These sticky airfryer honey garlic chicken wings are so easy to make and a healthier alternative that comes out crispy every time. The best part, you can easily make them in the oven too!
How do I get the wings crispy without frying them?
- Prepping the Wings: The first and most important step to perfectly crisp wings is to rinse the wings in vinegar and completely dry them! DO NOT skip this step!! As soon as you remove your wings from their packaging, you’re going to want to toss them in some vinegar and use paper towels to blot all the moisture out. This is going to help the coating on the next step stick a lot better. Next, you’re going to use baking powder to create a coating on the wings. This will help the wings get nicely crispy and brown as they bake/airfry.
- The Temperature: To get the wings crispy in the airfryer, temperature is important. I’ve found the ideal crispy wing temperature to be 425 °F.
How do I get rid of the raw chicken smell?
If the smell of raw chicken wings bother you, you’re not alone. The prep of this recipe calls for vinegar which helps neutralise that smell! When you’re working your chicken, add a few spoons of white vinegar (or whatever vinegar you have) on the wings and mix it all. I let this sit for 4-5 minutes and then wash it out. If you’re not comfortable washing your chicken, just drain out the juices and blot them dry.
Can I Bake these in a regular oven?
You can definitely cook these wings in a regular oven, it will just take a longer baking time to achieve the same level of crispness as the airfryer. The process for cooking the wings in the oven is essentially the same. Prep your wings by drying them and coating them with baking soda & spices. Then, line your baking sheet with foil, lay out your wings on the sheet & pop them in the oven at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. You will want to flip them every 20 minutes and bake them until they’re crispy which should be about 40-50 minutes.
The reason the air fryer is a better option is because it has forced circulation of hot air which cooks the center nice and tender and makes the skin perfectly crisp. This cannot be achieved in a conventional oven as quickly, so if you are on a time crunch, I recommend opting for the air fryer!
How Can I Make this Spicier?
For those of you who love that extra spice, there are some adjustments you can make to this recipe according to your taste.
- Add a few teaspoons of crushed red pepper flakes or red chili powder to the spices with the baking powder to give it a spicy boost. Add as much or as little as you want!
- Add sriracha to the honey garlic sauce once it’s done cooking to give it that extra kick.
Looking to try something new this game day? Try these Spicy Masala Drumsticks instead!
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Sticky Airfryer Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
- Total Time: 35
- Yield: 8
Description
These sticky airfryer honey garlic chicken wings are so easy to make and a healthier alternative that comes out crispy every time. The best part, you can easily make them in the oven too!
Ingredients
For the Chicken Wings
- 1.5 lb chicken wings
- 1 tbsp vinegar (any vinegar)
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp red chili powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp oil
For the Sauce
- 2 tsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jalapeno with seeds, minced
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- salt, to taste
- 1–2 tsp chili flakes
- 2 tsp corn starch
Instructions
Making the Wings
- For the wings, I buy the “wingettes” usually because they come separated into drums and flats. But if you buy them as full wings, make sure to separate them and cut off the tip!
- To a bowl, add the wings to a bowl with a large pinch of salt and the vinegar. Toss to coat and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then, drain then vinegar and use a paper towel to blot the wings completely dry.
- Add the baking powder, 1 tsp salt, red chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika and oil. Toss to coat evenly.
- Lay them flat on an airfryer tray or an oven tray. If you’re using the airfryer, airfry at 425F for 20 minutes (flipping halfway) and then keep cooking until crispy and cooked through. If you’re using an oven, bake at 425F for 40-50 minutes (flipping halfway) and keep cooking until crispy and cooked through.
For the Sauce
- To a saucepan, add the butter and melt. Add in the minced garlic and jalapeno. Sauté until fragrant and soft.
- Add the honey, broth, soy sauce, a small pinch of salt and chili flakes and stir. Simmer on medium heat until the volume reduces by half.
- In a separate bowl, combine the cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and mix well. Pour into the saucepan and simmer on low heat until it thickens. Pour the sauce over the wings and coat.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 20