These Sweet Chili Chicken Wings are made with a perfect combination of sticky, sweet. and spicy!
Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these chicken wings are slathered in a homemade sweet chili sauce that literally tastes amazing. I love that these wings are pretty much ideal for any occasion, and they’re easy to make which is great for those super busy days!
You can bake or air fry these crispy wings and then coat them in a sticky, homemade sauce.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- The combination of mild heat and a touch of sweetness creates an incredible sweet/ heat flavor combo.
- These wings can be baked (or air-fried) to crispy perfection without the need for excess oil which I love!
- This Sweet Chili Chicken Wing recipe uses simple ingredients and pretty straightforward steps which makes this a quick and easy wing recipe.w
- You can adjust the heat level to your preference!
FAQ
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF USING BAKING POWDER?
Tossing chicken wings in baking powder before placing them in the air fryer or baking them will help them get crispy, similar to the texture of a fried chicken wing.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF CORNSTARCH?
Cornstarch works similarly to baking powder. It absorbs any moisture from the skin and creates a crispier, crunchier texture. I recommend using both for maximum crispiness.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO COOK THE CHICKEN WINGS?
These wings can be made in the Air Fryer for a shorter cooking time depending on your Air Fryer. They can also be baked in the oven at 400 degrees F, just keep in mind that they may take a little longer to cook (See below for additional cooking methods).
CAN YOU REHEAT YOUR WINGS?
Absolutely! When I reheat my wings, I usually just throw them back in the air fryer set to 350 degrees for about 5-6ish minutes.
CAN I MAKE THESE AHEAD OF TIME?
Yes. If you want to prepare these ahead of time all you’ve got to do is coat them in the oil and seasoning, cover and place in the fridge until you’re ready to air fry them later that day. You can also prepare the sweet chili sauce and place in the fridge until ready.
ALTERNATIVE COOKING METHODS
- Oven-Baked Chicken Wings – Place the wings onto a wired rack, and place the wings into the oven and bake for about 15-17 minutes on each side at 425 degrees F. When done, toss wings into the sauce, let cool just a bit and serve.
- Air Fried Chicken Wings – Select the Air Fry setting and set the temperature to 380°F or 390°F depending on your Air Fryer. Preheat for a couple of minutes. Insert the crisper plate in your air fryer basket (If you have one) and place wings on one layer in the basket to cook for about 20 minutes. After about 10ish minutes flip the wings and continue cooking until crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Toss wings in sauce and serve.
- Deep Fried Chicken Wings –Heat a heavy bottom pot with canola oil about ¾ of the way over medium-high heat. Place the seasoned wings into the oil. Fry the wings for about 10 minutes on one side, then turn and fry for another 10 minutes. Remove from oil and let set, then toss into the sauce and serve. If using this method, no need to coat the wings in canola oil when seasoning.
If you love chicken wings, also check out my Hot Honey Mustard Chicken Wings, Chipotle Mango Jerk Wings, Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings, and Cilantro Lime Chicken Wings
Questions about these Sweet Chili Chicken Wings? Did you make this recipe? Let me know in the comments below! Tag me #chefelizabethreese on Instagram, I’d love to see your creations!
Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
Ingredients
For the Chicken Wings
- 1½ lb Chicken Wings Mixture of flats and drums
- Canola Oil to coat the wings
- ½ Tablespoon Baking Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Cornstarch
- Kosher Salt as needed
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- ⅛ Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
For the Sweet Chili Sauce
- 1 Cup Water
- 1 Cup Granulated Sugar
- ½ Cup Rice Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (Start with ½ Tablespoon if you're not a fan of the heat)
- 1 Tablespoon Paprika (Start with ½ Tablespoon if you're not a fan of the heat)
- 4-5 Cloves Minced Garlic (About 1½ Tablespoons)
- 1 Tablespoon Minced Ginger
For the Cornstarch Slurry
- 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
- 4 Tablespoons Cold Water
Instructions
- Lightly coat the wings in canola oil then season with kosher salt, baking powder, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and cayenne pepper.
- Select the Air Fry setting and set the temperature to 390°F or 400°F depending on your Air Fryer. Preheat for a couple of minutes.
- Insert the crisper plate in your air fryer basket if you’re using one and place wings on one layer in the basket to cook for about 15 minutes.
- While the wings are cooking, prepare your sauce. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add in the water and sugar and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Then add in the rice vinegar, soy sauce, crushed red pepper, paprika, minced garlic, and minced ginger. Simmer for about 5 ish minutes until the garlic is fragrant.
- Once the sauce begins to bubble just a bit pour in your cornstarch slurry (mix the cornstarch and cold water together). Continue stirring until the sauce begins to thicken.Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Flip the wings and continue cooking for another 10 minutes until crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- When the wings are complete, toss them in the sauce. Serve and Enjoy!
Leave a Reply