Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

Why Make This Recipe

Honey BBQ Chicken Wings are a delightful treat perfect for any occasion. They offer a sweet and smoky flavor that everyone loves, making them an ideal dish for parties, game days, or family dinners. Baking the wings makes them crispy without the need for frying, and the homemade Honey BBQ sauce adds a personal touch that elevates the dish.

How to Make Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

Ingredients:

• 3 and 1/2 to 4 lbs. chicken wings, tips removed, drums and flats separated
• Cold Water
• Vinegar
• 1 lemon (juiced)
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon hot chili powder
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons ketchup

Directions:

1. Prepare the Wings: Place a wire rack on top of a parchment-lined baking sheet and set aside. Rinse the wings in a mixture of equal parts cold water and vinegar, adding the lemon juice. Soak for 20-30 minutes, drain, and then let the wings dry in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

2. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line another baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. Season the Wings: In a bowl, combine salt, pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Toss the wings with this seasoning blend until they are evenly coated.

4. Bake the Wings: Place the wings on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Flip the wings and bake for another 25 minutes, or until they are crispy and golden brown.

5. Make the Honey BBQ Sauce: In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the BBQ sauce, honey, and ketchup. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.

6. Combine and Caramelize: Toss the cooked wings in the honey BBQ sauce in a large bowl until they are fully coated. Return the sauced wings to the baking sheet and bake for an additional 7-8 minutes to caramelize.

7. Serve: Let the wings cool for 5 minutes before serving for optimal flavor.

How to Serve Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

Serve the Honey BBQ Chicken Wings on a large platter, garnished with fresh herbs or sliced green onions for a burst of color. Pair them with classic sides like celery sticks, carrot sticks, and your favorite dipping sauces such as ranch or blue cheese.

How to Store Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

To store leftover wings, allow them to cool completely, then place them in an airtight container in the fridge. They will stay fresh for up to three days. To reheat, place them in an oven preheated to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 10-15 minutes.

Tips to Make Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

• Pat the wings dry after rinsing to help them crisp up in the oven.
• For extra flavor, marinate the wings in the seasoning blend for a few hours or overnight.
• Monitor the wings closely during the last baking step to prevent burning, especially when caramelizing the sauce.

Variation

Feel free to add your favorite spices or use different BBQ sauce for a unique twist. You could also try adding a bit of apple cider vinegar for tang or hot sauce for extra heat.

FAQs

Q: Can I use frozen chicken wings?
A: Yes, but make sure to thaw them completely before starting the recipe.

Q: Can I grill these wings instead?
A: Absolutely! Just toss the wings on the grill after seasoning and cook until crispy, then toss with the sauce.

Q: How can I make the wings spicier?
A: Add more hot chili powder or some cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix for an extra kick!

Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

These Honey BBQ Chicken Wings are a sweet and smoky treat, perfect for any gathering. Baked to perfection, they offer a crispy exterior without frying, enhanced by a homemade honey BBQ sauce.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 55 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Calories: 450

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Wings

• 3.5-4 lbs chicken wings, tips removed, drums and flats separated
• 1 cup cold water
• 1 cup vinegar
• 1 large lemon (juiced)
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• 1.5 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1.5 teaspoons hot chili powder
• 1.5 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder

For the Sauce

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons ketchup

Method

 

Preparation

1. Place a wire rack on top of a parchment-lined baking sheet and set aside.
2. Rinse the wings in a mixture of equal parts cold water and vinegar, adding the lemon juice. Soak for 20-30 minutes, drain, and then let the wings dry in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Baking

1. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line another baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, combine salt, pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Toss the wings with this seasoning blend until they are evenly coated.
3. Place the wings on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
4. Flip the wings and bake for another 25 minutes, or until they are crispy and golden brown.

Making the Sauce

1. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the BBQ sauce, honey, and ketchup. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.

Combining

1. Toss the cooked wings in the honey BBQ sauce in a large bowl until they are fully coated.
2. Return the sauced wings to the baking sheet and bake for an additional 7-8 minutes to caramelize.

Serving

1. Let the wings cool for 5 minutes before serving for optimal flavor.

Notes

Pat the wings dry after rinsing to help them crisp up in the oven. For extra flavor, marinate the wings in the seasoning blend for a few hours or overnight. Monitor the wings closely during the last baking step to prevent burning, especially when caramelizing the sauce.

Dave