Hot Honey Chicken Wings

Key Ingredients and Substitutions

With just a handful of pantry staples and fresh ingredients, these hot honey wings will become your new favorite go-to appetizer or dinner. 

In the printable recipe below, you can find a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

• Chicken Wings (Flats and Drums): These are the stars of the show, with juicy meat and irresistible crispy skin. We usually buy whole chicken wings and break them into drums and flats. Don’t have wings? Swap in bone-in chicken thighs.
• Seasoning (Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder): These spices are the secret sauce behind your flavor game. Smoked paprika brings that smoky goodness, while garlic and onion powders add savory depth. No smoked paprika? Regular paprika works just fine. 
• Baking Powder: The key to achieving crispy wings is baking powder. It alters the pH of the chicken skin, resulting in an extra crispy texture that allows the skin to absorb all the delicious flavors.
• Hot Sauce: Choose your favorite hot sauce for a spicy punch that balances the sweet honey. You can add as much or as little as you like.
• Honey: Honey balances the hot sauce and adds sweetness, helping to give your wings an irresistible glaze.
• Butter: For enhanced richness and a smooth texture in the sauce, butter is essential. It complements the spicy and sweet flavors nicely. 

How to Make Hot Honey Chicken Wings

Here are the quick step-by-step instructions with visuals; you can find the full instructions with the exact ingredients in the recipe card below.
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Pro-tip: Dry them thoroughly with paper towels before seasoning for extra crispy wings. After coating the wings with the seasoning mixture, let them rest on a wire rack in the refrigerator for at least an hour. And don’t skip the baking powder in the seasoning mix.

1. Prep and Season: Start by getting your oven ready. Place the rack in the middle and preheat to 450°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup, and use either a paper towel or cooking spray to grease a wire rack with vegetable oil and set it on the baking sheet. Pat your chicken wings dry with a paper towel —this is key to getting that crispy skin. Mix baking powder, kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder in a large bowl. Toss the chicken wings in the seasoning mixture until they’re well coated.

2. Bake the Wings: Lay the seasoned wings on the greased wire rack (you may have to use two racks, depending on their size, or cook the wings in batches). Pop them in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, flipping them halfway through so they cook evenly. The wings are done when golden brown and crispy and their internal temperature reaches 165ºF.

3. Make the Homemade Hot Honey Sauce: Make the sauce while your wings are baking. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the honey and hot sauce to the melted butter, then whisk everything together until well combined. Let it simmer for about a minute, then remove from the heat.

4. Toss and Serve: When the wings are done, transfer them to a large bowl. Pour half the hot honey butter sauce over the wings and give them a good toss to coat them evenly. Serve the wings hot with extra sauce, ranch, blue cheese dressing, and your favorite sides. 

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: The hot honey sauce can be prepared ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Prepare the wings up to the seasoning step. Cover them and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.

How to Store: Leftover wings can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep the sauce separate to maintain the wings’ crispiness.

How to Reheat: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Place the wings on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes until heated. Reheat the sauce in a microwave-safe container for about 30 seconds or until warm. Toss the reheated wings in the warm sauce before serving.

Recipe Tips and Notes

• Balance Sweetness and Heat. Adjust the honey-to-hot sauce ratio according to your preference for sweetness and spiciness. Taste the sauce as you go, and add more honey for sweetness or hot sauce for heat.
• Consistency of the Sauce. Aim for a thick and glossy sauce that coats the wings well. If it’s too thin, you can simmer the sauce for longer to reduce it further.
• Crispy Wings. Dry the wings thoroughly before seasoning them to remove excess moisture, which can hinder crispiness.
• Seasoning. Although the focus is on the hot honey sauce, properly seasoned wings will enhance the overall flavor, so don’t skip it.  You can add cayenne pepper or red chili flakes for an additional kick of heat.

Frequently Asked Questions