Crispy Buffalo Wings & Cheesy Baked Ziti
Easy Homemade Crispy Buffalo Wings & Cheesy Baked Ziti — Traditional Comfort Food with a Healthy Twist
There’s something about the smell of buffalo sauce and bubbling cheese wafting through the house that always takes me back to cozy Sunday dinners and game nights with friends. Crispy Buffalo Wings & Cheesy Baked Ziti are a pair of comfort classics that feel like a hug on a plate — crunchy, saucy wings alongside a warm, cheesy bake. This combo works for weeknight dinners, Sunday family meals, potlucks, and even holiday casual spreads when you want something satisfying and homemade.
Crispy Buffalo Wings & Cheesy Baked Ziti bring together spicy, tangy wings and rich, melty pasta in one delicious lineup. Read on for an easy, traditional, and slightly healthier take you can make any time.
🧂 Ingredients:
For the Crispy Buffalo Wings
- 2½–3 lbs (1.1–1.4 kg) chicken wings, tips removed and separated into drumettes & flats
- 1 tbsp baking powder (aluminum-free) — helps crisp the skin
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp neutral oil (vegetable or avocado oil)
Buffalo Sauce
- ½ cup (120 ml) hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot or preferred)
- 4 tbsp (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted (or use ghee/olive oil for lower saturated fat)
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional, for balance)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
For the Cheesy Baked Ziti
- 1 lb (450 g) ziti or penne pasta
- 2 cups (480 ml) marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella, divided
- ½ cup grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano
- 1 large egg (optional — helps bind the ricotta)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or parsley (for finishing)
Optional sides & garnishes
- Celery sticks and carrot sticks
- Blue cheese or ranch dressing (or Greek yogurt-based dip)
- Lemon wedges
👩🍳 Directions:
Preheat and prep: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top (this helps wings crisp all around). 10 minutes prep.
Dry and season wings: Pat wings very dry with paper towels. In a large bowl, toss wings with baking powder, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until evenly coated. 5 minutes.
Bake the wings: Arrange wings on the rack in a single layer, skin-side up. Drizzle lightly with oil. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 40–45 minutes, flipping once at about 25 minutes, until skin is deep golden and crisp. If you like them extra-crispy, broil 1–2 minutes at the end — watch carefully. Total 40–45 minutes.
Make the buffalo sauce: While wings bake, whisk together hot sauce, melted butter (or substitute), honey (if using), and smoked paprika in a small saucepan. Warm gently over low heat just until combined — about 2–3 minutes. Do not boil.
Toss wings in sauce: Transfer baked wings to a large bowl, pour the warm buffalo sauce over them, and toss until evenly coated. Serve immediately with celery and blue cheese or ranch. 2–3 minutes.
Cook pasta for the ziti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ziti 1–2 minutes less than package directions (so it’s al dente). Drain and set aside. 10–12 minutes.
Mix the cheese filling: In a bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg (if using), Italian seasoning, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir until creamy. 5 minutes.
Assemble ziti: In a large bowl or in the pot, mix cooked pasta with marinara and half of the cheese mixture (reserve a little ricotta for dollops). Pour half into a 9×13-inch (or similar) baking dish, dollop remaining ricotta mixture, add the rest, and top with remaining mozzarella and extra Parmesan. 5–7 minutes.
Bake the ziti: Cover with foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–12 minutes until bubbly and golden on top. Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving. Total 30–35 minutes.
Plate and enjoy: Serve buffalo wings hot with celery and dip beside the cheesy baked ziti. Sprinkle basil or parsley over the ziti for color. Total meal time ~1 hour (mostly hands-off).
💡 Tips & Variations:
- For extra-crispy wings: Use a wire rack and baking powder, and don’t overcrowd the pan. Air-fryer option: Air fry at 380°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes, shaking halfway.
- Healthier wing swap: Use skinless chicken thighs or boneless chicken breast tenders, toss in 1 tbsp olive oil and bake until cooked through.
- Low-carb option: Replace pasta with cooked cauliflower florets or zoodles; layer with the same cheese mixture and bake until bubbly.
- Vegan option: Make cauliflower buffalo "wings" (battered and baked), use vegan butter and hot sauce for buffalo sauce, and swap ricotta/mozzarella for plant-based cheeses; use a gluten-free 1:1 flour for batter if needed.
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta and ensure marinara and other condiments are labeled GF. For wings, skip wheat-containing coatings.
- Swap for lighter dairy: Use part-skim ricotta and reduced-fat mozzarella or a blend of cottage cheese + Greek yogurt for creaminess with more protein.
- Make-ahead & storage: Ziti can be assembled and refrigerated (covered) up to 24 hours before baking. Cooked wings and baked ziti keep in the fridge for 3–4 days. Reheat wings in a 375°F (190°C) oven for 8–10 minutes to crisp. Freeze baked ziti for up to 3 months (thaw overnight in fridge before baking).
- Serving ideas: Add a crisp green salad, garlic bread, or roasted vegetables. For parties, set up a toppings bar with extra hot sauce, blue cheese crumbles, and sliced scallions.
🩺 Health & Lifestyle Tie-in (Optional)
This meal is a great reminder that comfort food can be balanced. The wings and ziti both provide protein — important for muscle repair and satiety — while marinara adds tomatoes and lycopene, a heart-healthy antioxidant. Swapping in Greek yogurt or reduced-fat cheeses lowers saturated fat without sacrificing creaminess.
Batch-cooking recipes like this also support financial well-being: making a big dish can reduce food waste, save on takeout, and free up time later in the week — small savings that add up. Eating a mix of home-cooked meals and mindful swaps now can contribute to better health down the road, potentially lowering healthcare costs over time.
❤️ Conclusion
There’s nothing fancy about Crispy Buffalo Wings & Cheesy Baked Ziti — just two homemade classics that bring people together. Give this version a try for your next family dinner or game night, and tweak the swaps to match your lifestyle. If you make this dish, let me know in the comments or tag me — I’d love to see your version!
#fblifestyle #rezepte #DDR #Hydration #Gesundheit
Crispy Buffalo Wings & Cheesy Baked Ziti
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
- Pat wings very dry with paper towels.
- In a large bowl, toss wings with baking powder, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until evenly coated.
- Arrange wings on the rack in a single layer, skin-side up. Drizzle lightly with oil.
- Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 40–45 minutes, flipping once at about 25 minutes, until skin is deep golden and crisp.
- If you like them extra-crispy, broil 1–2 minutes at the end.
- While wings bake, whisk together hot sauce, melted butter, honey (if using), and smoked paprika in a small saucepan.
- Warm gently over low heat just until combined — about 2–3 minutes. Do not boil.
- Transfer baked wings to a large bowl and pour the warm buffalo sauce over them.
- Toss until evenly coated and serve immediately.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook ziti 1–2 minutes less than package directions (so it’s al dente). Drain and set aside.
- In a bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, egg (if using), Italian seasoning, minced garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Stir until creamy.
- In a large bowl or pot, mix cooked pasta with marinara and half of the cheese mixture (reserve a little ricotta for dollops).
- Pour half into a 9×13-inch baking dish, dollop remaining ricotta mixture, add the rest, and top with remaining mozzarella and extra Parmesan.
- Cover with foil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake another 10–12 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
- Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving.
- Serve buffalo wings hot with celery and dip beside the cheesy baked ziti.
- Sprinkle basil or parsley over the ziti for color.
