This post may contain Affiliate Links. Please see my Disclaimer for more details.
These baked Honey Hot Chicken Wings are crispy, sweet, and drowned in a delicious hot honey butter sauce.
If you need more chicken wings recipes, check out these: Honey BBQ Wings, Honey Garlic Wings, Cajun Ranch Wings, Jerk Wings, or Sweet Thai Chili Wings.
Hot honey chicken wings exploded out of nowhere recently. I couldn't miss the opportunity to put my recipe in the mix, so you have the best options for creating these mouthwatering chicken wings.
This is not your typical wing recipe where we bake, fry or air fry them without any seasoning and then rely on the sauce to carry all the flavor. That makes no sense to my taste buds and shouldn't to yours, either.
Since you're following this recipe, you will put to shame anybody else who brings wings to the party, even if it's from a local wings spot. Strictly because you seasoned your wings before cooking, let's jump into how to make the most succulent hot honey wings.
Table of Contents
Hot Honey Wings Ingredients
Before you start whipping up these chicken wings, look at this ingredient list to ensure you have everything you need.
Raw Chicken Wings
This recipe is for party wings but will work with whole chicken wings.
Baking Powder
Fresh baking powder will help the wings dry out and get crispy while baking.
Seasonings
I keep my wing seasoning simple, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. I love using kosher salt because less is more compared to table salt.
Hot Sauce
I'm a Louisiana boy, so I use Louisiana hot sauce. Feel free to use your favorite hot sauce brand.
Honey
The best honey to use is local raw honey. Most grocery stores carry a local honey brand; read the label to see where the honey was produced.
Butter
Use quality unsalted butter like Kerry's Gold or Lewis Road.
How to make Honey Hot Wings
I wanted this hot honey chicken wings recipe to be excellent but healthy. Here's everything you need to know to make the best baked hot honey chicken wings.
Chicken Wings
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Combine kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and baking powder in a bowl. Then season the wings in stages; I like to add half, toss, then add the remaining seasoning. This guarantees each wing gets some love.
For maximum flavor, marinate the wings for 1-8 hours. If you don't have time, no worries; these wings still will be busting with flavor.
Add chicken wings in a single layer on a foiled-lined baking pan and bake for 45-50 minutes, flipping halfway until wings are golden brown and crispy.
Hot Honey Sauce
Whisk honey and hot sauce in a large bowl, then slowly drizzle in hot melted butter until smooth. The sauce should coat a spoon with a runny consistency.
Once chicken wings are cooked, add to a large bowl and toss with half of the hot honey sauce until evenly coated. Serve chicken wings on a platter, pour sauce from the bowl over them, and serve with extra sauce on the side.
Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are the best practices, techniques, substitutes, and flavor builders you'll need for this recipe.
- Thaw frozen chicken wings 24-48 hours before using.
- If you have a wire rack bake your chicken wings on them to get a more even cook.
- If you like it extra spicy, use spicy honey instead of regular honey.
- Add 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper to the honey hot sauce if you want spicer wings.
- Check the date on your baking powder to make sure it's fresh.
- If you don't have a thermometer to confirm the grease is hot enough. When you sprinkle flour in hot oil, it will bubble.
- For the best flavor, use granulated garlic and onion powder. Granulated spices also mix more evenly with other ingredients.
- If you use a whole wing instead of party wings, you know the wings are done when the wing moves and wiggles easily.
- For faster cooking chicken wings, separate the drum from the flat.
- All honey is not created equally. Taste a spoonful of honey to ensure you like the flavor before using it in your hot honey butter sauce. The same can be said for hot sauce too.
Hot Honey Wings FAQs
Here are the top questions readers have about making honey hot wings.
Hot honey wings have a sweet taste with a bit of a spicy kick on the back end. The sweetness and spicy levels will vary depending on the honey and hot sauce.
Hot wings and buffalo wings are synonymous. Depending on the establishment or who's cooking the wings if one will be hotter than the other.
To make a honey hot wing sauce, combine honey and hot sauce in a medium bowl and whisk in melted butter until smooth. Toss the chicken wings in honey hot sauce and enjoy immediately.
Popular sides to eat with hot honey chicken wings are onion rings, potato salad, coleslaw, spinach artichoke dip, and french fries. Other creative sides that pair well with hot honey wings include macaroni and cheese, roasted potatoes, or sweet potato fries.
To keep it simple, serve them with celery, carrot sticks, and blue cheese dressing. No matter what sides you choose, hot honey wings will surely be a hit!
Honey hot wings are easy to make in the oven. To get started, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the chicken wings on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, and bake for 40-50 minutes, depending on how crispy you prefer your wings. Toss in hot honey butter sauce and serve immediately.
Fried hot honey wings are easy to make. To get started, fill a large skillet with oil and heat to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Toss seasoned chicken wings in flour, shake off excess flour, and fry for 8 minutes; flip and cook for another 5-6 minutes. Toss in hot honey butter sauce and serve immediately.
Hot honey chicken wings are easy to make in an air fryer. First, place seasoned chicken wings on a greased air fryer basket, add chicken in a single layer, and air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Air fry for 12 minutes, flip, and cook for another 12 minutes until golden brown. Toss in hot honey butter sauce and serve immediately.
To get your hot sauce to stick to the wings, stir in a little honey with your hot sauce. The honey will thicken the hot sauce and help it cling to your wings, so you have the perfect bite every time.
Hot honey chicken wings are best the same day, but store leftovers in an airtight container for 7 days in the fridge.
Freeze wings in a freezer-safe container for 2 months. Thaw before reheating.
Reheat honey chicken wings in a 350°F oven for 8-10 minutes or until hot.
The hot honey 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.
More Party Recipes
You'll need a great menu if you're planning a big party!
- Lemon Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Icing
- Fudge Brownie Ice Cream
- Roast Beef Po Boys
- Homemade Baked Beans with Canned Beans
- Southern Potato Salad
Latest Recipe Video:
Before You Begin
Before getting started, here are the steps I use to get organized.
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F before you get all ingredients for the hot honey chicken wings.
Step 2: Measure everything out.
Step 3: Start following the recipe and get ready for the best honey hot wings you've ever enjoyed.
What a delicious treat hot honey chicken wings make! They are easy to make and have a unique, flavorful combination of sweet and spicy. If you try them out, please leave me a comment and a star rating below - I'd love to hear what you think! And don't forget to share it with your friends and family on social media.
Click here to subscribe to MY NEWSLETTER for easy and free recipes right into your inbox!
To pin this recipe and save it for later, you can use the Pin button on the recipe card, the sharing buttons above or below this post, or any of the photos above.
Tag me @kennethtemple_ and use #LezEat on Instagram to share your remakes with me, and don't forget to leave a star rating and comment below.
Hot Honey Chicken Wings
Ingredients
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
- ¼ cup baking powder
Hot Honey Sauce:
- ¾ cup Louisiana hot sauce
- ½ cup local honey
- 1 stick hot melted unsalted butter
Instructions
Chicken Wings:
- In a small bowl, combine salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and baking powder. Evenly season chicken wings evenly with seasonings, for maximum flavor marinate wings 1 hour. Heat oven to 400°F, bake for 40-50 minutes, flipping halfway cook until golden brown and crispy.
Hot Honey Sauce:
- In a large bowl, add the hot sauce and honey, slowly drizzle in hot melted butter while you whisk. The sauce should be coat a spoon.
- 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
- Thaw frozen chicken wings 24-48 hours before using.
- If you have a wire rack bake your chicken wings on them to get a more even cook.
- If you like it extra spicy, use spicy honey instead of regular honey.
- Add 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper to the honey hot sauce if you want spicer wings.
- Check the date on your baking powder to make sure it's fresh.
- If you don't have a thermometer to confirm the grease is hot enough. When you sprinkle flour in hot oil, it will bubble.
- For the best flavor, use granulated garlic and onion powder. Granulated spices also mix more evenly with other ingredients.
- If you use a whole wing instead of party wings, you know the wings are done when the wing moves and wiggles easily.
- For faster cooking chicken wings, separate the drum from the flat.
- All honey is not created equally. Taste a spoonful of honey to ensure you like the flavor before using it in your hot honey butter sauce. The same can be said for hot sauce too.
Leave a Reply