Hot Honey Chicken Wings

5 from 1 vote

These Hot Honey Chicken Wings make a delicious party or game day appetizer. Made with just a few simple ingredients, these delicious chicken wings are cooked and then coated with a sweet and spicy hot honey sauce. This easy appetizer recipe is SO good and great as a chicken dinner recipe too.

Prep Time15

Cook Time45

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 392kcal

Author: Raquel Pineira

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken wings split at joints, tips removed
1/2 cup hot sauce such as Frank's RedHot
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic minced
Salt and pepper to taste
Seasoning blend optional for baked wings )
Vegetable oil for frying
Optional garnish: chopped fresh cilantro or parsley

Wing Seasoning Blend

1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional

Instructions

For oven baked:

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and set aside.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the hot sauce and honey, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
In a small bowl, mix together salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using).
Sprinkle the spice mixture over the chicken wings and toss until evenly coated.
Place the seasoned chicken wings on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, ensuring they are in a single layer and not touching.
Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the wings are golden brown and crispy, flipping halfway through cooking.
Transfer the fried chicken wings to a large mixing bowl. Pour the hot honey sauce over the wings and toss until evenly coated.
Place the coated wings back onto the wire rack on the baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the wings are cooked through and the sauce is caramelized.
Remove the wings from the oven and let them cool slightly. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley if desired.

For frying:

In a small bowl, mix together salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using). Coat the wings in the rub.
In a large skillet or deep fryer, heat vegetable oil to 375°F (190°C). Fry the chicken wings in batches for about 8-10 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Transfer the fried wings to the wire rack on the baking sheet.
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the hot sauce and honey, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
Transfer the fried chicken wings to a large mixing bowl. Pour the hot honey sauce over the wings and toss until evenly coated.
Place the coated wings back onto the wire rack on the baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the wings are cooked through and the sauce is caramelized.
Remove the wings from the oven and let them cool slightly. Garnish with chopped cilantro or parsley if desired.

Notes

Pat Dry: Use a paper towel to pat the chicken wings dry before seasoning and frying. This helps achieve a golden brown, crispy finish.

Single Layer: Arrange wings in a single layer on the baking sheet or in the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking.

Monitor Temperature: Use a cooking thermometer to maintain the right temperature for frying oil. The ideal temperature is 375°F (190°C) for deep frying.

Extra Sauce: For extra flavor, double the sauce ingredients and serve with additional hot honey butter sauce on the side.

Nutrition