Hot Honey Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
Hot Honey Butter Chicken Wings Made in Your Air Fryer Spicy and sweet, these air-fried hot honey chicken wings are hot, spicy, sticky, and tasty! The hot and sweet combination of hot sauce and hot honey is a surefire win for wing fanatics—a perfect favorite way to cook and enjoy chicken wings. The air fryer gives the wings a…
Hot Honey Butter Chicken Wings Made in Your Air Fryer
Spicy and sweet, these air-fried hot honey chicken wings are hot, spicy, sticky, and tasty! The hot and sweet combination of hot sauce and hot honey is a surefire win for wing fanatics—a perfect favorite way to cook and enjoy chicken wings. The air fryer gives the wings a perfectly crispy exterior yet a juicy, tender inside. Hot honey butter chicken wings are great for game day appetizers, potlucks, parties, picnics, and family lunches/dinners.
My recipe is even easier to make and ideal as an appetizer or the main whenever you crave wings. Listen, these hot honey butter chicken wings are too good, and you may easily overindulge.
BEST Hot Honey Chicken Wings with Fewer Calories!
Let’s face it…wings don’t exactly have a reputation for being a healthy dish. But this version lightens things up with healthier oils and flavorful seasonings. Plus, using the air fryer cuts down on the fattiness of frying up wings in a deep fryer, so go ahead and indulge!
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Honey Hot Wings Recipe:
- They’re both hot and sweet – the ultimate flavor combo!
- These are so simple to make; you’ll be eating them in no time!
- You can make them for dinner or any gathering.
- Air-fried wings are healthier (than deep-fried), and with this sauce, they are even more delicious than ever. Also, clean up is easy because you used the air fryer!
- They only take about 20 minutes! Adjust the hot sauce and honey to your preference.
- Customize this recipe to suit your health preference; skip the hot honey butter sauce; it’s really optional.
- This chicken wing recipe is freezer-friendly; double batch this recipe and freeze it for later.
- Hot honey wings are the best way to enjoy hot sauce, cos these are finger-licking good!
Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Wings Ingredients
- Chicken wings (you can also make this recipe with drumsticks or thighs)
- Avocado oil or olive oil
- Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning
- Knorr chicken bouillon powder
- Onion powder (or garlic powder)
- Salt (optional)
- Dry thyme
- Hot sauce
- Black pepper
- Lime
- Fresh or dry parsley (for garnishing)
Hot Honey Butter Sauce
This hot honey butter sauce is so good you’ll keep licking it off your fingers! Here’s what you need to make it:
- Hot sauce (add to your preference)
- Honey
- Butter
- A dash of salt to taste
How to Make Honey Hot Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer (Step-by-Step)
These wings are so good everyone is going to ask you for the recipe. Here’s how to make them!
- Gather all the Ingredients
Start by getting your ingredients all set out and ready to go. I find this makes preparing any recipe so much easier.
- Wash/Clean your Chicken Wings
Next, you’ll wash off the chicken with water and ½ of the lime by squeezing the lime juice directly on the chicken. I wash my chicken, but if you don’t, you can skip this step. Whether you rinse the chicken or not, you WILL want to dry off the wings with paper towels, though, then put them in a big bowl.
- Season the Wings
You’ll add all the seasoning ingredients to the bowl of chicken. It helps to wear disposable gloves so you can really get in there and combine it all over the chicken. Marinate if you would like, or you can get to cooking ASAP.
- Air fry Chicken Wings
Place the seasoned wings in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Plan on doing them in batches because you do not want to overcrowd things there. Set the cooking time to 20 minutes and the temperature to 375F, air fry,
- Turn/Flip Chicken Wings
Check and turn the chicken in intervals, and use your meat thermometer to check that they’ve cooked thoroughly (should be 165F).
- Make the Hot Honey Sauce
While the wings are busy cooking in the air fryer, make the hot honey butter sauce. You’ll combine the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and put it on the stove over low to medium heat, bringing it to a simmer. It only takes about 5 to 6 minutes until it’s ready.
- Toss and Serve
Once your wings are ready, toss them in the hot honey butter sauce and serve. Garnish with parsley!
Recipe Tips for Air Fryer Hot Honey Wings
- Definitely work in batches for your wings. If you overcrowd the air fryer, they won’t cook evenly or get crispy outside.
- Make an extra sauce and use it to dip your wings. It’s SO good!
- If marinating, do so for at least 30 minutes. With this recipe, it is not required to marinate the wings, but it will impart even more delicious flavors.
- Use any other favorite chicken part; chicken drumsticks or thighs would be perfect for this recipe.
- Don’t add too much salt; remember, Slap Ya Mama has sodium.
- Do not overcook the hot honey butter sauce it will become too thick and sticky to use,
- Add the hot sauce, honey, and butter to your preference.
Make Ahead Instructions
If you want to prep these hot honey chicken wings ahead of time, especially when you’ve got a crowd coming, make the wings first. Then you can warm them up in the oven quickly before everyone arrives, cover them all in the sauce, and serve up hot to a happy crowd.
Storage Instructions
These hot honey wings are so good you may not have any left. But if you do, let them cool first, then stow them in an airtight container or plastic zippered bag. In the fridge, you’ll have 4 days to finish them off, while in the freezer, they’ll keep for up to 2 months.
Recipe Variations/Substitutions
- If you’re not a fan of spice, you can make these more mild.
- Or go wild and make them even spicier.
- Try it with maple syrup instead of honey.
- Use chipotle or blackened seasoning instead of Cajun.
- Add cayenne pepper.
Common Questions/FAQs
You should use your favorite kind of hot sauce for these hot honey wings. And to that end, you can use mild, medium, hot, fire, or whatever type of heat you like.
Yes, if you forgot to thaw your wings, you can do that! You will want to cook them for 10 minutes in the air fryer first, then take them out, coat them with the seasonings, and then cook as my recipe instructs.
You can choose a hotter hot sauce, shake in some cayenne pepper, or put on other spicy additions to bring the spice up extra notches.
You can make them in the oven though they’ll take longer. You’ll also want to set it to 425F to get that crispy exterior. I recommend baking for 35 to 45 minutes or whenever they crisp to your preference. When in doubt, use a meat thermometer to ensure your chicken wings are thoroughly cooked.
Sure, you can use chili peppers, though hot sauce really is what makes this recipe so amazing since it coats the wings all over. If forgoing hot sauce, make sure you get the dry seasonings all over the wings for a similar effect.
How to Make This Recipe:
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Hot Honey Chicken Wings in the Air Fryer
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 7–14 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Spicy and sweet, these air fryer hot honey chicken wings are hot, spicy, sticky, and tasty! The hot and sweet combination of hot sauce and hot honey is a surefire win for wing fanatics—a perfect favorite way to cook and enjoy chicken wings. The air fryer gives the wings a perfectly crispy exterior yet a juicy, tender inside. Hot honey butter chicken wings are great for appetizers, potlucks, parties, picnics, and family lunches/dinners.
Ingredients
- 14 whole wings (cut-off tails and cut into drummette and flats, making 28)
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil or Olive oil
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons Slap Ya Mama Cajun seasoning
- 1 teaspoon of knorr chicken Bouillon powder seasoning
- 1 teaspoon onion or garlic powder
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 tipping teaspoon of dry thyme
- 2 teaspoons of hot sauce (add heat according to your preference)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 Lime (cut in 1/2; use half to wash chicken and squeeze half and add to marinate the chicken
For the Hot Honey Butter Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 tablespoon of hot sauce (add to your preference)
- A dash of salt)
Instructions
- Gather all the Ingredients. Start by getting your ingredients all set out and ready to go. I find this makes preparing any recipe so much easier.
- Wash/Clean Your Chicken Wings. Next, you’ll wash off the chicken with water and ½ of the lime by squeezing the lime juice directly on the chicken. I wash my chicken, but if you don’t, you can skip this step. Whether you rinse the chicken or not, you WILL want to dry off the wings with paper towels, though, then put them in a big bowl.
- Season the Wings. You’ll add all the seasoning ingredients to the bowl of chicken. It helps to wear disposable gloves so you can really get in there and combine it all over the chicken. Marinate if you would like, or you can get to cooking ASAP.
- Air fry Chicken Wings. Place the seasoned wings in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Plan on doing them in batches because you do not want to overcrowd things there. Set the cooking time to 20 minutes and the temperature to 375F, air fry,
- Turn/Flip Chicken Wings. Check and turn the chicken in intervals, and use your meat thermometer to check that they’ve cooked thoroughly (should be 165F).
- Make the Hot Honey sauce. While the wings are busy cooking in the air fryer, make the hot honey butter sauce. You’ll combine the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and put it on the stove over low to medium heat, bringing it to a simmer. It only takes about 5 to 6 minutes until it’s ready.
- Toss and Serve. Once your wings are ready, toss them in the hot honey butter sauce and serve. Garnish with parsley!
Notes
Definitely work in batches for your wings. If you overcrowd the air fryer, they won’t cook evenly or get crispy outside.
Make an extra sauce and use it to dip your wings. It’s SO good!
If marinating, do so for at least 30 minutes. With this recipe, it is not required to marinate the wings, but it will impart even more delicious flavors.
Use any other favorite chicken part; chicken drumsticks or thighs would be perfect for this recipe.
Don’t add too much salt; remember, Slap Ya Mama has sodium.
Do not overcook the hot honey butter sauce it will become too thick and sticky to use,
Add the hot sauce, honey, and butter to your preference.
MORE AIR FRYER MEAT RECIPES TO TRY:
BEST Chicken Thighs in the Air Fryer
Air Fryer Steak Bites and Peppers (yum)!
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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! Stay well, safe and keep living your life to the fullest!
Love how easy this recipe is. It’s perfect for our family!
Wonderful! Glad to hear this, Shadi.
So crispy! So flavorful! Yum!
Thank you!
Love this healthier air fryer version of chicken wings! They turned out just as good as if they were deep fried!
Yes, Anjali, Air Fryer is truly the best thing!
Loved the sweet savory combo, even the kids cleared their plates
Hahaha, wonderful news, Justine. Thank you.
Why can’t you make the sauce in a microwave?
You could try; I prefer the stovetop!