These Crispy Hot Honey Chicken Wings are everything you want in a wing: perfectly seasoned, air-fried until golden and crackly, then tossed in Honey House Hot Honey for a glaze that's sweet, spicy, and sticky in all the right ways.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Honey House Hot Honey does all the work as the glaze, no extra spices or sauces to mix together
- The air fryer gets the skin genuinely crispy without any deep frying
- Ready in about 35 minutes, making these perfect for a quick game-day snack or weeknight dinner
- Simple pantry seasonings mean you probably already have everything you need
- Endlessly dippable and great for feeding a crowd
- Easy to make ahead by seasoning the wings early and air frying right before serving
Ingredients
For the Wings
- 2.5 lbs chicken wings
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)
For the Hot Honey Glaze
- 1/2 cup Honey House Hot Honey
Equipment
- Air fryer (or oven and wire rack)
- Mixing bowl
- Large bowl (for tossing)
- Tongs
Pro Tips
- Pat the Wings Dry First: Removing excess moisture with a paper towel before seasoning helps the skin crisp up much better in the air fryer.
- Give Them Room to Crisp: Arrange the wings in a single layer with space between them, cooking in batches if needed. Crowding the basket leads to steaming instead of crisping.
- Use Room-Temperature Honey: Raw honey pours and coats easily straight from the jar, so there's no need to heat it. The hot wings warm it right up as soon as they're tossed together.
- Toss While the Wings Are Hot: Tossing the wings in the honey right out of the air fryer helps the glaze cling to every piece and coat evenly.
- Adjust the Heat to Taste: The cayenne pepper is optional, so feel free to leave it out for a milder wing or add a little extra if you like things spicier.
Instructions
- Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels. In a mixing bowl, combine the wings, olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne (if using). Toss until evenly coated.
- Arrange the wings in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if they don't all fit at once.
- Air fry at 380°F (193°C) for 25 minutes, tossing halfway through, until golden and crispy. (Oven alternative: bake on a wire rack at 425°F/220°C for 40-45 minutes, until golden and cooked through.)
- Add the Honey House Hot Honey to a large bowl. Add the hot, crispy wings directly to the honey and toss until fully coated.
- Serve immediately.
Storage Tips
- Store leftover wings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
- Reheat in the air fryer or oven to re-crisp the skin; the microwave will make them soggy
- Store any extra hot honey glaze at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a month
Recipe Notes
These wings keep things simple: a well-seasoned base gets air-fried until the skin is shatteringly crisp, then everything gets tossed straight in hot honey for a glaze that's sweet first, with a slow build of heat right behind it. There's nothing hiding the honey flavor here, which is exactly the point.
We love using Honey House Hot Honey for this glaze because the sweet and spicy balance is already built in. It's 100% raw and American-sourced, so you get real honey flavor with real heat, not an artificial pepper bite layered on top. It turns a handful of pantry staples into wings worth making again and again.
Perfect Pairings
These wings are made for sharing. Serve with:
- Cool ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping
- Crisp celery and carrot sticks
- A cold, hoppy beer or a fizzy ginger ale
- A tangy coleslaw on the side
- Warm cornbread to round out the meal
Variation Ideas
While the classic hot honey glaze is divine, feel free to get creative with these alternative options:
Honey House Recommendations
- Try Honey House Clover Honey for a milder, floral glaze if you want to dial back the heat
- Use Honey House Alfalfa Honey for a light, delicate sweetness
- Swap in Honey House Creamed Honey for a thicker glaze that clings extra well to crispy skin
Other Great Options
- Bake the wings in the oven on a wire rack instead of using the air fryer
- Add a little lime zest to the glaze for a bright, citrusy note
- Swap the paprika for smoked paprika for a deeper, more savory flavor
- Sprinkle sesame seeds and sliced scallions over the finished wings for an Asian-inspired twist
- Serve the wings over steamed rice with extra glaze drizzled on top for a full meal
- Stir a splash of your favorite hot sauce into the glaze for even more heat
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: about 35 minutes
- Course: Appetizer / Main Dish
- Cuisine: American
- Servings: 4
- Difficulty: Easy
