Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Chicken & Marinade
Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Sauce
BBQ Glaze (for finishing)
For Frying / Baking & Serving
Method
Chicken & Marinade
Prepare wings
Pat the wings dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture helps the skin crisp.
In a large bowl combine kosher salt, black pepper, baking powder, and garlic powder. Add the wings and toss thoroughly to coat each piece. Refrigerate uncovered for 30–60 minutes (or up to 4 hours) to dry the skin and let the coating adhere.
Cooking the wings
Oven method (crispy)
Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top. Lightly oil the rack or sheet. Arrange wings in a single layer with space between them. Bake for 25 minutes, then flip wings and bake another 15–20 minutes until skin is deep golden and crisp and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Sauce
While the wings cook, make the sauce. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Add hot sauce, honey, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, cayenne, Worcestershire, salt, and pepper. Whisk to combine and simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until sugar dissolves and sauce is glossy. Taste and adjust heat or sweetness (add more honey for sweeter, more cayenne for hotter). Keep warm over lowest heat or transfer to a heatproof bowl.
BBQ Glaze (for finishing)
In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, warm the BBQ sauce with honey and apple cider vinegar just until combined and slightly loose (about 30–60 seconds in microwave or 1–2 minutes on stove). Stir to emulsify. This glaze will be brushed on some wings for a sweet BBQ variant.
Saucing & Serving
Place cooked wings in a large clean bowl. Pour about two-thirds of the warm Sweet & Spicy Buffalo Sauce over the wings and toss vigorously until wings are evenly coated. For variety, remove one-third of the wings to a separate bowl and brush with the warmed BBQ Glaze (or toss lightly) to create sweet BBQ-style wings.