If you're a fan of crispy, flavorful chicken wings with a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, these Hot Honey Chicken Wings are about to become your new favorite. This recipe combines the irresistible crunch of air-fried or oven-baked wings with a sticky, spicy hot honey glaze that will have everyone reaching for more. Perfect for a casual dinner, or any time you’re craving something deliciously different!
Hot Honey Chicken Wings are a crowd favorite, especially during certain seasons and events. They’re a staple at game day gatherings, particularly during football season and the Super Bowl if you are in the US, thanks to their perfect balance of crispy, spicy, and sweet flavors. In summer, they’re a hit appetizer at BBQs and outdoor cookouts, offering a unique twist on classic wings.
During the holiday season, they add a festive and warming touch to parties and Christmas family gatherings. Whether it’s for a casual get-together or a special occasion, these wings are guaranteed to impress and satisfy.
If you want to make a group of creative indulgent appetizers for a gathering or game day, try pairing these hot honey chicken wings with my Cheeseburger Spring Rolls or Jalapeño Popper Wontons.
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Ingredients
Chicken Wings - Chicken wings offer the perfect balance of meat and skin for achieving that signature crispy texture.
Egg White - Egg white acts as a binder for the hot honey chicken wings, helping the seasoned cornflour adhere to the wings, creating an extra crispy coating.
Cornflour: Also known as cornstarch, it’s the secret to a light, crispy exterior for this delicious dish when the wings are air-fried or baked.
Paprika and Garlic Salt - These spices add depth of flavor to the wings, infusing them with a subtle smoky and garlicky taste.
Honey - honey adds a sweetness in the glaze and pairs beautifully with spicy ingredients, creating that addictive hot honey flavor in the hot honey chicken wings.
Harissa Paste - This North African chili paste adds a complex heat and a hint of smokiness to the honey, elevating the flavor profile
Red Pepper Flakes (Chilli flakes in the UK) - For an extra kick of heat, these flakes bring the spice level up, making the wings perfectly spicy.
Butter - Butter adds richness to the glaze, helping to smooth out the sauce and coat the wings evenly.
Green Onions - Green onions add a fresh, slightly pungent flavor that contrasts nicely with the sweet and spicy glaze.
Sesame Seeds- A final garnish for a subtle nutty flavor and added crunch, plus they make the dish look even more appetizing.
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Step 1: Start by placing your chicken wings in a large bowl. Add the egg white, tossing the wings until they're evenly coated. Once coated, pour out any excess egg white from the bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the cornflour, paprika, garlic salt, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Toss the wings in the seasoned cornflour mixture until every wing is thoroughly coated.
- Step 2: Air Fryer Method: Place the wings in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer for even cooking. Spray with cooking oil and set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 25 minutes, flipping the wings halfway through to ensure both sides get crispy. Oven Method: If you prefer using an oven, place the wings on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to allow air circulation. Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Step 3: About 20 minutes into the wing cooking time, start the hot honey glaze. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once melted, add the honey, harissa paste, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and let the mixture simmer for 3-4 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld into a spicy-sweet glaze that will coat the wings perfectly.
- Step 4: Once the wings are cooked to crispy perfection, carefully remove them from the air fryer or oven. Immediately add the wings to the skillet with the hot honey glaze. Toss the wings in the glaze over medium-low heat until they are evenly coated and glistening with the spicy honey sauce.
5. Step 5: Transfer the wings to a serving platter and sprinkle with thinly sliced green onions and sesame seeds. The fresh green onions add a burst of flavor, while the sesame seeds provide a slight crunch and visual appeal.
6. Step 6: Serve these Hot Honey Chicken Wings on their own, or pair them with a side of cooling ranch or blue cheese sauce to balance out the heat. Whether you’re enjoying them solo or sharing with friends, these wings are sure to be a hit!
Hint: If the hot honey sauce gets too thick (this may happen depending on the honey used), add a tablespoon of boiling water to loosen the sauce.
Substitutions
Chicken Wings - Instead of chicken wings, you can use chicken drumsticks or boneless chicken thighs. Drumsticks offer a similar experience with more meat, while boneless thighs provide the same juicy flavor without the bones.
Egg White - Instead of egg white, you can use buttermilk or plain yogurt. Both options help the coating adhere to the chicken while adding a slight tang and extra moisture.
Cornflour - Instead of cornflour, try all-purpose flour or rice flour. All-purpose flour will still create a crispy coating, while rice flour gives an even lighter, crunchier texture.
Paprika - Instead of paprika, use cayenne pepper which will bring a bit more heat to the wings.
Garlic Salt - Instead of garlic salt, use a combination of garlic powder and kosher salt. This allows you to control the garlic flavor and saltiness separately.
Honey - Instead of honey, you can use maple syrup or agave. Both provide sweetness, with maple syrup adding a rich, slightly caramelized flavor.
Harissa Paste - Instead of harissa paste, try sriracha or gochujang. Sriracha offers a similar heat level with a touch of sweetness, while gochujang adds a savory, umami kick.
Red Pepper Flakes - Instead of red pepper flakes, use chopped chili peppers or cayenne pepper. These substitutes will still bring the desired heat to the dish.
Butter - Instead of butter, use olive oil or ghee. Olive oil adds a light, fruity flavor, while ghee gives a rich, nutty taste without the milk solids.
Green Onions - Instead of green onions, you can use chives or thinly sliced shallots. Chives offer a mild onion flavor, while shallots add a bit more sweetness and complexity.
Sesame Seeds - Instead of sesame seeds, try chopped nuts (like almonds or peanuts) or sunflower seeds. These options add a similar crunch and nutty flavor.
Variations of Hot Honey Chicken Wings
Spicy - Use Birds Eye chili or chopped fresh chili pepper for an extra hot version of this dish.
Deluxe - For a more sophisticated, deluxe version of the recipe, try Spicy Honey Truffle Chicken Wings. Prepare the hot honey glaze as usual but add a drizzle of white truffle oil and a spoonful of Dijon mustard for depth and complexity. The truffle oil adds an earthy, luxurious note, while Dijon mustard brings a slight tang.
Kid friendly - For a kid-friendly twist on Hot Honey Chicken Wings, you can create Honey Garlic Chicken Wings. This version skips the heat and focuses on sweet and savory flavors that kids will love. Skip the harissa and red pepper flakes and instead add minced garlic
Equipment
1 Large mixing bowl
Air fryer or oven
Skillet
Storage
To store your hot honey chicken wings, allow them to cool completely before transferring them to an airtight container. Place a layer of parchment paper between stacked wings to prevent them from sticking together. Store the wings in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
For longer storage, you can freeze the wings. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once frozen, transfer the wings to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months.
When reheating refrigerated hot honey chicken wings, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the wings on a baking sheet lined with foil, and heat for 10-15 minutes, until they’re warmed through and crispy again. To reheat frozen wings, let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight before following the same reheating instructions.
Alternatively, you can reheat wings in an air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 5-7 minutes. This method keeps the hot honey chicken wings crispy while evenly warming them through. Enjoy them as if they were freshly made!
Top Tip
Serve these Hot Honey Chicken Wings on their own, or pair them with a side of cooling ranch or blue cheese sauce to balance out the heat. Whether you’re enjoying them solo or sharing with friends, these wings are sure to be a hit!
FAQ
Hot honey wings are good for up to 3-4 days when stored in the refrigerator.
Chicken wings should not sit out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
To reheat honey chicken wings, use an oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes or an air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 5-7 minutes.
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with hot honey chicken wings:
Recipe
Hot Honey Chicken Wings
Equipment
- 1 Large mixing bowl
- Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 kg chicken wings
- 1 egg white
- ½ cup cornflour 60g
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup honey 165g
- 1 tablespoon harissa paste
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 green onions
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Start by placing your chicken wings in a large bowl. Add the egg white, tossing the wings until they're evenly coated. Once coated, pour out any excess egg white from the bowl.1 kg chicken wings, 1 egg white
- In a separate bowl, mix together the cornflour, paprika, garlic salt, and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Toss the wings in the seasoned cornflour mixture until every wing is thoroughly coated.½ cup cornflour, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic salt, Salt and pepper
- Place the wings in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer for even cooking. Spray with cooking oil and set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 25 minutes, flipping the wings halfway through to ensure both sides get crispy. If you prefer using an oven, place the wings on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to allow air circulation. Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway.
- About 20 minutes into the wing cooking time, start the hot honey glaze. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Once melted, add the honey, harissa paste, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and let the mixture simmer for 3-4 minutes.½ cup honey, 1 tablespoon harissa paste, 1 tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Once the wings are cooked, carefully remove them from the air fryer or oven. Immediately add the wings to the skillet with the hot honey glaze. Toss the wings in the glaze over medium-low heat until they are evenly coated and glistening with the spicy honey sauce.
- Transfer the wings to a serving platter and sprinkle with thinly sliced green onions and sesame seeds. The fresh green onions add a burst of flavor, while the sesame seeds provide a slight crunch and visual appeal.1 teaspoon sesame seeds, 3 green onions
