This Hot Honey Chicken Wings recipe is made by seasoning wings, air frying until crispy, then tossing in a spicy honey sauce. A crowd-pleasing appetizer with simple ingredients and maximum flavor.
I love chicken wings!! I always add them to our party menu but also sometimes we enjoy them as a meal for dinner. Especially non-traditional flavors like Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings, wings in Asian Zing Sauce, or Caribbean Jerk Sauce Wings! It's hard to choose a favorite flavor.
My Hot Honey Sauce recipe inspired this chicken wings recipe! Once I got my taste of it, I knew I had to combine it with some wings. You're going to love it. For more Air Fryer dishes check out our Honey Butter Chicken (Air Fryer & Oven), Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with Flour or our Air Fryer Chicken Katsu recipe.
Why You Will Love This Hot Honey Chicken Wings Recipe
- Irresistible Flavor: The combination of spicy hot honey sauce with crispy chicken wings creates a flavor that's hard to resist.
- Easy Preparation: This recipe is quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute gatherings.
- Versatile Appetizer: Whether you're hosting a game day party or a casual get-together, these hot honey chicken wings make a fantastic and impressive appetizer.
Ingredients
Here's a look at the simple ingredients you need to make all the best chicken wings!
- Chicken Wings: You can use whole chicken wings or party wings.
- Garlic Powder and Onion Powder: These powders add depth of flavor to the chicken wings without the texture of fresh garlic or onion.
- Baking Powder: Baking powder gives the wings a crispy exterior and helps in the browning process to give the wings a crunchy texture. Make sure you use aluminum-free baking powder to prevent any off-flavors. You can substitute it with cornstarch, potato starch, or arrowroot powder.
- Smoked Paprika: Smoked paprika adds a rich, smoky flavor to the chicken wings and pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the honey in the sauce. You can use regular paprika or a combination of paprika and a pinch of cayenne pepper, or red pepper flakes for added heat.
- Olive Oil: Coats the chicken wings before seasoning, helping the spices stick to the wing's surface and promoting even browning during the air frying. You can use avocado oil, vegetable oil, melted butter, or canola instead.
- Butter: Butter is the hot honey sauce's base, making it rich and creamy. It also helps to mellow out the heat from the hot sauce and balance the sweetness of the honey. For a dairy-free option, you can use margarine or coconut oil, though the flavor may slightly differ.
- Hot Sauce: Hot sauce delivers heat and flavor to the homemade chicken wings. Pick a hot and spicy sauce from the grocery store that is based on your spice tolerance and preferred flavor. Adjust the sauce amount according to your preferred level of heat. Some options include Sriracha, Tabasco, your favorite hot wing sauce, or chili sauce also work.
- Honey: Sweet honey adds natural sweetness to the hot honey sauce and caramelizes the wings during cooking.
- Slap Ya Mama Seasoning: Slap Ya Mama seasoning is a flavorful blend of spices that enhances the overall taste of the wings. If it is unavailable, you can use Old Bay seasoning or create a similar seasoning blend using salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and garlic powder to taste.
See the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact quantities of each ingredient.
Variations
- Different Cuts of Chicken: You can use an equivalent amount of chicken drumettes, chicken legs, chicken thighs, or boneless chicken strips for a different twist on the dish. Whatever you use be sure to cook the chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
- Extra Spicy: Add some of this jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the hot honey sauce for a bit of heat.
How to Make Hot Honey Chicken Wings
Here's a look at the easy steps for making hot honey wings!
Step 1: Add the wings to a large bowl with garlic powder, onion powder, baking powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
Step 2: Toss until the wings are all evenly coated. Adjust the amount of baking powder as needed and for your preference.
Step 3: Brush or spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and then place the seasoned chicken wings in the basket in a single layer.
Step 4: Cook the wings in the preheated air fryer for 25-30 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking to ensure even crisping.
Step 5: Melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the hot sauce, honey, and seasoning. Let the sauce simmer until it reaches your preferred thickness.
Step 6: Transfer the cooked wings to a large mixing bowl. Pour the hot honey sauce over the golden brown wings and toss them until they are evenly coated.
⭐️ Hint: Be sure you place the wings in the basket so they're not overcrowded. You want the air to be able to circulate around the pieces of chicken for maximum crispiness.
If you love chicken wings, you may also enjoy these Crock Pot Hot Wings, Honey BBQ Wings, Hot Honey Salmon, Tequila Lime Chicken Wings, Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Wings, Lemon Pepper Sauce or our Easy Crock Pot Salsa Chicken recipes!!
Storage
- Storing: Store the wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days or the freezer for up to three months. The leftover spicy hot honey sauce can be kept in a jar in the fridge for several weeks.
- Reheat: Return the wings to the basket of the air fryer and cook at 350° F for 8-10 minutes or until heated through. If frozen, thaw them out in the fridge overnight. Reheat the leftover sauce in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stove. Toss the wings in more toss after cooking.
What to Serve with Hot Honey Wings
This crowd-pleaser recipe makes a tasty appetizer for a game-day spread! Here are some other dishes to serve with it!
- Dipping Sauce: These wings pair great with ranch dip or blue cheese dressing for dipping. Or if you prefer something a bit more interesting this Buffalo Ranch or Avocado Ranch works great too! Don't forget crunchy celery and carrot sticks on the side.
- Side Dishes: These wings work great for meals too! Serve them up with Baked Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes or some Air Fryer Steak Fries.
- Appetizers: For parties serve up other snack favorites like this Fried Pickle and Ranch Dip or Instant Pot Queso.
Tips
- Making a Double Batch: Adjust the quantities of ingredients accordingly to make a larger batch to accommodate a larger gathering or event. Just be sure to cook the chicken wings in batches in the air fryer.
- Don't Overcrowd: The key to crispy wings in the air fryer is to make sure there's plenty of space around the wings.
- Adjust to Your Spice Level: You can easily adjust the spiciness by choosing a milder sauce, using less hot sauce, or if you like it hot, feel free to add more!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can use a deep fryer instead of an air fryer or oven. Simply fry the wings until golden brown and crispy, then toss them in the hot honey sauce.
Hot honey wings are crispy chicken wings coated in a spicy hot honey sauce. These hot honey butter chicken wings offer a perfect blend of sweetness and heat.
Video
More Air Fryer Recipes
Do you like cooking simple recipes in the air fryer? Here are some recipes you may also like to try!
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Hot Honey Chicken Wings
Ingredients
Chicken Wings:
- 2 lbs chicken wings
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1-2 teaspoons baking powder adjust to preference
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
Honey Hot Chicken Wing Sauce:
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup hot sauce adjust based on preferred spice level
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning adjust to taste, I use Slap Ya Mama but you can use your favorite
Optional Garnishes:
- chopped fresh parsley
- green onions
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. In a large clean bowl, toss the wings with garlic powder, onion powder, baking powder (1-2 teaspoons), smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until they are all evenly coated. Adjust baking powder quantity to preference.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (190°C) for about 3-5 minutes.
- Lightly brush or spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and then place the seasoned chicken wings in the basket in a single layer. Make sure they're not overcrowded.
- Cook the wings in the preheated air fryer for 25-30 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking to ensure even crisping.
- While the wings are cooking, prepare the Honey Hot Chicken Wing Sauce. In a small saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Once it's melted, stir in the hot sauce, honey, and Slap Ya Mama seasoning. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes and stir occasionally, until it reaches your preferred thickness.
- Once the wings are done cooking, transfer them to a large mixing bowl and then pour the hot honey sauce over the golden brown wings and toss them until they are evenly coated.
- Serve your delicious wings immediately with extra sauce, ranch, blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping.
Video
Notes
- Making a Double Batch: Adjust the quantities of ingredients accordingly to make a larger batch to accommodate a larger gathering or event. Just be sure to cook the chicken wings in batches in the air fryer.
- Don't Overcrowd: The key to crispy wings in the air fryer is to make sure there's plenty of space around the wings.
- Adjust to Your Spice Level: You can easily adjust the spiciness by choosing a milder sauce, using less hot sauce, or if you like it hot, feel free to add more!
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