Best Hot Honey Chicken Wings (Oven Baked Recipe)

If you’re looking for the perfect balance of sweet heat and crispy skin, these hot honey chicken wings are about to become your new obsession.

This easy recipe delivers crispy wings without the need to deep fry, making it perfect for game day, backyard barbecues or anytime your craving for spicy wings hits.

Ingredients

• Chicken wings. Opt for whole chicken wings or separate them into flats and drums. 
• Butter
• Hot honey. There are good brands of hot honey out there, or try making your own homemade hot honey with my easy recipe! 
• Hot sauce
• Cornstarch
• Paprika
• Cayenne pepper
• Garlic powder
• Salt

How to Make Hot Honey Wings

Season the Wings

Start by mixing the dry seasonings together in a large bowl: cornstarch, garlic powder, salt, cayenne and paprika.

Then, toss the wings in the dry seasonings. 

Chill the Wings

Cover the bowl and pop it in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This helps the dry seasonings to adhere to the wings, which yields a crispier end result. 

Bake the Wings

Now, arrange your wings in a single layer on a baking sheet or two, and bake them in the oven until crispy.

If you want to check for an internal temperature of 165F that’s cool, but after 45 minutes in the oven they’re pretty much guaranteed to be ready. 

Make the Hot Honey Sauce

In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Then, stir in the hot honey and hot sauce and simmer until the mixture is smooth.

Then, pour the sauce over the wings and toss them to coat. Done and done! 

Watch how to make Hot Honey Chicken Wings!

Serving Suggestions

These delicious wings pair perfectly with:

• French fries
• Sweet potato fries
• A simple salad
• Ranch or blue cheese dressing
• Fresh veggies and dip

Cooking Variations

1. Deep Fry. If you’re not afraid of a little extra fat and calories, there’s no question that the crispiest wings come from the deep fryer. Mimic a deep fryer at home by using a large pot filled with 2 inches of oil. Use a kitchen thermometer to check for an oil temperature of 350F-360F degrees. Deep fry your wings for about 10 minutes. 

2. Air Fry. Preheat your air fryer to 400F degrees and coat the basket with nonstick cooking spray. Air fry the wings in batches for 20-30 minutes until they’re golden brown and crispy.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Store leftover hot honey wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To keep the crispy skin intact, reheat the wings on a baking sheet in a 425F degree oven for 4-5 minutes or until warmed through.

You can also store the wings in a vacuum seal bag for longer freezer storage.

How do I make the wings less spicy?

The simplest way to reduce the heat in these wings is by reducing the amount of hot sauce that’s written in the recipe card. Alternatively, you could add plain honey to balance out the spiciness.

Experiment with the ratios of hot honey and hot sauce to find the perfect fit for your own taste buds. 

Tips for the Crispiest Chicken Wings

Follow these best practices for the most crispy hot honey chicken wings: 

• Always dry the wings thoroughly with a paper towel before seasoning them. 
• Arrange wings in a single layer on the baking sheet. Overcrowding them will cause them to steam and lose crispness.
• Bake at high heat, like over 400F degrees for crispy skin.
• Position a wire rack over the baking sheet and place the wings onto the rack for better air flow. 
• Toss in sauce only after baking. 

When you make this hot honey chicken wings recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a star rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy! 

For more chicken wing recipes, try these:

• Copycat Wingstop Cajun Wings
• Honey Old Bay Chicken Wings
• Sticky BBQ Chicken Wings