use Frank’s because it’s s cayenne pepper sauce with a bit of sweetness. Clarified butter is better(nutty flavor) but butter will work. Directions…cook chicken in fryer, in oil, on BBQ, baked in oven until crispy or almost crispy if on BBQ. Toss wings into large bowl with butter, hot sauce, cayenne and/or other heat-only sauce to add heat for hot, suicide, atomic, nuclear, … and something to help them stick to you ribs. Little honey or grape jelly and toss. Then toss them again and again. If BBQ’in, put them back on the BBQ and re-toss again. Serve with BLUE CHEESE dressing. Not that sh!tty wishbone or kraft crap but something like Marie’s or Marzetti. One with a nice kick and that you can smell from across the room.
Bon-a-petite
May 7, 2015 at 2:01 pm
Sorry it took me awhile to respond to your comment. I knew I had three options in how I proceeded. I could simply approve your comment, decline it or I could respond. After some thought, I knew I had an obligation to respond. I love to hear from my readers whether they liked the recipe or didn’t. What I don’t like and won’t accept on my site is negativity just for the sake of being mean. We all have different opinions and tastes. Sure, plenty of people won’t like this recipe because it’s not a classic wing. But, correct me if I’m wrong, there are plenty of Hooters around so a copycat recipe of their most famous menu item will be liked by many. You clearly didn’t want this recipe and just came to my site to leave a less than helpful comment. I want this to be a positive place where people can find inspiration so in the future, I would love for you to read but please refrain from cyber bullying as it will not be acceptable here.
July 18, 2020 at 7:07 pm
Not really reviewing the recipe, but I am responding to your comment of his comment… I am so proud of you and I am so happy to see someone else has the umph to correct someone with positivity of their own. I’m happy you took the time to show how great of a person you really are with leaving his stupidity for the world to see. And also to see how to respond to negativity with positivity. Bravo to you and your recipe!
November 19, 2020 at 6:43 pm
Don’t worry. I like the Hooter Wings. That fellow is from the north and they have their own way of doing things. They try to change the way we do things down south. Keep up the good work
November 24, 2022 at 9:29 am
Hooters wings used to be the best! Slowly but surly they have lowered there standards. I don’t go there for the girls but I go for the wings and if they keep this up I won’t be going much longer 🙁
November 30, 2023 at 2:08 pm
You should have known better when “Dan” suggested using grape jelly! Keep up the good work.
June 26, 2017 at 3:58 pm
I just loved what you said.
Keep doing what you’re doing.
March 20, 2020 at 9:43 pm
Recommendations on a hot pepper sauce for that authentic flavor? Thanks!!
November 24, 2022 at 9:31 am
I love to use red dot. Its very close to Frank’s but better in my opinion. I fry my wi gs then I put them in a crock pot and pour wayyyy more sauce then needed just for wings. Then u just set the whole pot out with ranch blue cheese carrots and celery and let your guest have the best wishes gs they have ever had! I’m telling u. Try it 🙂
November 2, 2020 at 5:35 am
Love your recipe, I’ve used it often.
November 24, 2022 at 9:31 am
Can’t wait to try it!