Easy Baked Chicken Wings Recipe with Honey Chili Sauce

If you're a fan of sticky, sweet, and just-spicy-enough chicken wings, these baked chicken wings with Honey Chili Sauce are about to become your new go-to recipe. They're crispy without frying, coated in a simple honey chili sauce, and easy enough to make at home for game day, parties, or even a casual weeknight dinner.

The Secret to Crispy Baked Chicken Wings

Getting crispy chicken wings in the oven is all about a few simple steps. First, patting the wings dry removes excess moisture, which helps the skin crisp up. Baking them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet allows hot air to circulate around the wings, making them golden and crispy on all sides. No breading, no frying!

How long does it take to Bake Chicken Wings

Chicken wings take about 45-50 minutes to bake, flipping them halfway through for even crispness. Cook time can vary depending on the size of your wings and can take up to an hour until crispy and browned.

Ingredients you'll need for the wings:

• Chicken wings (drumettes and flats)
• Baking powder (for extra crispiness)
• Salt and pepper

For the Honey Chili Sauce:

• Hot Sauce. I only make this recipe with the original Frank's Red Hot.
• Melted Butter. Go ahead and use vegan butter if you need dairy-free.
• Honey. Only 1 tablespoon of honey is needed in this recipe. A little sweetness goes a long way!
• Chili Powder. Gives the sauce a delicious smokey flavor.

Tips for the Best Gluten Free Baked Wings

• Pat wings dry for maximum crispiness
• Don't overcrowd the pan
• Toss wings in sauce while hot

Looking for more gluten free recipes for game day? I think you'll love this 3 Ingredient Warm Sausage Dip and these Gluten Free French Dip Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions

How to Make Baked Chicken Wings

Step 1: Prep the Wings
Pat the chicken wings completely dry with paper towels. Toss them with baking powder, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.

Step 2: Bake Until Crispy
Arrange wings on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Bake, flipping halfway through, until the skin is golden brown and crispy.

Step 3: Make the Sauce
While the wings bake, combine honey, chili powder, melted butter and hot sauce in a small bowl.

Step 4: Toss & Finish
Toss the hot wings in the honey chili sauce until fully coated. Return to the oven for a few minutes to let the sauce set.

That final bake helps the sauce cling to the wings without making them soggy.

How to serve your Chicken Wings

Serve your wings as an appetizer or main dish with optional blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.

To serve these wings as a family meal, I normally keep some separate without sauce. This way any picky kids can still enjoy the crispy chicken wings without the sauce because it defintitely has a kick to it!

Don't forget the celery & carrot sticks on the side, or any other veggies you love munching on! If you need some guidance on creating a beautiful display of vegetables for your next game day party, check out this post on how to create the perfect veggie platter.

Make-Ahead & Storage Tips

You can bake the wings ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, reheat in the oven and toss with freshly warmed sauce.

Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days and reheat best in the oven or air fryer.

These wings bring that perfect balance of sweet heat that keeps you reaching for "just one more." And since they're baked, you get all the flavor without dealing with hot oil or a big mess!

Have you tried this recipe? Be sure to leave a comment below, and tag me on Instagram @thrivingglutenfree so I can see how it turned out!

Let's Eat!