Crispy Buffalo Chicken Wings with Ranch Cauliflower Bites
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Spring is coming and these crispy buffalo chicken wings with ranch cauliflower bites are just what you need to brighten up your day! Along with the sunshine that I've been craving for months. I have and always will be a huge fan of anything buffalo style. My favorite buffalo sauce to use is Tessemae's Mild Buffalo Sauce! These wings can be grilled or baked in the oven if you don't have access to a grill. Even if you decide to grill them the trick to cooking them perfectly is to bake them first. I learned this secret from my Dad, who is the wing connoisseur of the family. Every time my Dad makes his wings he refers to them as his, "famous wings." The ranch cauliflower bites compliment the wings perfectly!
What do we need to make crispy buffalo wings and ranch cauliflower bites?
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For the wings you will need 1½ pounds of chicken wings, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp ground black pepper, 1 tsp adobo seasoning, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ cup of buffalo sauce, 3 tbsp of ketchup. I love the ketchup from Good Food For Good because it is organic and has no sugar added. Good Food For Good Organic Ketchup - $34.99 (4 pack of 9.5 oz bottles). You will also need 1½ tbsp of apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp of ghee or Brummel and Brown's yogurt butter, and ½ tsp of ground black pepper.
For the ranch cauliflower bites you will need 4 cups of caulilflower florets, 1 tbsp of avocado oil. Chosen Foods Avocado Oil, $26.99. ½ tsp of dried dill, ½ tsp of garlic powder, ½ tsp of onion powder, and a pinch of salt.
How do you make this meal?
First preheat your oven to 425° and place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Next, toss your cauliflower with the oil in a mixing bowl. In a small mixing bowl combine your dill, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Sprinkle the mixture over your cauliflower and toss to coat. Arrange the cauliflower in a single layer on one side of the wire rack. Arrange your chicken on the other side. Sprinkle your chicken evenly with the salt, pepper, adobo seasoning, and garlic powder. Then, bake until the cauliflower is tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the cauliflower and place on a plate. Cover with foil to keep warm. Continue cooking chicken for another 20 minutes if you plan on grilling them or another 35 to 40 minutes if you want to only bake them. Chicken should reach 165º on inside to be fully cooked.
Meanwhile, combine buffalo sauce, ketchup, butter or ghee, and pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat until the butter is melted.
For Grilling: Before transferring chicken to grill brush with sauce to coat. Using a brush coat all sides of the chicken. Place on preheated grill and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes until inside temperature reaches 165°. Brush buffalo sauce occasionally while grilling and flip chicken about every 5 to 8 min. to crisp all sides. Before serving brush with remaining sauce.
For Baking: Remove chicken from oven when there is about 10 minutes remaining and brush with the sauce making sure to coat all sides. Place back in oven and bake for the remaining 10 minutes. Before serving brush with remaining sauce.
Here are a few brushes that I recommend if you don't already have one.
Basting Brush, Grilling BBQ Brush, Baking Pastry, and Oil Stainless Steel - $10.16 
Silicone Basting Brush, Cooking Brush, Easy to clean - $5.99 for 6 pieces
Caperci Silicone Basting, Grilling Brush, set of 2 - $6.99 
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Wings with Ranch Cauliflower Bites
Equipment
- baking tray
- cutting board
- paring knife
- mixing bowls
- metal baking rack
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs chicken wings
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp adobo seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ cup buffalo sauce
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 1½ tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp ghee, yogurt butter, or unsalted butter
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 4 cups cauliflower florets
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- ½ tsp dill
- ½ tsp onion powder
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450° and place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Toss your cauliflower with the 1 tbsp avocado oil, dill, ½ tsp onion powder, and salt in a small mixing bowl.
- Sprinkle the mixture over the cauliflower and toss to coat. Arrange cauliflower in a single layer on one side of the baking wire rack. Arrange chicken on the other side. Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1 tsp of kosher salt, 1 tsp ground black pepper, adobo seasoning and 1 tsp of garlic powder. Bake for 20 minutes or until cauliflower is tender.
- Remove cauliflower from oven and place on a plate and cover to keep warm. Continue cooking chicken for another 20 minutes if you are going to grill them or another 35 to 40 minutes if you want to continue baking them. Chicken should reach an inside temp of 165°.
- Meanwhile, combine buffalo sauce, ketchup and ghee or butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until melted and well combined.
- For Grilling: Preheat grill to medium high heat. Before transferring chicken to grill brush sauce to coat all sides of the chicken. Place on preheated grill and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes turning occasionally and until inside temp reaches 165°. Brush buffalo sauce throughout cooking the chicken and flip chicken about every 5 to 8 minutes. Brush with more sauce before serving.
- For Baking: Remove chicken from oven when there is about 10 minutes remaining and brush with sauce making sure to coat all sides. Place back in oven for remaining 10 minutes. Before serving brush with remaining sauce.
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