Air fryer hot honey chicken wings turn a couple pounds of frozen wings into crispy, sticky, sweet and spicy perfection in about 30 minutes. These hot honey wings are perfect for game day or a easy lunch or dinner.
I’ve made a lot of chicken wings over the years, but these hot honey wings might be my favorite combination yet. The sauce comes together in a small saucepan while the wings cook, so by the time they’re crispy and done, the glaze is ready and waiting.
The sweet and spicy combo is so hard to resist and the sticky glaze clings to these wings perfectly. Love to dunk them in ranch, but then again – I’d dunk just about anything in ranch. 🤣
If you love the sweet and spicy thing happening here, you’ll probably also like our Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Meatballs, which uses the same sauce over chicken…it’s just in a different shape, haha! And if wings are already your go to, these are a nice change of pace from the usual, like our Honey Mustard Chicken Wings or Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings.
If you have a mix of people who like varying levels of spice, this one is a great starting point because it’s easy to add a splash more Tabasco or a pinch of red pepper flakes to heat things up. The recipe has a little kick now, but it’s not overwhelming, in my opinion.
3 Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe
Sweet heat in every bite. The hot honey glaze balances the sweetness with a kick of spice. Makes every bite interesting.
No deep fryer needed. The air fryer gets the skin golden and crispy using the wings’ own fat, so there’s no oil to deal with.
The sauce comes together while the wings cook. A small sauce pan + a whisk is all you need!
Ingredient Notes, Swaps, & Tips:
Frozen chicken wing sections work great here and don’t need to be thawed first.
Olive oil, salt, and pepper are all the wings need before they go into the basket. The seasoning is simple because the sauce is doing most of the flavor work.
Butter is the base for the hot honey sauce and helps everything blend together smoothly.
Honey brings the sweetness. Any kind you have on hand works, though a good quality honey will taste a little richer.
Tabasco gives the sauce its heat. If you want more kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the honey, then strain the sauce before serving to remove them along with the garlic.
How to make Hot Honey Wings:
Toss the frozen wings in a bit of olive oil and season the with salt and pepper.
Air fry the wings in a single layer at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.
Melt the butter with the garlic in a small sauce pan and then stir in the honey, Tabasco, and a pinch of salt. Strain out the garlic.
When the wings are cooked through and crsipy, add them to a bowl and pour the hot honey over the top. Toss the wings in the sauce to coat.
FAQs:
No, these are made from frozen wing sections, so you can go straight from the freezer to the air fryer.
As written, this hot honey sauce is a nice balance of sweet and spicy. It’s not overly hot. Add red pepper flakes along with the honey if you want more heat.
Yes, fresh wings work the same way. You may just want to check for doneness a few minutes earlier since they will cook a little faster. You want the wings to be over 165 degrees F in the center.
That usually means the basket was overcrowded. Cook them in batches if needed so air can circulate around each wing.
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Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Wings
Equipment
Ingredients
For the wings:
- 2 pounds frozen chicken wing sections about 20 wings
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- Green onion for garnish
For the hot honey:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons Tabasco
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
To make the wings:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for about 3-5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken wings with olive oil, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange the seasoned chicken wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they’re not overcrowded. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the wings in batches to ensure even cooking. Do not overcrowd the basket, as this will prevent proper air circulation and crispiness.
- Cook the chicken wings for 30 minutes, flipping them halfway through until they are golden brown, crispy, and cooked through.
- Once the chicken wings are cooked through, transfer them to a large bowl. Pour the hot honey over the wings and toss gently to coat the wings in the sauce. Sprinkle with green onions as a garnish before serving.
To make the hot honey sauce:
- While the chicken is cooking, add the butter and whole peeled cloves of garlic to a small saucepan over medium heat and let the butter melt.
- Once melted, add the honey, Tabasco, and a pinch of salt.
- Bring to a low simmer and cook for about 5 minutes, letting the sauce thicken a bit and the garlic infuse the honey with flavor.
- Use a slotted spoon to fish out the garlic and discard.
- Let the sauce cool as the chicken finishes cooking.
Notes
Nutrition
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