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When I’m looking for the ultimate, crave-worthy, salty-sweet chicken wings – I always reach for this simple Honey Garlic Wings recipe. If you love the flavor of garlic butter and like a lightly sweet kick, this is going to be your go-to chicken wings recipe, too!
Don’t want all the extras in a recipe post? We provide a skip to recipe button in the top left corner, as well as a clickable table of contents, just below, to help make this page easier to navigate.
At Sweet C’s, I add lots of tips in all of my recipes – because I am a home cook without any formal training, and I find I am more confident making dishes when I understand why it works, and what each ingredient means to the flavor of a recipe. My goal is for even the most beginner home cook to feel empowered in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
How to Make Honey Garlic Wings
These wings come together quickly, with little prep – just a quick marinade.
Air Fryer Honey Garlic Wings Ingredients
To make this recipe we will need the following ingredients:
- Chicken Wings: meaty, tender, and perfect for crisping; they serve as the hearty base of the dish
- Olive Oil: lightly coats the wings to help seasonings stick and aids in crisping during baking or air frying
- Garlic Powder: adds savory depth and a mild roasted garlic flavor to the wing coating
- Coarse Salt: enhances flavor and helps draw moisture from the skin for better crisping
- Ground Pepper: adds subtle heat and sharpness
- Cornstarch: creates a crisp outer layer when baked or air fried, giving wings a fried-like texture
- Cooking Spray: helps brown and crisp the exterior while preventing sticking
- Butter: adds richness and helps carry the garlic flavor in the sauce
- Fresh garlic (4 cloves): provides bold, aromatic flavor and a signature garlicky bite
- Honey: adds natural sweetness and creates a sticky, glossy coating
- Soy Sauce: brings savory umami and balances the sweetness of the honey
- Fresh Parsley: adds a pop of color and freshness to finish the dish
Air Fried Honey Garlic Wings Method
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, we will use the following process:
Marinate & Cut Pieces
Marinate chicken (optional) up to a night before. Cut wings into 3 pieces if you have whole intact wings.
Pat Dry
Pat dry any excess liquid – this will help the chicken crisp.
Air Fry
Air fry, using the highest heat possible for the best results.
Make Sauce
Heat sauce and reduce to thicken.
Cook to Crisp
When chicken is crunchy on the outside and over 165 degrees in the middle, remove from air fryer and place into large bowl.
Toss in Sauce
Drizzle sauce over chicken wings in bowl, and toss well to coat wings in sauce. Add green onions and sesame seeds for garnish, if desired.
Tips and Tricks to Perfect Honey Garlic Wings
Pat Wings Dry for Max Crispiness: Use paper towels to thoroughly dry the wings before seasoning. Removing surface moisture is key to achieving golden, crispy skin in the air fryer.
Use Cornstarch for Crunch: Tossing the wings in cornstarch creates a light, crisp coating that mimics deep frying. Don’t skip it — it’s the secret to that irresistible crunch.
Don’t Crowd the Basket: Air circulation is what makes air fryer wings crispy. Cook in a single layer with a bit of space between each piece. If needed, cook in batches.
Flip Halfway Through: Turn the wings over halfway through cooking to ensure even browning and crisping on all sides.
Preheat the Air Fryer: Just like an oven, a preheated air fryer helps the wings start crisping the second they hit the basket.
Make the Sauce Separately: Cook the honey garlic sauce in a pan while the wings air fry. That way it’s thick, glossy, and ready to coat right when the wings are done.
Toss in Sauce Just Before Serving: For best texture, toss the crispy wings in the sauce only right before serving. This keeps the skin from getting soggy.
Garnish with Fresh Parsley for Brightness: A sprinkle of parsley adds color and a touch of freshness that balances the sweet and savory glaze.
Optional Pro Tip: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce to the honey garlic sauce for a subtle kick!
FAQs
What to Serve With Honey Garlic Wings
Honey Garlic Wings
Ingredients
Wings
- 2 pounds Chicken Wings, flats and drumettes separated
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon coarse Salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground Pepper
- 3 tablespoons Cornstarch
- Cooking Spray
Instructions
- Wings
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Blot Chicken Wings dry with a paper towel. Separate the chicken wing flats and drumettes at the joint with a sharp knife.
- In a large bowl, mix together the Oil, Garlic Powder, Salt, and Pepper, and stir. Place wings in bowl and toss with spice mixture until coated. Sprinkle Cornstarch over Wings and toss to thoroughly coat.
- Spray air fryer basket with non-stick spray, and place the seasoned Chicken Wings in the basket, skin side down, Wings not touching. Generously spray the tops of the wings.
- Close the air fryer and bake Wings for 10 minutes. Flip the Wings and spray with non-stick spray, and cook for another 8 minutes, until they appear golden brown (should reach 185°F internal temperature).
- Honey Sauce
- While Wings are cooking, mince Garlic and chop Parsley. Set aside. In a medium size pan, add Butter and melt on medium heat. Add minced Garlic and sauté
- for about 1 minute.
- Add in Honey and Soy Sauce and stir while it simmers, for about 3 minutes. Sauce will thicken. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Remove Wings from air fryer when done, and add to Honey Sauce, and toss cooked wings to coat. Remove to serving plate or tray.
- Garnish with chopped Parsley, chopped green onion, or your favorite garnish. Serve with ranch Dressing to dip, or your favorite sauce, along with your favorite sides and snacks.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
