Sweet & Spicy Hot Honey Buffalo Wings Recipe
Sweet & Spicy Hot Honey Buffalo Wings combine crispy oven-baked or air-fried chicken wings with a vibrant buffalo sauce sweetened with hot honey. Perfectly seasoned and tossed in a buttery cayenne pepper hot sauce, this recipe delivers a balanced kick of heat and sweetness ideal for parties and casual gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Wings and Dry Rub
- 2 pounds party chicken wings (900 grams)
- 1 Tablespoon aluminum-free baking powder (15 grams)
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon white pepper or freshly-ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1-2 pinches cayenne pepper, to taste
- Neutral oil or cooking spray (such as avocado oil)
Hot Honey Buffalo Sauce
- 1/2 cup cayenne pepper hot sauce (such as Frank’s Original) – 120 milliliters
- 1/4 cup hot honey (85 milliliters)
- 1/4 cup good-quality unsalted butter (60 grams)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Prep the wings: Thoroughly dry the chicken wings using paper towels to ensure they crisp up properly during cooking. Optionally, dry them overnight in the fridge for even better results.
- Coat with dry rub: Place the wings in a large bowl. Add baking powder, salt, white or black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper. Toss until wings are evenly coated with the seasoning mixture.
- Oven-bake the wings: Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or foil and place an oven-safe wire rack on top. Grease the rack with neutral oil or cooking spray. Arrange the wings skin-side up in a single layer on the rack. Bake for 25 minutes, flip the wings, and bake an additional 20-25 minutes until crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Remove and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Alternatively, air fry the wings: Grease the basket with neutral oil or cooking spray. Place wings skin-side up in a single layer, allowing slight touching as they will shrink. Air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 10 minutes, flip, then cook for 6-8 more minutes until crispy and cooked through. Rest wings for 4-5 minutes.
- Prepare hot honey buffalo sauce: While wings cook, combine cayenne pepper hot sauce, hot honey, unsalted butter, and Worcestershire sauce in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir frequently until sauce simmers, then let simmer for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and let thicken for 5 minutes.
- Toss wings in sauce: After wings have rested, transfer them to a large bowl. Drizzle the hot honey buffalo sauce over them and toss with tongs until evenly coated.
- Serve: Serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side for dipping. Enjoy your sweet and spicy buffalo wings!
Notes
- Drying the wings thoroughly or overnight in the fridge helps achieve maximum crispness.
- You can choose to bake or air fry the wings depending on your equipment preference.
- Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper in the rub and hot sauce to control the spiciness level.
- Using aluminum-free baking powder is essential to avoid an off taste and ensure wings crisp properly.
- Resting the wings after cooking allows them to crisp up further before tossing in sauce.
