Best Chicken Wings Hot Honey Recipe

If you ask me, hot honey chicken wings are a match made in heaven.

These sticky-sweet wings hit all the right notes with their perfect balance of heat and honey. The natural sweetness from the honey mingles with a spicy kick that’ll keep you coming back for more.

They’re baked until golden and crispy, then tossed in a simple homemade hot honey sauce that coats every nook and cranny. A finishing sprinkle of sesame seeds and green onions adds just the right touch.

It’s a crowd-pleasing appetizer that works just as well for game day as it does for casual weekend dinners.

What Kind of Chicken Wings Should I Use?

For this recipe, you’ll want to look for either “party wings” (which are already split) or whole chicken wings that you can separate yourself into drumettes and flats. Fresh wings typically give the best results, but frozen wings work just fine too – just make sure they’re completely thawed and patted dry before cooking. While both conventional and organic wings will work here, the most important thing is to choose wings that are similar in size so they cook evenly. If you’re buying whole wings, plan on about 4-5 whole wings per pound, which will give you 8-10 pieces once separated into drums and flats.

Options for Substitutions

This wing recipe is pretty adaptable and you’ve got some wiggle room with the ingredients:

• Chicken wings: While whole wings are best for this recipe, you can use drumettes or flats if that’s what you have. Boneless chicken chunks can work too, but reduce cooking time by about 5-7 minutes.
• Baking powder and potato starch: You can use all baking powder or all cornstarch instead of the mix. Just make sure your baking powder is aluminum-free to avoid any metallic taste.
• Hot sauce: Any hot sauce works here! Frank’s RedHot, Sriracha, Tabasco, or even gochujang paste mixed with a bit of water. Just adjust the amount based on how spicy you like it.
• Honey: Regular honey works great, but you could also use maple syrup or agave nectar. Brown sugar mixed with a tiny bit of water can work in a pinch.
• Butter: For dairy-free options, coconut oil or olive oil will work, though butter gives the best flavor. If using olive oil, use a little less as it’s thinner than butter.
• Seasonings: Feel free to play around with the spice mix – cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, or your favorite spice blend can replace the individual spices listed.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making hot honey chicken wings is not patting the wings completely dry before seasoning – moisture is the enemy of crispy skin, so take an extra minute to thoroughly dry them with paper towels. Another common error is overcrowding the baking sheet or air fryer basket, which creates steam and prevents the wings from getting crispy – instead, arrange them in a single layer with space between each piece. The timing of the sauce is crucial too – tossing the wings in the hot honey mixture too early can make them lose their crunch, so wait until the wings are fully cooked and crispy before coating them. For the best flavor balance, taste your hot honey sauce before tossing with the wings – different hot sauces vary in heat and saltiness, so you might need to adjust the honey ratio to achieve your perfect sweet-heat combination.

What to Serve With Hot Honey Chicken Wings?

These sweet and spicy wings are begging for some cool, crisp sides to balance out all that heat! A classic celery and carrot stick combo with blue cheese or ranch dressing is always a crowd-pleaser and helps cool things down between bites. For a more substantial spread, try serving these wings with some crispy french fries or sweet potato wedges – they taste amazing dipped in any extra hot honey sauce. If you’re feeding a crowd, add a fresh coleslaw or a simple green salad to round out the meal and give everyone some crunchy, refreshing options to choose from.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Got leftover hot honey wings? Place them in an airtight container and pop them in the fridge for up to 3 days. They’ll stay good, though the skin might lose some of its crispiness – but don’t worry, we can fix that when reheating!

Freeze: These wings freeze pretty well! Let them cool completely, then place them in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. They’ll keep for up to 3 months in the freezer. Just remember to squeeze out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.

Reheat: To get your wings crispy again, pop them in the air fryer at 375°F for 5-7 minutes, or arrange them on a baking sheet and heat in the oven at 375°F for 10-12 minutes. If they’re frozen, thaw them in the fridge overnight before reheating. You might want to brush them with a little extra hot honey sauce after reheating to freshen up the flavor.

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	30-70 minutes
Total Time	45-90 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1800-2200
• Protein: 120-140 g
• Fat: 120-140 g
• Carbohydrates: 30-50 g

Ingredients

For the chicken wings:

• 1.5 lb chicken wings

For the seasoning:

• 1/2 tbsp baking powder (aluminum-free for no metallic taste)
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp seasoned salt
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (adds a deeper, richer flavor)
• 1/2 tbsp potato starch

For the hot honey butter sauce:

• 1 pinch salt
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1/4 cup hot sauce
• 2 tbsp butter (I like Kerrygold unsalted butter)

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Wings

Begin by cutting the wings into drums and flats if they aren’t already separated.

Next, dry the wings thoroughly with a paper towel.

Doing this step well is essential as it ensures your wings will turn out crispy.

Step 2: Season the Wings

Combine the dry ingredients for seasoning.

If you are air frying or oven baking, include baking powder.

However, if you plan to deep fry the wings, you can omit the baking powder.

Mix the seasoning well and coat the wings evenly.

Step 3: Cook the Wings

Air Frying: Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees.

Place the chicken wings in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them.

Cook for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Depending on your air fryer model, the cooking time may vary from 15 to 25 minutes.

My Crux Marshmello is done in about 15-18 minutes, and the Crux 6-1 typically takes 20-25 minutes.

Oven Baking: Preheat your oven to 400°F.

Arrange the wings on a baking rack for optimal results and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, flipping at the 25-30 minute mark once browned.

Deep Frying: Heat oil to 350°F and fry the wings for 8-12 minutes.

Use a pan that offers plenty of space, cooking in small batches to maintain even cooking and allow for crispiness.

My wings are typically done at the 8-minute mark.

Step 4: Prepare the Hot Honey Butter Sauce

While the wings are cooking, heat a pan over medium-low heat and add butter.

Once the butter has melted, stir in your hot sauce and honey, and season with salt if needed.

Simmer the sauce for about 2 minutes until it has thickened slightly.

Step 5: Toss and Serve

After cooking, place the wings in a large bowl.

Pour the hot honey butter sauce over the wings and toss them well to ensure they are thoroughly coated.

Serve hot and enjoy your crispy and flavorful wings!