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Overhead view of a plate piled high with orange chicken drumsticks and flats, next to a small ramekin of ranch dressing.

Sous Vide Chicken Wings with Buffalo Sauce

Using this sous vide method produces tender, juicy chicken wings every single time. Give them a quick finish in the oven to crisp the skin and then toss them in the buffalo sauce for the perfect wing texture and flavor.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 2 hours 5 minutes
Total: 2 hours 20 minutes
Yield:2 servings

Equipment

  • Large pot or other large, heat-resistant container
  • Sous vide immersion circulator
  • Cutting board
  • Paper towels
  • large food-safe vacuum sealing bags or large, sealable food-safe storage bag
  • vacuum sealer optional, see Notes for alternative
  • Broiler
  • large baking sheet
  • Tongs
  • Large bowl

Ingredients

  • 1 pound chicken wings drums, flats, or a combination
  • salt to taste
  • ½ cup buffalo sauce store-bought or make your own
  • ranch dressing optional, to serve
  • blue cheese dressing optional, to serve
  • celery sticks optional, to serve

Instructions

  • Fill large pot or other large, heat-resistant container with water. Insert sous vide immersion circulator and set to 160° Fahrenheit. Note: pot must be deep enough that water level falls between minimum and maximum indicators on circulator.
  • When water is preheated, place chicken wings on cutting board. Pat each wing completely dry with paper towels, then liberally season all sides of wings with salt.
  • Transfer wings to sealable, food-safe bag. Close bag and use vacuum sealer or water displacement method (see Notes) to remove as much air as possible.
    Overhead view of uncooked chicken wings in a large ziploc bag on a dark wooden tabletop.
  • Fully submerge chicken wings in preheated water bath. Cook wings 2 hours at 160° Fahrenheit.
  • Once 2-hour cook time is up, immediately remove bag of chicken wings from water bath. Preheat broiler on high heat. While broiler preheats, transfer chicken wings from bag to baking sheet. Pat wings completely dry with paper towels.
    Overhead view of sous vide cooked chicken wings on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil before the wings go under the broiler.
  • When broiler is preheated, place baking sheet under broiler and cook wings 5 to 6 minutes or until skins are crisp and golden brown. Carefully remove baking sheet from broiler.
    Overhead view of sous vide cooked chicken wings on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil after the wings go under the broiler.
  • Transfer wings to large bowl. Pour buffalo sauce over wings and toss or gently stir until wings are completely coated with sauce. Transfer wings to serving plate(s) and serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing and celery sticks, if desired.
    Overhead view of orange, saucy sous vide chicken wings on a round plate lined with parchment paper, with a small ramekin of ranch dressing.

Notes

  • The chicken wings must be fully submerged in order to cook properly. If any portion of the chicken is above the water, you risk the wings not cooking all the way. If needed, you can tie or tape weights or silverware to the bottom of the bag to keep it submerged.
  • Water Displacement Method: If you don’t have a vacuum sealer, place your ingredients in an appropriately-sized plastic bag (like a Ziploc gallon-sized bag) and seal bag halfway across the top. Heat water with sous vide immersion circulator, then slowly lower the bag into the water. You should see the plastic cling to the food as the pressure from the hot water forces the air out. Once the food is entirely submerged and the air is completely out, seal the bag completely and continue with the recipe.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1serving | Calories: 272kcal | Protein: 22g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 1929mg | Potassium: 191mg | Vitamin A: 180IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
Recipe By:Sam Guarnieri