Name: Honey Garlic Chicken Wings (Fried & Air Fryer)
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 lb chicken wings; 2 tbsp light soy sauce; 2 tbsp garlic powder; 2 tbsp onion powder; 1 egg; 1 tbsp flour; 1 tbsp cornstarch ((or rice flour for air frying)); 3 tbsp butter; 2 tbsp garlic (minced); 1/2 cup honey; 3 tbsp light soy sauce; 1 cube chicken bouillon (or 1 tbsp chicken bouillon powder); 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tbsp roasted sesame seeds (optional)

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These Honey Garlic Chicken Wings have the perfect combination of savory and sweet. Of crispy fried chicken coated in a delicious sauce made with butter, garlic, honey, and soy sauce. With options to fry the chicken wings in oil or air fry!

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plated easy honey garlic chicken wings with sesame seeds and green onions

Easy Chicken Wings

I love to make chicken wings for chill hangouts and get-togethers because they’re easy, adaptable and perfect for sharing. And this honey garlic version is a crowd favorite!

So if you’re looking for a dish to munch on while bingeing a series, or an appetizer for game nights, then this is definitely for you!

one piece of honey garlic chicken wing held towards the camera above the plate

What are sticky honey garlic chicken wings?

Sticky honey garlic wings are crispy chicken wings coated in a sweet and savory sauce made from ingredients like garlic, soy sauce, and honey. The sauce has a thick, rich glaze that clings to the wings (and your fingers!).

That’s the signature “sticky” part of the dish. It’s mostly thanks to the caramelization of the sugars in the honey when you’re reducing the sauce into a glaze.

Ingredients You’ll Need

(For full ingredient measurements, please proceed to the recipe card below.)

Chicken

Chicken wings
Light soy sauce: Adds saltiness and umami.
Aromatics: Garlic powder and onion powder.
Egg: Acts as a binder that helps the seasonings and coating stick better to the chicken.
Flour
Cornstarch

Honey Garlic Sauce

Butter: Adds richness to the sauce.
Garlic: Brings out the aromatic flavor. You can add more garlic if that’s to your taste.
Honey: Adds sweetness and thickens the texture of the sauce.
Light soy sauce: Balances the sweetness of the honey and gives the sauce a more savory flavor.
Chicken bouillon: The cube ones or the powder. Helps add a more savory depth to the sauce and balances the overall flavor.
Salt
Roasted sesame seeds (optional)

How To Make Easy Sticky Honey Garlic Wings

1. Marinate the chicken:
In a bowl, add chicken and light soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and egg. Mix well and let it marinate for at least 10 minutes before adding flour and cornstarch, then mix well.

marinate honey garlic chicken wings in a bowl

2. Fry the chicken:
Over medium heat, heat up oil for frying. Once hot enough, fry the chicken until golden brown and fully cooked.

frying honey garlic chicken wings in oil in a pan

3. Make the sauce:
In a saucepan, melt butter and add minced garlic over medium low heat. Stir and let the garlic cook for one minute before adding honey, light soy sauce, chicken bouillon and salt. Stir and adjust to taste if needed. Let it simmer on low heat for 2-3 minutes or until the sauce reduces and thickens, then turn off the heat.

4. Toss it together:
Add chicken to a bowl and pour the sauce on top. Add roasted sesame seeds (optional). Toss or mix well so that every piece of chicken is coated.

fried chicken wings resting on a plate lined with a kitchen towel

glazed honey garlic chicken wings plated under the sun rays

5. Serve:
Serve while hot and enjoy!

Air Fryer Chicken Wings

If you want to make chicken wings without deep frying or shallow frying, then you can try this easy air fryer method! However, the difference is that after marinating the chicken, you only need to coat it in cornstarch (or rice flour) as opposed to with a mixture containing flour.

That’s because when air frying, the chicken wings can get gummy if we use flour.

1. Marinate the chicken:
In a bowl, add chicken and light soy sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and egg. Mix well and let it marinate for at least 10 minutes.

2. Air fry the chicken:
Coat each piece of chicken with a light coating of cornstarch (or rice flour) and place in an airfryer basket that’s been oiled. Spray a light coating of oil and air fry for 15 minutes at 375 F. Make sure to shake the basket every 5 minutes. Increase temperature to 400 F and let cook for another 5 minutes or until crispy.

sticky honey garlic chicken wings served on plate with sesame seeds and green onions

How To Serve

Best to serve hot, immediately. I love to top the wings with some sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

Pair the wings with some rice or other sides like:

Notes & Tips For Sticky Honey Garlic Wings

Don’t overcook sauce: Don’t cook the sauce for too long or it will burn. The sauce thickens more after it rests.
Pat chicken dry: Pat the wings dry with a paper towel. This ensures that the wings become crispy.
Make it spicy: Add some red pepper flakes or top the chicken with chili oil.

Storage & Reheating

Store any leftover honey garlic chicken wings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The wings will be less crispy over time because of the sauce.

You can microwave it, but the skin will not be crispy. Reheat in a pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes on each side. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a splash of water to loosen it.

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Honey Garlic Chicken Wings (Fried & Air Fryer)

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Prep Time 25

Cook Time 20

Total Time 45

Course Appetizer, Main Course, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings