Honey Buffalo Wings

Name: Honey Buffalo Wings
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 ½-2 pounds chicken wings; 1 ½ teaspoons salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder; 1 teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika; cooking oil spray; ½ cup buffalo sauce; 3-4 tablespoons honey

These baked Honey Buffalo Wings are a perfectly balanced sweet heat game day appetizer! With a sticky sauce baked to crispy perfection, these honey buffalo chicken wings will become a new favorite.

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Honey buffalo wings on a plate with celery sticks.

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I love love love a good crispy wings appetizer and I love that these wings aren't made in the deep fryer. If I'm out for a casual night and wings are on the menu, they're being ordered! My husband and I also love throwing wings in the air fryer for simple dry rub wings at home.

I'm a blue cheese dressing girl myself but they are mouthwatering good by themselves. I will definitely be serving these up at our next party or Sunday game day alongside buffalo chicken meatballs.

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Why You'll Love this Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
Recipe FAQs
Sarah's Top Tips
Serving Honey Buffalo Wings
Storage & Reheating
More Game Day Recipes
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Why You'll Love this Recipe

Crispy chicken wings. Baked crispy in the oven and tossed with a spicy honey buffalo sauce.
Customize your spice level. The honey buffalo wing sauce can be tailored to your preferred spice level.
Simple recipe. Just 10 minutes of prep time and let the oven do the work for you.

Ingredients

Chicken wings. Use skin-on chicken wings to achieve the perfect crispiness.
Seasonings. Garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper and smoked paprika for the dry rub.
Cooking spray. I use olive oil cooking spray.
Buffalo sauce. I love Primal Kitchen's buffalo sauce but you can use whatever you have or prefer. You can also use sriracha if you want more of a hot honey wings appetizer. Use a milder sauce for less heat or a spicier one for more heat.
Honey. I use raw honey for the natural sweetness and it's a nice contrast to the buffalo sauce.

See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.

Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with foil and top with a wire rack. Pat dry the wings dry with a paper towel. Place them in a bowl and rub the spices all over the chicken until each wing is fully coated.

Step 2

Spray the rack with cooking oil and place the wings in a single layer on top. Bake for 45-60 minutes until they are fully cooked.

Step 3

While the wings are cooking, whisk together the buffalo sauce and honey. Toss the wings in the sauce, serve and enjoy!

Recipe FAQs

Can I make these in the air fryer?

Yes! Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F. Pat the wings dry with a paper towel, then add them to a large bowl—season with the dry rub. Add the wings to the air fryer and cook for 20-25 minutes, checking and flipping halfway through. Remove the wings and toss in the honey buffalo sauce.

How do I know when wings are done?

Chicken is fully cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. You can use a meat thermometer to check or pierce the skin with a knife and see if the juices run clear. If the juices still have a pink hue, they need to be cooked a bit longer.

Can I use frozen wings?

Yes, you can use frozen wings, but make sure to thaw them completely and pat them dry before baking. This helps ensure they bake evenly and get crispy.

Can I make these wings ahead of time?

Yes, you can bake the wings ahead of time and reheat them. Store the cooked wings without sauce in the refrigerator, then reheat in the oven at 375°F for about 10-15 minutes before tossing them in the sauce.

Sarah's Top Tips

Use a wire rack. Adding a wire lets airflow around the entire chicken wing, allowing for an even cook all around and a crispy skin.
Cut the wings. If you can find pre-cut wings, skip this. However, you can't find them in all stores. Use a good pair of kitchen shears or a sharp knife and cut them right at the joint. Find more tips on cutting chicken wings here.
Remove extra moisture. Before you season the chicken, pat the wings down with a paper towel. If the wings are too moist, they can become soggy.
Use a dry rub first. You have to season your chicken! Yes, the honey buffalo sauce is the star but it's enhanced by the dry rub the wings are baked in.
Toss in sauce after baking. This sauce contains honey, which burns easily. Toss the wings in the spicy honey buffalo sauce after cooking to avoid burning.

Serving Honey Buffalo Wings

Throw these wings on a platter with celery sticks, carrots, and your favorite dipping sauces, such as blue cheese sauce, ranch dressing, or sour cream. You could also serve them with a side of coleslaw, potato wedges, or a fresh arugula salad.

Storage & Reheating

Leftover wings can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350 degrees F for about 5 minutes. If you want to reheat leftovers, check out my tips on How to Reheat Wings!