Prepare for an explosion of flavor with these incredible **Easy Honey BBQ Chicken Wings**! This recipe delivers crispy, crunchy, and irresistibly saucy wings, perfect for satisfying your cravings right at home. Forget long waits and expensive takeout from your favorite spots like KFC, Buffalo Wild Wings, or Applebee’s. With our simple steps, you can create a batch of deeply flavored, golden-brown wings that will quickly become a family favorite. We’ll show you how to achieve amazing results whether you choose to bake them in the oven or cook them to perfection in your air fryer.

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This recipe was originally published in 2018 and has since been updated with enhanced instructions, additional tips, and more comprehensive information to help you master these delicious wings.

Ultimate Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken Wings: Oven or Air Fryer Perfection

There’s nothing quite like a plate of perfectly cooked chicken wings, coated in a sweet and tangy Honey BBQ sauce, especially when they’re homemade. These wings are not just a meal; they’re an experience, perfect for game days, casual gatherings, or simply a delightful weekend dinner. What makes this recipe stand out is its incredible versatility and the promise of a crispy exterior with tender, juicy meat every single time. Whether you prefer the classic bake of an oven or the speed and convenience of an air fryer, we’ve got you covered for the best **honey BBQ chicken wings** you’ve ever tasted.

Why You’ll Love These Homemade Honey BBQ Wings

If you’re a fan of restaurant-style wings, you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to replicate—and even surpass—that flavor profile right in your own kitchen. These wings offer:

• **Unbeatable Crispiness:** Thanks to our special flour coating and precise cooking methods, these wings achieve a golden-brown, satisfyingly crispy skin.
• **Irresistible Flavor:** The homemade or semi-homemade honey BBQ sauce strikes the perfect balance between sweet and savory, with a delightful tang that clings beautifully to every wing.
• **Flexibility in Cooking:** Choose between the reliable heat of your oven or the quick convenience of your air fryer to get the job done. Both methods yield fantastic results.
• **Perfect for Any Occasion:** From casual family dinners to big game day parties, these wings are always a crowd-pleaser. They’re easy to prepare in advance and reheat wonderfully.
• **Customizable:** Adjust the seasoning and sauce to your liking, making them as mild or as spicy as your palate desires.

A Taste of Kansas City BBQ Right at Home

Living in Kansas City, Missouri, I like to think I know a thing or two about good barbecue. Our city is renowned for its slow-smoked meats and signature sauces, a tradition that inspires many of my recipes. While these wings aren’t smoked for hours, they capture the essence of that beloved sweet and savory BBQ flavor that Kansas City is famous for. The honey BBQ sauce used here pays homage to those rich, complex flavors, bringing a piece of genuine American barbecue culture right to your dinner table. You don’t need a smoker to enjoy incredible BBQ wings; just a few simple ingredients and your oven or air fryer are all it takes to evoke that authentic taste.

Key Ingredients for Irresistible Honey BBQ Sauce

The magic of these **crispy honey BBQ chicken wings** truly lies in the sauce. While you can certainly use your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce as a base, I highly recommend exploring homemade options for an unparalleled depth of flavor. For those mindful of their carb intake, my Keto Low-Carb BBQ Sauce recipe provides a fantastic foundation. Regardless of your choice, the key is combining a robust BBQ sauce with the natural sweetness of honey. This creates a perfectly balanced glaze that caramelizes beautifully on the wings, enhancing their texture and taste. Consider adding a touch of apple cider vinegar or a pinch of cayenne pepper to your sauce for an extra layer of complexity or a hint of heat.

Using a good quality honey is essential here. The type of honey can subtly influence the overall flavor – a wildflower honey might lend a different note than a clover honey. Experiment to find your favorite combination!

Oven-Baked Method for Golden Crispy Wings

Baking chicken wings in the oven is a classic method that consistently delivers fantastic results. It’s a hands-off approach that allows the wings to cook evenly and crisp up beautifully. The secret to truly crispy **oven-baked wings** lies in proper preparation and adequate cooking time, allowing the fat to render and the skin to dehydrate, creating that desirable crunch.

1. **Preparation is Key:** Start by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures a consistent cooking temperature from the moment your wings enter the oven.
2. **Season and Coat:** In a large bowl or a resealable plastic bag, generously season your chicken wings with your preferred chicken seasoning, salt, and black pepper. A good, even coating of seasoning builds the flavor from the inside out. Next, lightly coat the seasoned wings with all-purpose flour. This thin layer of flour is crucial for achieving that extra crispy texture.
3. **Arrangement for Crispiness:** Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. Arrange the floured wings in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring there’s ample space between each wing. Overcrowding will steam the wings instead of crisping them.
4. **Initial Bake:** Bake the wings for 20 minutes. This initial baking period helps to render some of the fat and start the crisping process.
5. **Flip and Continue Baking:** After 20 minutes, carefully flip each wing to ensure even cooking and browning on both sides. Continue to bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the wings are golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
6. **Prepare the Honey BBQ Sauce:** While the wings are in their final baking stage, whisk together your BBQ sauce and honey in a separate bowl or mixing cup.
7. **Sauce and Final Bake:** Once the wings are cooked through, remove them from the oven and transfer them to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle the prepared honey BBQ sauce evenly over the wings, tossing gently to ensure every piece is thoroughly coated. For the ultimate sticky, caramelized glaze, return the sauced wings to the baking sheet and bake for an additional 5 minutes. This brief final bake allows the sauce to set and adhere perfectly.

Air Fryer Method for Speedy Perfection

For those who love speed and convenience without sacrificing crunch, the air fryer is your best friend. Air frying provides a crispy exterior reminiscent of deep-fried wings, but with significantly less oil, making it a healthier alternative. This method is fantastic for quick dinners or when you need a batch of **air fryer wings** in a hurry.

1. **Seasoning is Key:** Place your chicken wings in a large resealable plastic bag. Generously season them with your chicken seasoning, salt, and pepper. Shake the bag to ensure a thorough and even coating on all wings.
2. **Flour Coating:** Add the all-purpose flour to the bag with the seasoned wings. Shake again until each wing is lightly coated. The plastic bag method ensures minimal mess and even distribution.
3. **Prepare the Air Fryer:** Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil (I prefer olive oil or avocado oil). This prevents sticking and aids in crisping.
4. **Arrange and Oil:** Place the floured wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd; this is critical for crispiness. Cook in batches if necessary. Once arranged, spray both sides of the chicken wings liberally with cooking oil. You’ll notice the floury exterior disappearing as the oil saturates it, which helps create a beautiful crust.
5. **First Fry:** Cook the wings at 400°F (200°C) for 8 minutes.
6. **Flip and Continue:** Open the air fryer, flip the wings, and cook for an additional 7 minutes. Different air fryer brands can vary in cooking times, so monitor your wings for desired crispiness and ensure they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
7. **Sauce Preparation:** While the wings are finishing, mix your BBQ sauce and honey together in a bowl.
8. **Sauce and Final Fry:** Remove the cooked wings from the air fryer and toss them in the large bowl with the honey BBQ sauce until well coated. Return the sauced wings to the air fryer basket (still in a single layer) and cook for an additional 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C). This final step allows the sauce to caramelize and become deliciously sticky, ensuring maximum flavor adhesion. The sauce should appear dried and crisped on the wings.

Mastering the Art of Sticky Sauce

A truly great BBQ wing is defined by its sauce – specifically, how well it sticks. Many struggle with watery or runny sauces that slide right off the wing. The key to making your **honey BBQ sauce stick** is twofold: consistency and a final “setting” phase. First, ensure your sauce isn’t too thin. If using a homemade sauce, reduce it slightly on the stovetop until it thickens. For store-bought, a good quality, thicker sauce works best. Second, and crucially, you must re-bake or re-fry the sauced wings for a short period. This allows the heat to caramelize the sugars in the honey and BBQ sauce, creating a glossy, sticky glaze that adheres perfectly to the crispy skin. Skipping this step often results in a less satisfying, less flavorful wing. Always toss the wings in the sauce when they are hot, then give them a few extra minutes back in the heat to seal the deal.

Tips for Unbeatable Crispy Wings Every Time

Achieving truly **crispy chicken wings** is an art, but one that is easily mastered with a few simple techniques:

• **Pat Them Dry:** Before seasoning and coating, thoroughly pat your chicken wings dry with paper towels. Excess moisture is the enemy of crispiness.
• **The Flour Power:** A light coating of all-purpose flour helps create a crispier crust. For an even crunchier bite, some recipes call for a mix of flour and baking powder (not baking soda), as baking powder raises the pH of the skin, causing it to break down and crisp up more effectively.
• **Even Oil Application:** Whether baking or air frying, ensure each wing is lightly and evenly coated with cooking oil. This helps the flour crisp and brown. If you notice any floury patches after initial cooking, don’t hesitate to spritz with a little more oil and cook longer.
• **Don’t Overcrowd:** This is perhaps the most important rule. Wings need space for hot air to circulate around them to crisp up. If your baking sheet or air fryer basket is too full, the wings will steam instead of fry. Cook in batches if necessary.
• **Single Layer:** Always arrange wings in a single layer. This maximizes surface area contact with the heat.
• **High Heat Finish:** A final blast of high heat (either in the oven or air fryer) after saucing helps to set the glaze and enhance crispiness.

Cooking with Frozen Chicken Wings: What You Need to Know

While thawed wings are generally recommended for this **easy chicken wing recipe** to ensure optimal seasoning and breading adhesion, it is possible to cook from frozen with a few adjustments. Keep in mind that the best results for crispy, flavorful wings will always come from fresh or fully thawed chicken.

If you absolutely must start with frozen wings, here’s how to adapt the recipe:

1. **Initial Cook from Frozen:** Place the frozen wings directly into your preheated oven or air fryer. Cook them for approximately half of the recommended cooking time for thawed wings (e.g., about 10-15 minutes in the oven, 7-10 minutes in the air fryer). The goal here is to partially cook and thaw the wings.
2. **Thaw, Season, and Bread:** Remove the partially cooked wings. At this point, they should be thawed enough to separate and handle. Now, you can proceed with seasoning them generously and coating them in flour as instructed in the main recipe.
3. **Resume Cooking:** Return the seasoned and floured wings to the oven or air fryer. Continue baking or air frying for the remaining cook time, monitoring closely.
4. **Temperature Check:** Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the wings reach a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Cooking times will vary significantly when starting from frozen, so a thermometer is your best tool for food safety.
5. **Sauce Application:** Once fully cooked and safe to eat, proceed with tossing the wings in the honey BBQ sauce and giving them a final bake/fry to set the sauce, just as you would with thawed wings.

Remember, cooking from frozen will likely result in a slightly less crispy texture and potentially uneven seasoning compared to starting with thawed wings, but it’s a viable option in a pinch.

Understanding the Nutrition: Calories and Carbs

For those tracking their dietary intake, it’s helpful to understand the nutritional breakdown of these delicious **BBQ wing recipes**. Each serving of these Honey BBQ Chicken Wings, as calculated, contains approximately 345 calories and 30 grams of carbohydrates. This information is a general guideline and can vary based on the specific ingredients you use, especially your choice of BBQ sauce and the amount of honey. If you’re looking to reduce the carb count, opting for a keto-friendly BBQ sauce and being mindful of the honey quantity can make a significant difference. While wings can be a part of a balanced diet, enjoying them in moderation and pairing them with fresh, low-carb sides is always a good strategy.

Explore More Chicken Wing Recipes

Can’t get enough of chicken wings? We have a variety of fantastic recipes to keep your taste buds excited. Discover your next favorite wing flavor:

• Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
• Thai Chili Chicken Wings
• Air Fryer Buttermilk Fried Chicken Wings
• Air Fryer Fried Chicken Wings
• Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings
• Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
• How to Grill Chicken Wings
• Crispy Ranch Chicken Wings
• Sweet Chili Chicken Wings

What to Serve with Your Honey BBQ Wings: Perfect Pairings

These **flavorful chicken wings** are hearty enough to be a meal on their own, but they also pair wonderfully with a variety of side dishes. Here are some suggestions to complete your feast:

• Air Fryer Homemade French Fries
• Air Fryer Onion Rings
• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
• Air Fryer Fried Pickles

And for an extra layer of authentic BBQ flavor, try this recipe with my Homemade BBQ Seasoning and Rub!

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5 from 21 votes

Easy Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

These Easy Honey BBQ Chicken Wings are a quick recipe for crispy and crunchy wings made in the oven or air fryer. If you are a fan of KFC, Buffalo Wild Wings, Applebee’s then you will love these!

Save this recipe here.

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Baked Honey BBQ Wings, Honey BBQ Chicken Wings, Crispy Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Wings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Servings: 5 servings

Calories: 345 kcal

Author: Brandi Crawford

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken drummettes (party wings) – You can use full wings if you wish, adjust cooking time accordingly.
• McCormick’s Grill Mates Chicken Seasoning to taste
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup BBQ sauce (your favorite or Keto Low-Carb BBQ Sauce)
• ¼ cup honey
• Cooking oil (for air fryer method, olive oil or avocado oil recommended)

Instructions

Baked Wings

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Season the chicken wings generously with chicken seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste.
3. Lightly coat the seasoned chicken in flour.
4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and arrange the floured wings in a single layer on the pan, ensuring space between each wing.
5. Bake for 20 minutes, then flip the wings to the other side.
6. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
7. While wings bake, mix the honey and BBQ sauce together in a bowl or mixing cup.
8. Remove the cooked chicken from the oven and place it in a large bowl. Drizzle the honey BBQ sauce throughout, tossing to coat evenly.
9. Place the coated chicken back onto the baking sheet and bake for an additional 5 minutes to allow the sauce to caramelize and stick. Ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) using a meat thermometer.

Air Fryer Wings

1. Season the chicken wings with chicken seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. For best results, do this inside a resealable plastic bag to ensure even coating.
2. Add the flour to the plastic bag with the seasoned chicken. Shake until the chicken is thoroughly coated.
3. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil (e.g., olive oil).
4. Add the floured chicken wings to the basket in a single layer, without overcrowding. Spray both sides of the wings with cooking oil; the floury appearance should disappear as the oil soaks in.
5. Cook for 8 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Cook in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
6. Open the air fryer and flip the chicken wings. Cook for an additional 7 minutes.
7. Mix the honey and BBQ sauce together in a bowl.
8. Remove the cooked chicken from the air fryer and place it in a large bowl. Drizzle the honey BBQ sauce throughout, tossing to coat evenly.
9. Place the sauced chicken back in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for an additional 5 minutes at 400°F (200°C), or until the honey BBQ sauce has dried and crisped onto the wings. Cooking times may vary by air fryer model, so use your judgment. Ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) using a meat thermometer.

Notes

• You can create your own chicken seasoning mix using ¼ teaspoon each of onion powder, paprika, black pepper, and sage. Alternatively, simple salt and pepper also work wonderfully.
• For best results and food safety, always ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Recipe Tools Used in this Recipe

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

• Parchment Paper
• Cosori Air Fryer
• Air Fryer Oil Spray Bottle
• Air Fryer Parchment Paper
• Meat Thermometer

Nutrition (displayed with net carbs)

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 345kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 17g

Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.

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