Sweet and Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings 

These Sweet and Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings are a delight that blends subtle spicy notes from garlic and pepper with zesty ginger and sweet honey. Baked to golden perfection with a caramelized glaze, they are ideal as a game-day delight or as the centerpiece of a hardy appetizer spread for any occasion.

Simple to make, and using only affordable, simple ingredients, this recipe comes packed with flavor, without having to spend hours in the kitchen. Best of all, the glaze is make-ahead friendly, and the wings are paired deliciously with all of your game-day favorites.

Now, without further introduction, let’s make wings. Read on for a printable recipe card, a complete recipe overview, and an ingredient checklist to ensure you have everything you’ll need to prepare this recipe. As a nice bonus, I’ve included my Top 7 Tips for Perfect Wings at the end of the post.

What to Expect – Recipe Overview

I love chicken wings. Spicy or sweet. Fried or baked. On their own or with a medley of sides, I love chicken wings. But what can you expect from these chicken wings in particular? What are they like in terms of taste and texture? How hard are they to make? And what do they pair well with?

For the answer to those questions and more, read on.

1. Taste and Texture
   • This recipe delivers a delightful combination of sweet and spicy flavors. The recipe starts off with a basic dry rub made with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. This gives the wings a nice background warmth and savoriness. However, we’ll also be basting the wings with honey, garlic, and sesame oil sauce, which will give them a nice caramelized glaze and subtle sweetness. In terms of texture, the sauce ensures that the wings cook up crisp on the outside, while the meat remains moist and tender.
2. Difficulty Level
   • These wings are super simple to make. So, if you’re a beginner home cook looking for ways to up your Game Day Recipe Repertoire (try saying that ten times fast), this recipe is for you. Why do I say this? For starters, the prep process couldn’t be more straightforward from start to finish (more on this below) and requires only affordable, simple ingredients to make, all of which should be readily available at your local supermarket.
3. Preparation Process
   • Dry Rub: We start by rubbing the wings down with a basic mix of salt, garlic powder, and pepper. As I said above, simplicity is key.
   • Sauce Preparation: Next, we prepare a sauce with honey, fresh ginger, garlic, and sesame oil, which we brush onto the wings about midway through baking.
   • Baking and Basting: We finish the recipe by baking and basting the wings. We start off by baking the wings with just the dry rub, and then after baking for about 35 minutes, we brush the wings with the sauce to give them a nice glaze, and continue baking.
4. Pairings
   • All your game day favorites and that means things like Crunchy Onion Rings, baskets of French Fries, Spicy Chili sauces, and decadent cheese dips. How about nachos and salsa? Or Korean Beef Burgers? Yes and yes, these wings are there for it, and we’ve got all your game day needs covered here at Living the Gourmet. On the lighter end of the scale, you could also pair them with a light Asian-inspired slaw, or a fresh green salad with sesame dressing. They would also pair nicely with chili sauce or a creamy sesame dip.

Ingredient Checklist – Everything You’ll Need

As I said above, I love all things chicken wings. This recipe gives you a batch of chicken wings that are sweet and garlicy, with a fresh ginger kick. This recipe never skimps on flavor but still manages to only use easy-to-find, simple ingredients.

Here’s everything you’ll need:

Chicken Wings

• Quantity: About 12 chicken wings, tips removed. Naturally, you can use more or less, just scale the rest of the ingredients accordingly. As an example, if you use 24 chicken wings, double the rest of the ingredients. It’s that simple.
• Tip: Before applying the dry rub, be sure to pat the wings down with paper towels until completely dry.
• Substitution: This recipe works with any part of the chicken, including drumsticks, drumettes, or thighs. This recipe also works with turkey, as well as thinly sliced pork to make a stir fry.

Parchment Paper

• Why: I never miss an opportunity to reiterate that parchment paper is my number one kitchen tip. Use it whenever you can, because nothing prevents sticking better than parchment paper, and nothing makes cleanup easier.

For the Rub:

• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • Tip: I’m using olive oil for the flavor, which I find melds nicely with the garlic powder and black pepper. But this is purely preference.
  • Substitution: If you prefer not to use olive oil, opt for a flavor-neutral cooking oil such as vegetable oil or corn oil.
• 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • Tip: Feel free to adjust the amount based on your preference.
  • Tip 2: Plain table salt is all we need here, but feel free to use Kosher or Sea Salt.
• 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • Note: We’re using garlic powder to ensure maximal distribution of the garlic over the chicken wings, which is harder to achieve with fresh. It also adds a nice background warmth, as opposed to the bite of fresh garlic.
  • Substitution: If you prefer a more garlicky flavor and a bit more kick, opt for grated fresh garlic. Again, if you’re using fresh garlic, be sure to grate the garlic for even distribution over the chicken.
• 1/4 teaspoon Coarse Ground Black Pepper
  • Note: Freshly ground black pepper will provide better aromatics, but pre-ground coarse pepper will get the job done just fine, and that is what I’m using here.

For the Honey, Ginger, and Garlic Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons Honey
  • Tip: Your choice of honey will get the job done. No need to fuss with fancier honey, though, as fancy or expensive honey really only shines in recipes where it’s being consumed raw or only very lightly cooked. The reason is that cooking honey destroys all of the little nuances that ‘make’ fancy or expensive honey.
  • Substitution: All-natural maple syrup ‘can’ be used if preferred, or if honey isn’t available. That said, I do recommend using honey for this particular recipe.
• 2 large fresh Garlic Cloves, grated
  • Tip: We’re grating the garlic to ensure maximal release of the juices and even distribution over the chicken.
• 2-inch piece of fresh Ginger, grated
  • Tip: Fresh ginger ensures a stronger taste and more intense aromatics. It also releases the ginger’s natural juices which helps to further infuse the chicken with its flavor.
  • Substitution: 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger, though fresh is recommended for the best flavor.
• 3/4 teaspoon Salt
  • Tip: Here again, plain table salt is all you need.
• 1 teaspoon Coarse Ground Black Pepper
  • Tip: Here again, freshly ground will enhance the aromatics, but pre-ground will get the job done just fine. I’m personally using pre-ground.
  • Substitution: If preferred, white pepper can be used, but I do recommend using black pepper.
• 2 teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Tip: The vinegar is purely to bring some acidity to the glaze, as opposed to being a source of flavor. The acidity helps to balance out and bind the other flavors together. As such, feel free to use your vinegar of choice.
  • Substitution: With that said, some vinegars will work better than others. So, if you’re not using apple cider vinegar, I would recommend either rice vinegar or white wine vinegar.
• 2 teaspoons Sesame Seeds
  • Tip: Purely for garnish.
• 2 teaspoons Sesame Oil
  • Tip: Adds richness and a bit of nutty flavor to the glaze. A key ingredient in my opinion.

My Top Tips for Preparing Sweet and Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings

All right, so if you’ve read this far you’ve likely got all your ingredients set, and have decided to make the recipe. If that’s the case, here are my top tips for making sure these chicken wings come out perfect every time.

1. Prep the Wings Well
   • Dry Completely: This often gets overlooked, but I cannot stress enough the importance of patting the wings dry after washing. Removing excess moisture is key to achieving a golden, crispy exterior. It is also key for ensuring that the dry rub is evenly distributed over the wings.
   • Remove Wing Tips: This helps to ensure even cooking. That said, you can also use the tips for preparing homemade stock.
2. Enhance the Rub
   • Marinate for Deeper Flavor: This one is entirely optional, but if you let the wings sit in the rub for just 30 minutes, this will allow the flavor to more thoroughly infuse the wings, giving them both deeper flavor and more moisture.
   • Use Freshly Ground Pepper: I used pre-ground in preparing today’s recipe, but freshly ground pepper really does help enhance the aromatics. So, if you aren’t short on time, using freshly ground pepper is a simple way to kick things up a notch.
3. Prepping the Sauce
   • Pre-Grate Garlic and Ginger: I recommend grating both the garlic and ginger as the first thing you do. Not only does this get the most tedious part of the recipe out of the way, but it also allows for maximal extraction of the juices, which then meld together in the sauce.
   • Taste and Adjust: Tasting as you go is your best bet. Before brushing the sauce onto the wings, taste it, and adjust to your preference.
4. Bake in an Even Layer
   • Use a Large Pan: You want to space the wings evenly across the pan, allowing for at least a half an inch of space between each. Overlapping leads to uneven cooking. Not leaving enough space leads to soggy wings. However, leaving enough space between the wings helps even cooking, and ensures proper browning, and allows for caramelizing of the sauce.
   • Rotate Pan for Even Cooking: During basting, consider rotating the pan once or twice. Again, this is to help ensure even cooking. Yes, I’m harping on even cooking.
5. Brush with Sauce Throughout Cooking
   • Multiple Coats for Extra Glaze: The glaze is the star of this show, and so we want to ensure a thoroughly caramelized, thoroughly thick, and sticky glaze. This means basting the sauce onto the wings every 15-20 minutes during cooking. Do not skip this process.
   • Sauce for Dipping: This should go without saying, but you’ll want some extra sauce to serve alongside the wings, so prepare an extra batch of sauce while the wings cook.
6. Allow Resting Time Before Serving
   • Rest for 5–10 Minutes: Yes, resting cooked meat applies to chicken as well. After the wings have finished baking, allow them to sit so that their juices have a chance to redistribute. This helps the flavors settle and keeps them juicy for serving.
   • Use a Sharp Knife for Clean Presentation: If you’re slicing or presenting the wings in pieces, a sharp knife will help keep the skin intact. Using a dull knife can be dangerous, as a dull knife is more likely to slip while being handled, which in turn can result in injury.
7. Serving Suggestions
   • Serve with Fresh Herbs: A sprinkle of fresh parsley, cilantro, or green onions adds a fresh element that balances the sweetness of the glaze.
   • Add a Squeeze of Citrus: For added brightness, serve the wings with lime or lemon wedges to cut through the sweetness and richness of the glaze.

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And those are my Sweet and Spicy Honey-Garlic Chicken Wings. If you enjoyed this recipe, or have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing from you!

Happy Cooking!

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