Introduction
Honey BBQ wings are a crowd-pleasing appetizer or main dish that combines sweet honey and zesty barbecue sauce. The wings are coated in a homemade honey barbecue sauce that can be customized to preference – thick and sticky or thinner for coating. Baked or fried wings yield an irresistible sticky and crispy coating you can’t stop eating.
Making honey BBQ wings at home allows you to control the ingredients. You can use organic honey and high-quality ketchup and spices to make a sauce that suits your tastes. Homemade honey BBQ wings also give you the flexibility to bake or fry. With this guide, you’ll learn techniques for choosing wings, whipping up the BBQ sauce, coating the wings, and baking or frying until perfectly crisp. Let’s get saucy with how to make honey BBQ wings!
How to Choose Wings for Honey BBQ
The first step in honey BBQ wings is selecting high-quality wings. Consider the following when buying wings:
Opt for Fresh Wings
Look for raw, refrigerated chicken wings rather than frozen. Raw fresh wings leads to crisper skin when cooked.
Choose Between Drummettes and Flats
Drummettes and flats refer to the two sections of a chicken wing. Drummettes are the thicker end that looks like a mini drumstick. Flats are the thinner flat end. Mix the two or choose a favorite for honey BBQ wings.
Consider Size
Larger jumbo wings work well since honey BBQ sauce coats evenly on larger pieces. Opt for medium or large rather than small wings.
Buy Air-Chilled When Possible
Air-chilled wings weren’t soaked in water so the skin gets extra crispy when cooked. This leads to the best texture after saucing.
Calculate Amount
Plan for 3-6 wings per person depending on appetite. Buy extra since saucy sticky wings lead people to eat more.
Choosing fresh, high-quality chicken wings ensures crispy skin and great flavor for honey BBQ wings.
How to Make Honey Barbecue Wing Sauce
The key to great honey barbecue wings is whipping up a flavorful homemade sauce. Use these tips for making honey BBQ sauce:
Ingredients
- 1 cup ketchup
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Mix All Ingredients
Whisk together all sauce ingredients until thoroughly combined and smooth.
Simmer the Sauce
Pour the sauce into a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened.
Adjust Flavor as Needed
Taste the sauce and adjust ingredients as desired. Add more honey for extra sweetness or chili powder for spice.
Thicken or Thin Sauce
For thicker sauce, simmer longer. For thinner sauce to coat wings, add water 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistency.
Let Sauce Cool
Allow sauce to cool fully before using. The wings can be made ahead and refrigerated.
Making your own honey BBQ sauce means you control the flavors. Adjust ingredients to suit your preferences.
How to Bake Crispy Honey BBQ Wings
Baking is a simple mess-free way to cook wings coated in honey BBQ sauce. Follow these steps:
Preheat Oven and Prep Wings
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Pat wings completely dry with paper towels.
Season Wings
Season wings all over with salt and pepper or another favorite seasoning like garlic powder or cayenne.
Bake Wings Plain
Arrange wings in a single layer on the baking sheet with space between each wing. Bake 25-30 minutes until skins are browned and crispy.
Coat Baked Wings in Sauce
Remove wings from the oven and brush or toss thoroughly with the honey BBQ sauce until fully coated.
Return Wings to Oven
Put wings back on the baking sheet and bake 10 more minutes. The sauce will caramelize and stick to the crispy skin.
Toss Once More Before Serving
Right before serving, toss wings in any remaining honey BBQ sauce to re-coat. Serve wings hot with excess sauce for dipping.
Baking gives traditional honey BBQ wings with caramelized sticky sauce coating crispy skin.
How to Fry Juicy Honey BBQ Wings
For extra crispy wings, frying is the way to go. Here’s how to make honey BBQ wings with a deep fryer:
Heat Oil to 375°F
Pour oil to depth of 3-4 inches in a heavy bottomed pot or Dutch oven. Heat oil to 375°F for frying.
Pat Wings Dry
Pat wings with paper towels until very dry. Allowing any moisture leads to spattering oil when frying.
Fry Wings
Fry wings in batches for 7-8 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
Toss Wings in Sauce
When all wings are fried, put them in a large bowl. Add desired amount of honey BBQ sauce and toss to coat.
Fry Wings Again
Return sauced wings to oil and fry 1-2 minutes more. This crisps the sauce so it sticks to the wings.
Toss in Sauce Before Serving
Right before eating, toss wings in more sauce for juicy saucy bites. Serve excess sauce alongside.
Frying makes ultra crispy wings with caramelized sauce that holds up to the juicy meat inside.
Serving and Dipping Sauce Ideas
Honey BBQ wings on their own are delicious, but accompaniments like dipping sauces and veggies make for a full appetizer spread. Consider these serving ideas:
- Ranch dressing – A cooling complement to contrast sweet and spicy BBQ wings.
- Celery sticks – Crisp celery cools the palate between saucy wings.
- Carrot sticks – Another crunchy veggie for dipping in ranch.
- Blue cheese dressing – The classic pairing balances rich wings.
- Sliced pickled jalapeños – For extra spice and crunch alongside wings.
- Extra BBQ sauce – For those who can’t get enough sticky sweet sauce.
Serve your homemade honey barbecue wings with a variety of sauces and vegetables for the ultimate game day platter or party appetizer.
Common Questions About Making Honey BBQ Wings
Still have questions about making perfect honey BBQ wings? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Should the wings be breaded before saucing?
No, breading isn’t necessary. The sauce will stick to plain baked or fried wings.
Can the wings be grilled instead?
Yes, grilled wings work well. Grill plain until nearly cooked then brush with sauce and grill 2-3 minutes more to caramelize.
Is it better to bake or fry wings?
This comes down to personal preference. Baked wings are easier and healthier. Fried wings get ultra crispy. Both work well sauced.
Can the wings be sauced after cooking?
Absolutely. Plain baked or fried wings can be tossed in sauce after cooking for a sticky coating.
Can the sauce be made ahead of time?
Definitely. Make the BBQ sauce up to 5 days ahead. Store refrigerated until ready to use.
Conclusion
With this complete guide, you have all the tips and tricks for making restaurant-quality honey BBQ wings at home. First, choose fresh chicken wings for optimal texture. Next, whip up a sticky sweet and tangy BBQ wing sauce. Then bake or fry the wings until crispy before coating in the flavorful sauce. Finish with extra sauce alongside veggie dippers and dressing for the full wings experience. Making your own honey barbecue chicken wings means controlling the ingredients so you can customize the flavors to satisfy any craving for these irresistible sticky-sweet yet zesty BBQ wings.