Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

5 from 2 votes

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These Honey BBQ Chicken Wings are going to blow you away! They’re sweet and sticky and have just a hint of 🌶️ spice that makes them irresistible. They’re also super easy to make with just a couple of store-bought ingredients. Although you can absolutely make your own homemade barbecue sauce, I am sharing this recipe for anyone who doesn’t have the time to do so. You can buy store-bought hot honey or use a tablespoon from my sensational 🍯 hot honey recipe. You can alternatively make these into mild honey garlic barbecue wings, and I’ve left all my tips for variations in the notes below.

Why You’ll Love Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

These 🍗 wings are a total crowd-pleaser. They’re perfectly sticky and sweet and fall-off-the-bone tender which makes them simply irresistible. Plus, by using your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce you can get this dish on the table during the busy 🗓️ work week. The recipe can be easily doubled or tripled if you’re serving them for a party, or just want a few left over for lunch.

How to Prepare Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

🍗 First, add the wings, oil, salt, pepper, lemon pepper to a large mixing bowl.

🍷 Next, add wine (if using) and then massage the wings with your hands to mix it all together.

❄️ Now, let the wings marinate for at least 30 minutes on the counter or covered overnight in the fridge.

🔥 Next, preheat the barbecue and then oil the grill with a neutral oil, such as avocado oil.

⏲️ Then, place the wings over medium heat and cook for about 30 minutes or until fully cooked (170F on a meat thermometer). Turn the wings over a few times while they cook.

🥣 Next, mix your favourite barbecue sauce with the hot honey in a separate mixing bowl.

🥄 Now, take the wings off the grill and then toss them in the sauce mixture. Sprinkle on some sesame seeds.

🍯 Finally, enjoy with extra hot honey on the side.🧂

Nonna’s Tip

Instead of the barbecue, you can bake these wings in the oven. I like to place them on a wire rack sitting on top of a baking sheet. This technique allows the heat to evenly circulate around the meat for crispy skin. Bake them at 425F (225C) for about 35 to 40 minutes or until golden.

Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

Variations and Substitutions for Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

  1. If you are vegetarian or plant-based you are more than welcome to roast or BBQ cauliflower and make “cauliflower wings” with this recipe.
  2. If you don’t want to barbecue, you can certainly make these wings in the oven. Arrange the wings on a wire rack placed on top of a baking sheet. 🔥 Bake them at 425F (220C) for about 35 to 40 minutes or until crispy and golden.
  3. You can also make these in the air-fryer. Please refer to your air-fryer instruction manual for suggested temperature and cook time as each appliance varies.
  4. If you want to make these into 🍯 honey-garlic 🧄 wings, warm up some honey and garlic on low heat in a pot on the stove and use one tablespoon of this mixture instead of the hot honey.

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Common Questions

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

You can absolutely adapt this recipe to make “Cauliflower Bites”. So delicious!

Can I bake these Honey BBQ Chicken Wings in the oven?

Yes, these can definitely be baked in the oven. I would cook them on a wire rack placed on a baking sheet so the heat circulates around them. Bake them at 425F for about 35 to 40 minutes or until crispy and golden.

Can I make these in the air-fryer?

Yes, these Honey BBQ Chicken Wings can be made in the air-fryer. Check your instruction manual and use its suggested cook time and temperature for best results.

can I omit the rose wine?

The wine in this recipe is optional. Instead, you can add a splash of water or chicken broth to loosen up the marinade.

Do you grill these with the lid open or closed?

I barbecue these Honey BBQ Chicken Wings on medium heat with the lid open and turn them a few times as they cook.

I don’t have sesame seeds! What else can I sprinkle on top?

Thinly sliced green onion or chives would be delicious sprinkled on top of these wings. Or I would even add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for additional heat.

What type of hot honey do you use in this recipe?

I love making my own hot honey recipe. You can check out my simple recipe here. If you’re short on time, you could purchase pre-made Mike’s Hot Honey, which is delicious.

Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

These Honey BBQ Chicken Wings are going to blow you away! These wings are juicy and tender, sweet and sticky, and have just a hint of spice that makes them irresistable.
5 from 2 votes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 2
Author: The Modern Nonna
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 2.5 pounds chicken wings
  • 3 tablespoon avocado oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt , to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon lemon pepper
  • ¼ cup rosé wine , or white wine
  • cup barbecue sauce, use your favorite sauce
  • 1 tablespoon hot honey, store-bought or my recipe
  • sesame seeds, for garnish

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, add the wings, oil, salt and pepper to taste, the lemon pepper, and the wine (if using). Give the wings a nice massage. For best results, let the wings marinate for at least 30 minutes on the counter or covered overnight in the fridge.
  • Preheat the barbecue. Oil the grill with neutral oil, such as avocado oil. Place the wings over medium heat and cook for about 30 minutes or until fully cooked (170F on a meat thermometer). Turn the wings over a few times while they cook.
  • In a separate bowl mix your favourite barbecue sauce with the hot honey.
  • Take the wings off the grill and toss them in the sauce. Sprinkle on some sesame seeds.
  • Enjoy with extra hot honey on the side.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 1006kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 57g, Fat: 70g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g, Monounsaturated Fat: 34g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 236mg, Sodium: 1298mg, Potassium: 625mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 25g, Vitamin A: 561IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 59mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
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Hi! I'm Sneji. Nice to meet you!

I am more commonly known as “The Modern Nonna” on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world – my grandma’s kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my life…

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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