Honey-Glazed Chicken Wings

These quick, easy honey-glazed chicken wings are a home run for a party appetizer or family dinner. Ours is a classic chicken wing recipe: tender, juicy wings coated in a sticky sauce you can’t stop eating.

The trick to making a restaurant-caliber appetizer? Layer up the flavors. This three-ingredient sauce is speedy and straightforward but packs in flavor from smoky barbecue sauce, sweet honey and savory soy sauce. Just toss the wings in the sauce and bake them in a baking dish—you don’t even have to flip them. If you adore extra-crispy wings, you can set a rack on a baking sheet and place the wings on the rack to allow air to circulate around the wings, leading to the most caramelized sauce and crispy edges.

Honey-Glazed Chicken Wing Ingredients

• Chicken wings: You have a few options. You can buy whole chicken wings and cut them yourself or you can buy a pack of party wings already sliced into flats and drums.
• Barbecue sauce: Smoky, sweet barbecue sauce is an easy base for the glaze. Use a quality barbecue sauce brand for the best flavor.
• Honey: Stirring honey into the sauce thickens it, so it adheres nicely to every bit of the wings. The extra sugar also caramelizes in the oven, boosting flavor and color.
• Soy sauce: Soy sauce balances the sweetness and adds umami.

Directions

Step 1: Cut the chicken wings

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Using a sharp knife, slice the chicken into three pieces. Cut through the two wing joints to separate the drumettes from the wingettes. Discard the wing tips. Place the wings in a greased 13×9-inch baking dish.

Editor’s Tip: Instead of discarding the wing tips, save them and pop them in the freezer for the next time you make homemade broth.

Step 2: Make the glaze

In a small bowl, stir together the barbecue sauce, honey and soy sauce.

Step 3: Sauce the wings

Carefully pour the sauce over the wings, turning them to coat.

Editor’s Tip: Reserve a small amount of sauce to brush over the wings after baking.

Step 4: Bake the wings

Bake, uncovered, for 50 to 60 minutes or until the chicken juices run clear when pierced with a knife.

Editor’s Tip: If you saved extra sauce, brush the remaining glaze over the wings, then serve hot.

Honey-Glazed Chicken Wing Variations

• Go gluten-free: Swap tamari sauce for the soy sauce and use a gluten-free barbecue sauce. Voila! You have a tasty gluten-free appetizer!
• Serve with sauce: While not essential, these wings are tasty with a creamy sauce, such as ranch or blue cheese dressing.
• Use drumsticks: Bone-in drumsticks are also delicious baked this way.
• Spice it up: Stir a big pinch of red pepper flakes into the glaze for heat.
• Use another glaze: You can cook chicken wings this way with just about any wing sauce, whether store-bought or homemade.

How to Store Honey-Glazed Chicken Wings

Glazed chicken wings should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator and will last for three to four days.

How should you reheat honey-glazed wings?

In a rush? Reheat honey-glazed wings in the microwave. Set them on a plate and cover them with a paper towel to prevent spatter. Heat in short bursts until hot. Otherwise, we heat leftover wings in the toaster oven or oven. Spread the wings over a baking sheet and bake at 350° until warmed through, about 20 minutes.

Honey-Glazed Chicken Wing Tips

Can you grill honey-glazed wings?

Yes, we love grilled chicken wings, and this honey-glazed chicken wings recipe tastes great from the grill. Grill the unglazed wings on a covered grill over medium heat for 15 to 18 minutes or until the juices run clear. After about 10 minutes, brush the glaze all over the wings and continue to cook. (The glaze will burn if left on too long in the direct heat of the grill.)

Do you need to flip oven-baked wings?

Nope, there’s no need to flip these wings. Because they bake at a relatively low temperature for a long time, the sauce thickens and caramelizes all around the wings, so no turning is necessary.

What else can you serve with honey-glazed wings?

Honey-glazed chicken wings are a popular party appetizer. For a classic presentation, serve them with ranch dressing and celery sticks. The glazed wings are also a delicious dinner. Serve them with a green salad, creamy mashed potatoes, a corn casserole or corn on the cob.