Honey BBQ Wings

These Honey BBQ Chicken Wings are sweet, saucy, and crispy. The perfect appetizer for party food, tailgating, or a game day snack.

Here are more chicken wing recipes: Hot Honey Wings, Sweet Thai Chili Wings, Southern Fried Wings, Jerk Chicken Wings, Lemongrass Hoisin Wings, and Honey Garlic Wings. 

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I cannot understand why wing joints don't season their chicken wings before frying them and tossing them in whatever sauce. Even just using salt and pepper will dramatically improve the overall flavors.

I think we all may be guilty of ordering bbq sauce with our wings when we weren't too sure if we could trust any of the other flavors on the menu. We also know you must be one bad chef to mess up BBQ sauce.

Honey barbecue sauce is one of my favorite sauces to drown my chicken wings in, thanks to KFC honey bbq wings. I had to create my own recipe, and my honey bbq sauce is the perfect blend of sweet and tangy. I used a combination of orange juice, beer, honey, ketchup, worcestershire, and apple cider vinegar to make this incredible bbq sauce. The sauce cooks for about 30 minutes until it thickens and creates an incredible barbecue sauce that clings to wings like a child to their mother.

Let me show you how to whip up some fantastic bbq chicken wings.

Key Ingredients

Before you start whipping up these honey bbq wings, look at this list of ingredients to make sure you have everything you need for some succulent honey bbq chicken wings.

Chicken

I use whole chicken wings and separate the drum and flat. You can use drumettes if you like.

Seasoning Blend

Kosher salt, ground black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder are all I use on my wings. I keep my seasoning blend simple, but the flavors are deep.

All-Purpose Flour

I used unbleached all-purpose flour for this recipe.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch is going to help achieve crispy chicken wings.

Oil

I know peanut oil is more expensive, but I always fry chicken in peanut oil. Vegetable oil will work too.

Ketchup

Ketchup is the base for my barbecue sauce.

Honey

Usually, when I make my bbq sauce, I use brown sugar, but the honey was an excellent swap.

How To Make BBQ Chicken Wings Recipe

My bbq chicken wings are simple to prepare, delicious, and a crowd-pleaser! Take this one step at a time. 

I like to season my chicken and let it marinate in the fridge while I cook my bbq sauce to the right consistency. That way, my sauce is hot and ready once my wings come piping hot out of the grease.

Chicken Wings

In a small bowl, combine salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Evenly season chicken wings on both sides. For maximum flavor, marinate wings for 2 hours – overnight in the fridge.

In a large bowl, combine flour and cornstarch.

Fill a large skillet halfway with oil over medium heat. As the oil gets close to reaching 325°F, toss chicken wings in flour mixture, coating evenly, shake off excess flour and fry chicken wings for 8 minutes in a single layer; flip and cook for 5 minutes until golden brown.

Drain on a paper towel lined baking sheet. Repeat with the next batch of wings. Reduce the heat slightly to keep the grease from getting too hot.

Honey BBQ Sauce

In a medium pot over medium heat, add Cajun seasoning, worcestershire, orange juice, vinegar, ketchup, honey, and beer, stir together, bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce is reduced by half.

Add cooked wings to a large bowl and toss with ½ cup of sauce, coating chicken evenly; add more sauce if needed. Serve chicken on a platter immediately.

Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks

I have a few notes after making these lip-smacking easy bbq chicken wings.

• Marinating your chicken before frying is not required.
• Chicken is cooked through when the internal temperature reaches 165°F, regardless of whether it is fried or not. Use an instant-read thermometer to find out.
• If you do not have an instant-read thermometer pierce the chicken to see if the juices run clear.
• Chicken drumettes may be used instead of whole chicken wings if desired.
• Start by cutting through the joint with your knife at a 45° angle when you separate the drum from the flat.
• You can use canola oil instead of peanut oil if you have a peanut allergy.
• To create crispy, crunchy bits, squeeze the chicken in flour as you toss it.
• Keep a close eye on your oil when frying chicken wings. If it starts smoking, turn the heat off for 3-5 minutes and rotate the chicken every minute to prevent burning.
• The oil temperature in the second batch will always be higher than the first. Before adding your next batch, reduce the heat slightly.
• You can omit the beer from the bbq sauce recipe. If you do use beer, use whatever you like.
• You can swap all-purpose flour for gluten-free.
• Use chopsticks or the handle of a wooden spoon to test if your oil is hot. Bubbles will form around the base when it's hot.

FAQs

Here are the top questions readers have about making honey bbq wings.

More Wing Sauce Recipes

I love to have a variety of wings when I eat, so I wanted to share a few more wing sauce recipes that you can use for the ultimate wing platter.

• Hot Honey Sauce
• Garlic Parmesan Sauce
• Cajun Ranch
• Honey Sriracha

Before You Begin

Before getting started, here are the steps I use to get organized. 

Step 1: Get all ingredients for the chicken wings and honey bbq sauce on the counter.

Step 2: Measure everything out. Then separate drums from flats after washing and drying wings.

Step 3: Start following the recipe and get ready for the best bbq chicken wings you've ever had.

Whether you're watching the game at home or out and about, these honey bbq chicken wings are sure to be a hit. They're easy to make, delicious, and perfect for satisfying any appetizer craving. Be sure to try them the next time you need some party food! After trying out this recipe, don't forget to leave a comment and star rating below.

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📖 Recipe

Honey BBQ Wings

Kenneth Temple

These Honey BBQ Chicken Wings are sweet, saucy, and crispy. The perfect appetizer for party food, tailgating, or a game day snack.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Marinate 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 40 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Sauce

Cuisine American

Servings 8 persons

Calories 518 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Chicken Wings:

• 2 lbs. chicken wings flats and drum separated
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 ¾ teaspoons black pepper
• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup cornstarch

Honey BBQ Sauce:

• 3 teaspoons Savory Cajun seasoning
• ½ cup worcestershire
• ½ cup orange juice
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 24 oz. bottle ketchup
• ½ cup honey
• ¾ cup beer

Instructions

 

Chicken Wings:

• In a small bowl, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Evenly season chicken wings on both sides. For maximum flavor, marinate wings for 2 hours – overnight in the fridge.
• In a large bowl, combine flour and cornstarch.
• Fill a large skillet halfway with oil over medium heat. Once the oil is 325°F, add chicken wings to flour, shake off access flour and cook for 8 minutes; flip and cook for 5 minutes until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel lined baking sheet. Repeat with the next batch of wings; reduce the heat slightly to keep the grease from getting too hot.

Honey BBQ Sauce:

• In a medium pot over medium heat, add Cajun seasoning, worcestershire, orange juice, vinegar, ketchup, honey, and beer, stir together, and bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is reduced by half.
• Add chicken to a large bowl and toss with ½ cup of sauce, coating chicken evenly; add more sauce if needed. Serve chicken on a platter immediately.

Notes

Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks

I have a few notes after making these lip-smacking easy bbq chicken wings.

• Marinating your chicken before frying is not required.
• Chicken is cooked through when the internal temperature reaches 165°F, regardless of whether it is fried or not. Use an instant-read thermometer to find out.
• If you do not have an instant-read thermometer pierce the chicken to see if the juices run clear.
• Chicken drumettes may be used instead of whole chicken wings if desired.
• Start by cutting through the joint with your knife at a 45° angle when you separate the drum from the flat.
• You can use canola oil instead of peanut oil if you have a peanut allergy.
• To create crispy, crunchy bits, squeeze the chicken in flour as you toss it.
• Keep a close eye on your oil when frying chicken wings. If it starts smoking, turn the heat off for 3-5 minutes and rotate the chicken every minute to prevent burning.
• The oil temperature in the second batch will always be higher than the first. Before adding your next batch, reduce the heat slightly.
• You can omit the beer from the bbq sauce recipe. If you do use beer, use whatever you like.
• You can swap all-purpose flour for gluten-free.
• Use chopsticks or the handle of a wooden spoon to test if your oil is hot. Bubbles will form around the base when it's hot.

Storage:

Chicken wings are best the same day but will remain fresh in an airtight container for 7 days in the fridge. 

Freeze wings in a freezer-safe storage bag for 2 months. Thaw before reheating.

Reheat chicken wings in a 350°F oven for 8-10 minutes or until hot.

Honey BBQ sauce is best 7 days after making but will remain fresh in an airtight container for 30 days in the fridge. I don't recommend freezing the sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 518kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 24gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 87mgSodium: 1987mgPotassium: 676mgFiber: 1gSugar: 40gVitamin A: 1038IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 3mg

Keyword honey bbq wings, bbq honey wings, barbecue chicken wing recipe, barbecue wings, barbeque sauce chicken wings

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