Description
These Hot Honey Chicken Wings are a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors, delivering a crispy exterior with a juicy interior. Marinated in a flavorful blend of hot honey, apple cider vinegar, and spices, then baked to perfection and tossed in a luscious honey butter sauce with red pepper flakes, these wings are a crowd-pleasing appetizer or meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade
- 1 cup hot honey (or make your own)
- â…“ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Chicken Wings
- 2 pounds chicken wings (patted dry)
- Juice from 1 lime
- ½ of the marinade (from above)
Sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- Juice of ½ lime
Garnish
- Chopped fresh cilantro
- Sliced scallions
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade and marinate the chicken: In a large bowl, combine the hot honey, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, kosher salt, and ground black pepper to make the marinade. Add the chicken wings, juice from 1 lime, and half of the marinade to the wings, stirring to coat them evenly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and tenderize the chicken.
- Bake the chicken wings: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the marinated wings on a wire rack set over a baking sheet lined with foil for easy cleanup. Bake the wings for 45 to 50 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the skin is crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Make the hot honey butter sauce and toss the wings: While the wings bake, melt the unsalted butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in the ¼ cup honey, crushed red pepper flakes, and juice of ½ lime. Once the wings are baked, transfer them to a large bowl, pour the hot honey butter sauce over them, and toss gently to coat all wings thoroughly. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro and sliced scallions before serving.
Notes
- For extra crispy wings, pat the chicken wings very dry before marinating.
- You can adjust the heat level by varying the amount of crushed red pepper flakes or using mild instead of hot honey.
- Leftover wings can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
- Using a wire rack when baking allows for air circulation and helps the wings become crispy.
