BUFFALO WINGS WITH HOMEMADE BLUE CHEESE DIP

Buffalo Wings with Homemade Blue Cheese Dip image

Slow day in the test kitchen... found some chicken wings in the walk-in... thought, Why Not. Got out some of the usual suspects: Hot sauce, butter, garlic, and then added a few "additional" ingredients. Did a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, and wound up throwing them into the slow cooker. What came out was...

Provided by Andy Anderson !

Time 40m

Number Of Ingredients 20

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Ingredients

1 1/2 lb chicken wings
2 Tbsp grapeseed oil
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
THE SAUCE
1/2 c hot sauce (i use franks)
2 Tbsp cider vinegar
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
4 Tbsp sweet butter, unsalted
1 tsp tamari
1 Tbsp raw honey
BLUE CHEESE DIP
1/2 c mayonnaise
1/4 c crumbled blue cheese
1/4 c half and half
1 Tbsp sour cream
1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 dash worcestershire sauce
salt, kosher variety, to taste
black pepper, freshly ground, to taste.

Steps:

1. Gather your ingredients.
2. Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat oven to 450f (233c).
3. Place the chicken wings in a large bowl, and add the grapeseed oil.
4. Add the black pepper, to taste.
5. Toss to combine.
6. Chef's Note: I like to buy the whole wing, and then cut it up myself...
7. Place the chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
8. Chef's Note: If you have a rack that you can place in the baking sheet that will help the drippings separate from the chicken.
9. Place in the oven, and bake for about 15 minutes.
10. Remove from the oven when the chicken is just beginning to brown.
11. Add the sauce ingredients to a small saucepan over medium heat.
12. Allow the ingredients to blend and simmer for about 5 minutes.
13. Chef's Tip: You can simmer the sauce while the chicken is in the oven.
14. Add the chicken to your slow cooker.
15. Pour the sauce on top.
16. Mix to thoroughly combine.
17. Cook on low for two hours.
18. BLUE CHEESE DIP
19. Gather your ingredients.
20. In a large bowl, add all the ingredients, but only 1/2 the blue cheese. In addition, don't add the salt and pepper, and whisk to combine.
21. Add salt and pepper until you achieve the desired taste.
22. Add the remaining blue cheese, and fold into the mixture.
23. Cover and reserve in the refrigerator.
24. THE WINGS
25. Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat oven to 400f (205c)
26. After two hours remove the wings from the slow cooker, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
27. Place in the preheated oven, and cook for 25 minutes, or until they begin to brown.
28. While the wings are baking, place the sauce in a small saucepan.
29. Bring to the boil, and reduce to a simmer, and cook until reduced by half, about 15 minutes.
30. Chef's Tip: If you like your sauce a bit thicker (and I do), make a slurry out of cornstarch or arrowroot, and add to the sauce while it's simmering.
31. Plate the wings, along with the blue cheese dressing on a plate.
32. Pour the heated sauce on top.
33. Serve with the blue cheese dip, and some carrot or celery sticks. Enjoy.
34. Keep the faith, and keep cooking.