Buffalo-BBQ Boneless Wings {Super Easy}

These Buffalo-BBQ Boneless Wings are the perfect restaurant copycat. Make them in the Air Fryer or on the stovetop in less than 30 minutes!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Easy to make: These boneless chicken wings are super easy and can be made on either the stovetop or in the air fryer. They're ready in less than 30 mins!
• Great for game day: They're the perfect food for game days, potlucks or parties, and can be served with other game day faves.

Ingredients and substitutions

• Boneless skinless chicken breast – you can try using boneless skinless chicken thighs but the wings won’t be as healthy.
• Paprika – cayenne pepper would also add a bit of kick to these wings.
• Onion powder – swap out for a bit of garlic powder instead.
• Salt & pepper – to taste.
• Buttermilk – make your own buttermilk by combining 2 tbsp. vinegar or lemon juice with 2 cups of milk. Let it sit for 10 minutes and you’re good to go!
• Crushed cornflakes – panko breadcrumbs would be a good substitute here. You could also use crushed potato chips, just make sure to leave out the rest of the salt.

Wing sauce

• Buffalo sauce – use a combination of butter, hot sauce and garlic powder instead.
• BBQ sauce – use your favourite store-bought brand.
• Butter – swap out for a dairy-free butter substitute to help cut the sauce.

How to make boneless wings

Step 1: Season the chicken.

Toss the boneless chicken breast pieces with the paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper.

Step 2: Set up the breading station.

Add the buttermilk to one bowl, and the crushed cornflakes to another bowl. 

Step 3: Bread the chicken.

Coat each piece of chicken in the buttermilk, then in in the cornflakes.

Step 4: Cook the chicken.

Add the chicken pieces to a skillet over medium-high heat and fry until cooked through and the outside is golden brown. Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate to drain the excess oil.

Step 5: Mix together the wing sauce.

Meanwhile, whisk the wing sauce ingredients together. 

Step 6: Toss wings in the sauce and serve!

Coat the chicken in the sauce then serve with carrots, celery sticks and your fave dipping sauces.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best way to cook boneless wings?

While some recipes call for cooking boneless wings in the deep fryer, that's a super unhealthy way to cook them. I prefer to make them in a skillet on the stovetop or in the air fryer. You still get that amazing flavor and crunch, but without all the extra calories.

What cut of chicken is best?

I personally like making these wings with boneless skinless chicken breasts. You can try making them with boneless skinless chicken thighs, but they'll have a higher calorie count.

Is a boneless wing just a chicken nugget?

These boneless chicken wings are really similar to breaded chicken nuggets. Since it would be very difficult to remove the bone from a wing given how tiny they are, boneless breast meat is cut into bite-sized pieces instead. Then, the meat is seasoned, breaded and cooked to resemble traditional wings.

Can you make the wings ahead of time?

If you're planning on making these boneless wings for a party, I'd recommend cooking and freezing the wings ahead of time. That way, you can just pop them in the air fryer or the oven right from frozen. You could also cook them and store them in the fridge the night before, but they might not be as crispy when you reheat them the next day.

Storing and reheating

Keep any leftover boneless wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. It’s best to store any extra sauce separately so the wings don’t get soggy.

To reheat, pop the wings in the Air Fryer until warmed through. It can help to start them at a lower temperature, then increase it after a few minutes to get the skin nice and crispy again. You could also try reheating your wings in the oven at 400° Fahrenheit for 5-10 minutes.

Freezing this recipe

For a quick and easy appetizer, freeze the boneless wings for up to 3 months. Allow them to cool, then spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for about an hour, then transfer the chicken wings to a Ziploc bag and freeze.

When you're ready to enjoy your wings, you can reheat them straight from frozen in the air fryer or the oven for 10 to 15 minutes at 400° Fahrenheit.

Meal prep tools

• Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning these wings into leftovers.
• I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
• Get a meat thermometer to make sure your chicken is cooked through.
• Freeze this recipe in reusable freezer bags for up to 3 months.