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These baked chicken wings are drowned in a slightly spicy, tangy, and sweet Thai chili sauce. If you’re looking for an excellent appetizer for your game-day party, these are it!
A while back, my friends and I used to go to Buffalo Wild wings every Tuesday for their .69 wings. How can you beat that deal? I would order 15-pieces of chicken wings for myself. Occasionally, I would have chicken wing eating competitions by myself as my friends would just shake their heads at my foolishness.
Anyway, one of my favorite sauces was Buffalo Wild Wing’s Asian Zing sauce which is their sweet chili sauce, and one thing that kitchen always did was short-changed me on the sauce! So I began creating my homemade Thai sweet chili sauce with the perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy; I would easily cover a 15-piece fried chicken wing.
I also realized during testing if I continued eating all these fried chicken wings, I would eventually turn into one and might hurt my heart from all the grease I was consuming. That’s when I decided that baked chicken wings would be perfect because we only feel guilty about eating fried chicken and never baked chicken.
That’s a win-win in my book. Let me show you how to make these finger-licking wings.
What is Thai Sweet Chili Sauce?
Sweet chili sauce (also known as Thai sweet chili sauce) is a spicy condiment made of chilies, vinegar, sugar, and salt. It’s widely utilized in Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, and Singaporean cuisine.
To make sweet chili sauce, cook Thai chilis or Fresno peppers (they look like red jalapenos) with rice vinegar and sugar until the mixture thickens. Soy sauce or fish sauce is then added to taste. Some recipes also include garlic, ginger, and lime juice.
This condiment is often used as a dipping sauce or a glaze. It can also be added to stir-fries, curries, or noodle dishes for an extra pop of flavor.
Whether you’re looking for a delicious dipping sauce or want to spice up your favorite grilled chicken or baked fish recipe, give sweet chili sauce a try!
Key Ingredients
Before you start whipping up these sweet Thai chicken wings, look at this list of ingredients to make sure you have everything you need for some delicious sweet chili chicken wings.
Chicken Wings
I use whole chicken wings for this recipe. Make sure to clean them in a vinegar and water mixture.
Baking Powder
Adding baking powder will help our wings get crispy while they bake in the oven.
Seasonings
I don’t believe in unseasoned chicken wings and letting the sauce carry the flavor. All you need is kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
Sugar
You’ll only need plain white sugar for the sweet component of this recipe.
Rice Vinegar
Rice vinegar has a pleasant balance of sweet and tart flavors.
Thai Bird chilies
The heat of Thai bird chilies is quite intense. I reduced the amount because I wanted everyone to have a chance to taste it. You can also use Sambal Oelek (chili paste) as a substitute.
Fresno Peppers
Fresno chilies give the sauce a lovely color and sweetness. You can think of it as a mini red bell pepper cousin.
Garlic
Garlic is going to add some spice to the dish.
Fish Sauce
Though it smells strange, a little fish sauce goes a long way in adding savory flavor to your food. If you have anchovies allergies, don’t use it. You can find fish sauce near the soy sauce at most grocery stores.
Peanuts
Adding roasted peanuts adds a nice crunch.
Cilantro
Chopped cilantro will compliment the sweet, tangy, spicy chili sauce.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch is going to give our sauce the right body and texture.
How to Make sweet Thai chicken wings?
The key to cooking is technique, patience, and confidence. That’s how I’m going to teach you to make my sweet Thai chicken wings recipe.
Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix salt, baking powder, garlic powder, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Evenly season chicken wings on both sides. Place chicken wings on a wire rack or foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway, and cook until golden brown.
Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
Step 2: While the chicken bakes. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, rice vinegar, and ¼ cup water and cook for 3 minutes.
Step 3: While that cooks, in a food processor, add Thai chilies, Fresno chilies, and garlic, and blitz on high for 15-20 seconds until the mixture is chopped fine. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and the remaining water.
Step 4: Stir in the chili mix, fish sauce, and cornstarch slurry in the pot, bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens and coats a spoon.
Step 5: Add cooked chicken to a large bowl and toss with ½ cup of sauce, coating chicken evenly. Serve wings on a platter and garnish with cilantro, peanuts, and more sauce on the side.
Pro Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are a few notes I had from making these yummy Thai sweet chili chicken wings.
- Separating the drum from the flat will help the chicken wings cook faster.
- You can use your favorite piece of chicken for this recipe too. My favorite is chicken thighs.
- For maximum flavor, marinate chicken wings for 1 hour in the fridge.
- If the chicken wing moves and wiggles easily, the wings are done.
- To make an authentic sweet chili sauce, you can use coconut sugar instead of granulated sugar.
- The sauce is ideal on burgers, fries, stir-fries, fried chicken wings, fried fish, dumplings, and egg rolls.
- If you can’t get Thai chilies, substitute them with other kinds of hot peppers such as bird or serrano peppers, habanero or jalapeño peppers, or scotch bonnets.
- Add six Thai chilies if you want your sauce to be extra spicy.
- Use 1/2 teaspoon of dried chili flakes for a milder sauce instead of Thai chilies.
- Use 1 medium red bell pepper if you cannot find Fresno chilies.
- You can use 2-3 tablespoons of Sambal Oelek instead of Thai chilies and Fresno peppers.
- You can find rice wine vinegar next to the soy sauce at your local grocery store.
- If you have an allergy to shellfish or don’t eat them, be sure to read the label of any fish sauce you buy.
- You can use any nut instead of peanuts to garnish your wings.
- Use sliced green onions as a garnish if you do not like the flavor of cilantro.
- If rice wine vinegar is unavailable, use apple cider or white vinegar instead.
- Sometimes products can only be found at certain stores. Checking your local Asian grocery store is a great way to find items that may not be available elsewhere.
FAQs
Here are the questions
Use Thai sweet chili sauce to add flavor to various dishes, such as grilled chicken, pork, beef, fish, shrimp, rice, noodles, and vegetables. It also makes a great dipping sauce!
What does sweet Thai chili sauce taste like?
Sweet Thai chili sauce has a wonderful taste that is sweet, tangy, and bright with just enough heat. Use more chilis if you want a spicier sweet chili sauce. Vinegar in the recipe helps tame most of the spicy chilis. If you prefer a milder sauce, add red chili flakes instead.
The difference between the two is the texture and body of the sauce. Chili paste is a more concentrated thicker sauce used for adding flavor to a dish. While chili sauce is thinner, it can be poured over dishes or used as a dipping sauce.
Habañero peppers are spicier, according to the Scoville heat units. They have a Scoville unit of 100,000 – 350,000. Thai chilis have a Scoville unit of 50,000 – 100,000. Cayenne is 30,000 – 50,000 for reference.
What do sweet Thai chili wings taste like?
Sweet Thai chili wings are delicious! They have a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy flavor that is perfect for any meal.
How long does it take for chicken wings to bake?
The time it takes for baked wings to cook depends on the size of the chicken wings and what temperature you bake them at. In a 400°F oven, it’ll take about 40-45 minutes for chicken wings to bake.
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 freeze-safe storage bag for 2 months. Thaw before reheating.
Reheat chicken wings in a 350°F oven for 8-10 minutes or until hot.
Sweet Thai chili sauce is best 4 days after making but will remain fresh in an airtight container for 7 days in the fridge. I don’t recommend freezing the sauce.
Other Chicken Wing Recipes
If you love wings as much as I do, then I know you’ll love these chicken wing recipes too!
- Naked Wings
- Lemongrass Hoisin Sauce Wings
- Jerk Chicken Wings
- Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
- Cajun Ranch Chicken Wings
- Honey BBQ Wings
Latest Recipe Video:
Before You Begin
Before getting started, here are the steps I use to get organized.
Step 1: Get all ingredients for the sweet chili chicken wings on the counter.
Step 2: Put everything measured into individual bowls.
Step 3: Follow the recipe and get ready for the best baked chicken wings you’ve ever enjoyed.
These sweet chili chicken wings are the perfect appetizer for your next game-day party! The recipe is simple to follow, and you can customize it to your liking. Be sure to leave a comment and rating if you try this recipe!
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Sweet Thai Chili Chicken Wings
Ingredients
Chicken Wings:
- 2 lbs. whole chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup baking powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ¾ teaspoons black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- ¼ cup chopped peanuts
Sweet Thai Chili Sauce:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup rice vinegar
- ¼ cup water + 2 tablespoons
- 2 Thai bird chilies or serrano chopped
- 4 Fresno chilies or 1 medium red bell pepper chopped
- ½ cup water divided
- 8 garlic cloves smashed
- 2 teaspoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Chicken Wings: In a medium bowl, combine salt, baking powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. Evenly season chicken wings evenly with seasonings. For maximum flavor, marinate wings for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 400°F, and bake for 40-45 minutes, flipping halfway, and cook until golden brown.
- Sweet Thai Chili Sauce: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, rice vinegar, and ¼ cup water, and cook for 3 minutes.
- While that cooks, in a food processor, add Thai chilies, Fresno chilies, and garlic, and blitz on high for 15-20 seconds until the mixture is chopped fine. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and the remaining water.
- Stir in chili mix, fish sauce, and cornstarch slurry in a pot, bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens and coats a spoon.
- Add chicken to a large bowl and toss with ½ cup of sauce, coating chicken evenly. Serve wings on a platter and garnish with cilantro, peanuts, and more sauce on the side.
Notes
**Here are a few notes I had from making these yummy Thai sweet chili chicken wings.
- Separating the drum from the flat will help the chicken wings cook faster.
- You can use your favorite piece of chicken for this recipe too. My favorite is chicken thighs.
- For maximum flavor, marinate chicken wings for 1 hour in the fridge.
- If the chicken wing moves and wiggles easily, the wings are done.
- To make an authentic sweet chili sauce, you can use coconut sugar instead of granulated sugar.
- The sauce is ideal on burgers, fries, stir-fries, fried chicken wings, fried fish, dumplings, and egg rolls.
- If you can’t get Thai chilies, substitute them with other kinds of hot peppers such as bird or serrano peppers, habanero or jalapeño peppers, or scotch bonnets.
- Add six Thai chilies if you want your sauce to be extra spicy.
- Use 1/2 teaspoon of dried chili flakes for a milder sauce instead of Thai chilies.
- Use 1 medium red bell pepper if you cannot find Fresno chilies.
- You can use 2-3 tablespoons of Sambal Oelek instead of Thai chilies and Fresno peppers.
- You can find rice wine vinegar next to the soy sauce at your local grocery store.
- If you have an allergy to shellfish or don’t eat them, be sure to read the label of any fish sauce you buy.
- You can use any nut instead of peanuts to garnish your wings.
- Use sliced green onions as a garnish if you do not like the flavor of cilantro.
- If rice wine vinegar is unavailable, use apple cider or white vinegar instead.
- Sometimes products can only be found at certain stores. Checking your local Asian grocery store is a great way to find items that may not be available elsewhere.
Quick meal that’s packed with flavor!