Wings — especially homemade chicken wings — are welcome at any party. Especially a hot wings recipe! So, when you walk into a friend’s house or bring out a platter of these hot honey wings at home for your guests, I can guarantee you’ll be treated like a tailgate hero.

A platter of hot honey wings with chili crisp in front of a grill fire

We’re doing a classic wing treatment here, but with an extra boost from my spicy hot honey sauce recipe. Tossing in that flavor at the end makes this so freakin’ delicious! This easy recipe makes a perfect appetizer for your Super Bowl party or a tasty main course. 

Why You’ll Love Hot Honey Wings

Like I said in this recipe for hot honey steak sliders, I love hot honey because it incorporates two of my favorite flavor profiles: spicy and sweet. The spicy sauce is having a moment as a crowd favorite right now, and I’ve been stoked to try it in some of my favorite dishes. It was only a matter of time before I tried it with wings.

For this hot honey chicken wings recipe, we smoke and then fry for extra crispy wings. If you have a different way you’d like to cook delicious wings, give it a shot here! I’ve got lots of different methods in my favorite chicken wing recipes post. Just don’t forget to toss in the hot honey at the end. Also, if you want to make this dish spicier (like I did), you can add in more chili crisp. 

A hand holding a single hot honey wing with chili crisp

If me saying “chili crisp” has you craving more, check out my Chili Oil Steak Pinwheels, Steak and Eggs with Crispy Green Chili Oil and Steak and Chili Oil Eggs.

Hot Honey Wings Ingredients

  • Chicken Wings: We’ll start with chicken wings (obviously), my Big Bad BBQ Ale Rub for seasoning and the frying oil of your preference for the deep frying step.
  • Hot Honey: ​Our sauce ingredients are unsalted butter, local honey, minced garlic, chili crisp and chopped chives. 

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How to Cut Whole Chicken Wings

Depending on the stock at your grocery store, you may be able to find party wings. Party wings already have the drumette and the flat separated, so they’re easy to just get on the grill.

If you can only find whole chicken wings (which are cheaper than party wings), it’s real easy to cut the chicken wings yourself. First, flip the wings over so you can see the joints. You’ll see three parts: the wingette, the flat and the drumette. Then, using a sharp knife, cut the wingette from the flat at the joint. Your knife should do this easily if you cut at the right spot. For your final cut, separate the flat from the drumette.

That’s it! You’re ready for cooking wings! This short video from America’s Test Kitchen also has a great demo.

How to Make Hot Honey Wings

​Get ready for the best crispy hot honey chicken wings you’ve ever tasted. Your taste buds are going to thank you!

Prepping the Wings

First, slather your 2 pounds of chicken wings in a couple tablespoons of canola oil. This will help the seasoning stick. In a bowl, season the chicken thoroughly with my Big Bad BBQ Ale or your favorite BBQ seasoning mix. Once you’ve seasoned the wings with the dry rub, place the chicken in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Seasoning the chicken wings with Big Bad BBQ Rub and placing the flats and drumettes on the smoker

Smoking the Wings

Next, preheat your grill to 250 degrees Fahrenheit for a two-zone indirect cooking. Add some wood chips for more smoke flavor if you’d like. Then, add your chicken wings to the smoker and cook them for about 1-1.5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Once the wings are done, pull them off and keep warm until you’re ready to fry.

Frying the Wings

Now that we’ve smoked the wings, kick up the heat in your grill to 400 degrees F. Place a Dutch oven in the grill and CAREFULLY add your 1 quart of frying oil. Heat that oil up to 350 degrees F.

Then, carefully (seriously!) add the wings to frying oil, cooking in batches as needed. Flip and stir the wings occasionally while you’re frying, which will take 2-3 minutes. 

Adding smoked chicken wings from the grill into the frying oil in a Dutch oven

And Now for the Hot Honey

After your homemade wings have fried, pull them off and place them in a large mixing bowl. If you want, you can drain them on a plate lined with a paper towel before you put them in the bowl.

Now, it’s time to add in all the ingredients for our homemade hot honey sauce! Stir 2 sticks of melted unsalted butter, 2.5 tablespoons local honey, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, 2 tablespoons chili crisp and 1.5 tablespoons chopped chives into the bowl with the hot chicken wings. Toss the wings in the hot honey butter sauce until they’re well coated. 

Chicken wings fried and tossed in a bowl with hot honey butter sauce

When the wings are done, serve them on a plate with ranch or blue cheese dressing. Enjoy!

What to Serve with Hot Honey Wings

Celery sticks, carrot sticks and wings go together like bees and honey (see what I did there?). You could also serve these spicy honey wings with onion rings, my jalapeño poppers, a creamy coleslaw, a simple salad or sweet potato fries.

Make sure to check out all my Best Chicken Wing Recipes here!

For More Chicken Wings

​Leftovers and Reheating

Store leftover wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, use an oven or an air fryer basket to help maintain the crispy texture. Avoid microwaving, as it can result in a soggy finish. 

Hot honey wings piled on a plate in front of a grill fire

FAQs

​How can I change the spice level for the hot honey wings?

If you want less spice, you can reduce the amount of chili crisp. Want more, like I did? Add more chili crisp! 

What are some other ways to use hot honey? 

Hot honey is so much more than a hot wing sauce! I’ve made these recipes with hot honey: Hot Honey Steak Sliders, Hot Honey Salmon Bites, Hot Honey Garlic Beef Jerky Recipe, Hot Honey Garlic Shrimp and Grilled Lobster with Hot Honey Butter. Also, check out my recipe for hot honey butter, which has even more ideas. 

Can I make these crispy chicken wings with a different cut of chicken? 


Sure! You could use drumsticks in this recipe. The frying portion may take a little more time since the drumsticks are bigger than the wings. Keep an eye on them and take them out when they’re golden brown. You can also check out my chicken legs recipe roundup for more ideas. 

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A platter of hot honey wings with chili crisp in front of a grill fire

Hot Honey Wings

Classic wings get a freakin' delicious boost from my hot honey butter sauce, making these hot honey wings perfect for game day or dinner.
Author:Derek Wolf
No ratings yet
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients 

Chicken Wings:

  • 2 lbs of Chicken Wings
  • 1 cup Big Bad BBQ Ale Rub
  • Canola Oil as needed
  • 1 qt Frying Oil peanut or vegetable

Hot Honey:

  • 2 sticks Unsalted Butter melted
  • 2.5 tbsp Local Honey
  • 2 tbsp Minced Garlic
  • 2 tbsp Chili Crisp
  • 1.5 tbsp Chopped Chives

Instructions 

  • Slather your chicken wings in oil. In a bowl, season the chicken thoroughly with my Big Bad BBQ Ale and your favorite bbq rub. Set chicken in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat your grill to 250F for a two zone indirect cooking. Add some wood chips for added smoke flavor if desired.
  • Add your chicken wings to the smoker and cook for about 1-1.5 hours or until 165F internal. Once the wings are done, pull them off and keep warm until ready to use.
  • Next, kick up the heat in your grill to 400F. Add a dutch oven to it and *carefully* add your frying oil heating up to 350F. Carefully add wings to frying oil (cooking in batches as needed) and cook for 2-3 minutes. Flip and stir occasionally.
  • After they have fried for the first time, pull them off and add to a large bowl. Add all the ingredients for the Hot Honey Butter to the bowl and toss the wings until well coated.
  • When the wings are done, place them on a plate with ranch or blue cheese. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

How to Cut Whole Chicken Wings
Depending on the stock at your grocery store, you may be able to find party wings. Party wings already have the drumette and the flat separated, so they’re easy to just get on the grill. If you can only find whole chicken wings (which are cheaper than party wings), it’s real easy to cut the chicken wings yourself. First, flip the wings over so you can see the joints. You’ll see three parts: the wingette, the flat and the drumette. Then, using a sharp knife, cut the wingette from the flat at the joint. Your knife should do this easily if you cut at the right spot. For your final cut, separate the flat from the drumette. That’s it! You’re ready for cooking wings! This short video from America’s Test Kitchen also has a great demo.

Nutrition

Calories: 3060kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 314g | Saturated Fat: 74g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 143g | Monounsaturated Fat: 79g | Trans Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 216mg | Sodium: 113mg | Potassium: 635mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 3203IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 627mg | Iron: 22mg

Derek Wolf

Derek is the driving force behind Over the Fire Cooking. He started cooking with live fire in 2016 and decided to start a social media page so his friends and family could follow the journey. Fast forward to today and Over the Fire Cooking has spread across multiple platforms with millions now following Derek's fire cooking journey. He's a southern fellow who enjoys everything from classic BBQ to Central and South American inspired dishes. Whatever he's cooking up, it's guaranteed to be so freakin' delicious!

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