Vegan Buffalo Chicken Wings
Golden-fried vegan drumsticks drenched in a spicy buffalo sauce, complete with the classic sides of pickles, parsley, and vegan ranch dressing. A Super Bowl classic that my kids ask for all year round.
Servings: 8 wings
Calories: 439kcal
Cost: $11.50
Ingredients
- 8 vegan drumsticks my recipe, or store-bought
Flour:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
Batter Mix:
- ½ cup unsweetened plant-based milk
- 3 tablespoon Original Frank's RedHot Sauce or other mild, acidy hot sauce of your preference
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
To Finish and Serve:
- 1 cup canola oil sunflower oil, or vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup vegan buffalo sauce my recipe, or store-bought
- Vegan ranch dressing
- Finely minced pickles
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Finely minced red onion or shallots
Instructions
- Prepare 12 vegan drumsticks using my recipe, or store-bought ones for convenience. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- For the coating, measure 1 cup of all-purpose flour in a shallow dish. This will be used for the dry coat of the drumsticks.
- To make the batter mix, whisk together unsweetened plant-based milk, hot sauce, and 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour in a bowl until smooth.
- If frying, heat the oil in a pot over medium-high heat until it reaches a temperature between 350°F to 360°F (177°C to 182°C). You can verify this using a frying thermometer or by setting a countertop deep fryer to this range. For air frying, preheat your air fryer according to the manufacturer's instructions and ensure you have cooking spray ready to coat the drumsticks.
- While the oil is heating, working one at a time, roll each drumstick in the flour, ensuring it's fully coated. Tap off any excess flour. Then, dip the drumstick into the batter mix, allowing any excess to drip off. Then coat the battered drumstick again in the flour to encapsulate the batter. This will ensure a crispier, better-textured crust. As you batter the drumsticks, add a little more flour to your bowl of flour if it starts getting too wet or is running low. Place all of the coated drumsticks on a parchment paper-lined baking tray.
- For frying: Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. When the oil is hot, fry the drumsticks until they're golden brown and crispy on all sides. This should take about 4 to 6 minutes. Remove them from the oil and let them drain on a wire rack.
- For air-frying: Place the coated drumsticks into an oiled air-fryer tray, and spray with additional cooking spray. Air fry at 350°F (177°C) for 10-12 minutes, or until they're crispy and golden brown, turning halfway through baking.
- Once cooked, toss the vegan drumsticks in 1 cup of vegan buffalo sauce until they're evenly coated. Place the coated wings onto a lightly oiled, parchment paper-lined baking tray and roast at 350°F (175°C) for 12 minutes or until most of the sauce has absorbed into the breading.
- To serve, arrange the saucy drumsticks on a platter. Drizzle with a little extra buffalo sauce, vegan ranch dressing and sprinkle with finely minced pickles, chopped fresh parsley, and finely minced red onion.
Notes
🔥 No Heat Guesswork
Keep oil temperature steady between 350°F and 360°F using a frying thermometer. Too cool, and the wings soak up oil; too hot, and they darken outside before cooking through.
🎨 Saucy Mastery
Ensure a full coat of buffalo sauce on each wing, followed by roasting to let the sauce deeply infuse. A final drizzle before serving adds that juicy vibe you crave.
Nutrition
Calories: 439kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 511mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 31IU | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 2mg