Enjoy crispy honey garlic chicken wings coated in a sticky, sweet honey garlic sauce. The delicious wings are perfect for game day or a quick weeknight dinner idea.
What’s in Honey Garlic Chicken Wings?
- Chicken Wings: Two pounds of chicken wings feed my family with leftovers, but feel free to adjust the recipe to feed a crowd. Skip the legwork and purchase chicken wings split into drums and flats; I usually buy uncooked chicken wings from Costco.
- Baking Powder: Baking powder (not baking soda) is necessary for crispy baked chicken wings. Baking powder is alkaline, and pairing it with salt changes the acidity and pH of the skin, helping the wings become crispy.
- Spices: I keep the spice blend simple, using only salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and cayenne pepper to season the flavorful wings.
- Sauce: Make the sticky honey garlic sauce recipe with soy sauce, honey or hot honey, cayenne pepper, four fresh garlic cloves, and a knob of fresh ginger.
- Garnish: Finish the honey garlic chicken wings recipe with finely chopped scallions or green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and a light drizzle of sesame oil if you are feeling fancy.
Additions and Substitutions
- Use brown sugar, maple syrup, agave nectar, or a sugar-free alternative like monk fruit to sweeten the sauce instead of honey.
- Replace the homemade spice blend with your favorite seasonings such as my Slap Ya Mama Seasoning recipe or Chinese five spice.
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a wire rack onto it. Then, use paper towels to dry the chicken wings and transfer them to a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Combine baking powder, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and cayenne in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the chicken wings and toss to coat.
Step 3: Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C) and arrange the chicken wings in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Flip the wings and bake for 15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken wings.
Tip: Cooking time varies depending on the size of the wings; the safe cooking temperature for chicken is 165°F (74°C).
Step 4: Optional: Broil the wings for 3-5 minutes for extra crispy wings.
For the Honey Garlic Sauce:
Step 5: While the wings cook, warm olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute.
Step 6: Add the remaining sauce ingredients and simmer for 3-5 minutes.
Step 7: Remove the wings from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes. Then, toss them in a mixing bowl with the wing sauce. Garnish the chicken wings with scallions and toasted sesame seeds.
Expert Tips
- Cook the chicken wings on a wire rack, allowing the hot air to move freely around the wings to cook the chicken on all sides. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper to create a barrier if you don’t have a wire rack.
- Pat the wings dry with a paper towel to create a nice, crispy coating.
- Arrange the chicken wings in a single layer onto the wire rack with space in between. Overcrowding the chicken causes them to steam rather than bake.
- Don’t forget to rest the chicken wings after they bake; doing so allows the wings to release moisture from the skin so they stay crispy.
- The best way to know when the chicken finishes cooking is to use an instant-read thermometer. The USDA recommends an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for chicken.
If you enjoy this dish, try more chicken wing recipes!
Serving Suggestions
Homemade chicken wings are an American classic, and these sticky honey garlic chicken wings cook to crispy perfection. Serve the juicy wings as an appetizer for game day and parties, or make it a complete meal with one of these sides for wings.
- Dipping Sauces: Ranch Dressing, Dill Pickle Ranch Dressing, Sos Czosnkowy
- Vegetables: Carrots and Celery, Corn on the Cob
- Salad: Vinegar Coleslaw, Avocado Cucumber Tomato Salad, Caesar Salad
- Potatoes: Hasselback Potatoes, Fries, Roasted Potatoes
- Sides: Onion Rings, Jalapeño Poppers, Corn Bread, Dutch Oven Mac and Cheese
What to do with the Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store the leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freeze: Let the wings cool and transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag. Honey garlic chicken wings freeze for 2-3 months.
- Thaw: Defrost the chicken wings in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheat: Warm the leftovers in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 350°F (176°C).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to sauce wings before or after baking?
Always toss chicken wings with the sauce after baking since the skin needs to be crispy to absorb all the sticky sauce.
More Wing Sauce Recipes:
Carolina Gold BBQ Sauce
Honey Lemon Pepper Sauce
Raspberry Chipotle BBQ Sauce
Are honey garlic chicken wings gluten-free?
The honey garlic chicken wings contain gluten. However, if you swap the soy sauce for liquid aminos or coconut aminos, the wings are completely gluten-free.
Can the chicken wings be cooked from frozen?
Use fully thawed chicken wings for even cooking. Frozen wings release water as they cook, causing them to boil and steam rather than become golden brown and crispy. Speaking of crispy, if the chicken is too wet, the dry spices will not adhere, resulting in a soggy mess.
More Appetizer Recipes:
Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
- Rimmed Baking Sheet
- Wire Rack
- 2 Mixing Bowls
- Small Bowl
- Saucepan
- 2 pounds chicken wings, trimmed
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ – inch fresh ginger, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and set a wire rack onto it. Then, use paper towels to dry the chicken wings and transfer them to a large mixing bowl.
- Combine baking powder, salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and cayenne in a small bowl. Pour the mixture over the chicken wings and toss to coat.
- Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C) and arrange the chicken wings in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Flip the wings and bake for 15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken wings.Tip: Cooking time varies depending on the size of the wings; the safe cooking temperature for chicken is 165°F (74°C).
- Optional: Broil the wings for 3-5 minutes for extra crispy wings.
- While the wings cook, warm olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the remaining sauce ingredients and simmer for 3-5 minutes.
- Remove the wings from the oven and let them cool for 10 minutes. Then, toss them in a mixing bowl with the wing sauce. Garnish the chicken wings with scallions and toasted sesame seeds.
- Cook the chicken wings on a wire rack, allowing the hot air to move freely around the wings to cook the chicken on all sides. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper to create a barrier if you don’t have a wire rack.
- Pat the wings dry with a paper towel to create a nice, crispy coating.
- Arrange the chicken wings onto the wire rack with space in between. Overcrowding the chicken causes them to steam rather than bake.
- Don’t forget to rest the chicken wings after they bake; doing so allows the wings to release moisture from the skin so they stay crispy.
- The best way to know when the chicken finishes cooking is to use an instant-read thermometer. The USDA recommends an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for chicken.
- The nutritional information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice.
Ainee
Monday 13th of February 2023
We made these for the super bowl. They were just as promised! Crispy, flavorful and moist. Even the kids loved them!
Tressa Jamil
Monday 13th of February 2023
They are sweet and savory so they are perfect for all ages. I am so glad your family enjoyed them.