Our sticky chicken wings start with simply seasoned wings baked at 375°F, then brushed with three coats of a honey and brown sugar barbecue sauce until they're tender, saucy, and sticky. This easy sticky wings recipe uses store-bought BBQ sauce and a few pantry staples, simmered on the stove while the wings bake, so it's a simple platter to put out for game day and holiday parties.
Recipe at a glance
- Main ingredients: Chicken wings, store-bought BBQ sauce, honey, brown sugar
- Time: 1 hour 15 minutes total, with about an hour in the oven
- Method: Baked at 375°F, then brushed with three coats of sauce
- Best for: Game day, holiday parties, and potlucks
- Servings: 6 appetizer servings, about 5 pieces each
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What's great about this recipe
- Party-ready - One batch fills a platter for game day, holiday gatherings, and potlucks.
- Simple sauce - Store-bought BBQ sauce gets a boost from honey, brown sugar, and a few pantry staples.
- Mostly hands-off - The oven does the work, and you only step in to turn and brush the wings.
Budget check
- The full recipe is about $14 to $17
- Per serving (6 servings): about $2.35 to $2.85
Uses conventional ingredients. Based on recent U.S. averages. Actual prices will vary by store and region. Garnishes not included.
Ingredients you'll need
- Chicken wings - Use drumettes and flats with the wing tips removed. Three pounds is about 32 pieces. If needed, you can buy whole wings and separate them yourself.
- Seasoning - Salt, garlic powder, and black pepper keep the seasoning simple.
- Cooking spray - A light coating keeps the wings from sticking to the pan and rack.
- For the barbecue sauce - Store-bought barbecue sauce, brown sugar, honey, ketchup, yellow mustard, and Worcestershire sauce make a sweet and tangy glaze. Use your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce, such as Sweet Baby Ray's or Kraft.
- You will also need - Two large baking sheets, an oven-safe cooling rack, a saucepan, a pastry brush, and an instant-read thermometer.
📖 See the recipe card for quantities and full instructions.
How to make sticky chicken wings
Bake the wings
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Season the wings with the salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Spray a baking sheet lightly with cooking spray. Arrange the wings in a single layer and bake for 30 minutes.
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- Line a clean baking sheet with a cooling rack and spray the rack lightly with cooking spray. Move the wings to the rack, skin side up, in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes. The rack lets air circulate around the wings.
Make the sauce
- While the wings bake, add the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, honey, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce to a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring often.
- Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, until the sugar dissolves. Stay with the pan, since the sugar can scorch.
- Reduce the heat to low and keep the sauce warm, stirring occasionally.
- Pour about ¾ of the sauce into a bowl for brushing. Set the rest aside for dipping.
Glaze the wings
- Remove the wings from the oven and turn each one so the paler side is up. Brush generously with sauce and bake for 5 minutes.
- Turn the wings again, brush with another thick layer of sauce, and bake for 5 minutes.
- Without turning, brush with sauce one last time and bake for 5 more minutes. The wings should reach at least 165°F inside.
- Arrange the wings on a platter and serve with the reserved sauce on the side. Keep plenty of napkins handy.
Recipe tips and notes
- Use an oven-safe rack. The cooling rack goes in the oven for the last 30 minutes, so make sure it's rated for oven use.
- Turn the paler side up. Flipping before each coat helps both sides get glazed.
- Check the temperature. Chicken is safe at 165°F. Test the thickest piece with an instant-read thermometer, away from the bone.
- Keep the dipping sauce separate. Brush from the bowl, not from the reserved sauce, so the dipping sauce stays clean.
Serving suggestions
Put these wings out with other party favorites like our cold buffalo chicken dip, a simple layered taco dip, and shredded beef sliders. Add some celery sticks on the side.
Storing and reheating
Refrigerator: Let the wings cool, then store in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
Freezer: We don't recommend freezing these once they're sauced.
Reheating: Warm in a single layer in a covered baking dish at 350°F for about 10 to 15 minutes, uncovering for the last few minutes. To microwave, loosely cover and heat in short bursts until hot.
Food safety: Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, or within 1 hour if it's above 90°F. Reheat leftovers to 165°F.
FAQs
Bake the wings first so the outside sets, then brush on the sauce in three generous coats with 5 minutes in the oven between each one. Each layer sets before the next goes on, which builds the sticky glaze.
We bake them at 375°F the whole time. That moderate heat makes them tender and lets the sauce set without burning. The wings are done when the thickest piece reaches at least 165°F.
Hold them at 140°F or above. You can keep them in the oven at 200°F to 250°F, in a chafing dish, on a preheated warming tray, or in a slow cooker set to warm. Use these to keep cooked wings hot, not to reheat cold ones. Wings held at room temperature should be put away within 2 hours.
Use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce. A regular, sweet style like Sweet Baby Ray's or Kraft works well with the honey and brown sugar.
More party wings and appetizers
If you enjoyed this sticky wings recipe, try one of our other party favorites. Our baked buffalo wings are a classic, and mango habanero wings bring a little sweet heat. For more barbecue flavor, make our oven baked barbecue ribs, or browse our easy party appetizers to round out the spread.
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📖 Recipe
Sticky Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Chicken Wings drumettes and flats separated, wing tips removed, about 32 pieces
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- Cooking Spray
For the sticky barbecue sauce
- 1½ cups Plain Barbecue Sauce use your favorite store-bought brand
- ¼ cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ cup Honey
- 2 tablespoons Ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Yellow Mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
Instructions
You will also need: 2 large baking sheets, 1 oven-safe cooling rack, 1 saucepan, 1 pastry brush, 1 instant-read thermometer
Bake the wings
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Season the chicken wings with the salt, garlic powder, and black pepper.
- Spray a baking sheet lightly with cooking spray. Place the wings in a single layer and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the wings from the oven. Line a clean baking sheet with the cooling rack and spray the rack lightly with cooking spray.
- Arrange the wings on the rack in a single layer, skin side up. Bake for 15 minutes.
While the wings continue to cook, make the sauce
- Add the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, honey, ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce to a saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring often.
- Simmer for 3 to 5 minutes, until the sugar dissolves. Stay with the pan, since the sugar can scorch.
- Lower the heat to low and keep the sauce warm, stirring occasionally.
- Pour about ¾ of the sauce into a bowl for brushing, and reserve the rest for dipping.
Coat the wings with the barbecue sauce
- Remove the wings from the oven and turn each one so the paler side is up. Brush generously with sauce and bake for 5 minutes.
- Turn the wings again, brush with a thick layer of sauce, and bake for 5 minutes.
- Without turning, brush with sauce one final time and bake for 5 more minutes, until the wings reach at least 165°F.
- Arrange the wings on a platter and serve with the reserved sauce on the side.
Notes
- BBQ sauce: Use your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce, such as Sweet Baby Ray's or Kraft.
- Serving size: About 5 wing pieces per appetizer serving.
- Cook time: Includes about 5 minutes for turning and brushing the wings between bakes.
- Dipping sauce: Brush from the bowl, not the reserved sauce, so the dipping sauce stays clean.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers for 3 to 4 days. We don't recommend freezing once sauced.
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Nutrition
The nutritional information above is computer generated and is only an estimate. There is no guarantee that it is accurate. This data is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.
Lisa
Wow!! I needed a good wing recipe, and this one hit the spot, easy and deeelish!!
Barb
I am getting ready to make this recipe this week, do you use frozen wings or fresh ones? Thank you in advance
Elizabeth
Hi Barb, I use wings that are defrosted. Whether they were previously frozen or not. Hope that helps.
Barbara Duffel
Thank you so much
Char
I made these wings on a snowy day. Delicious, sticky, sweet and all that! I put parchment on a sheet pan and put a cooling rack over parchment with the wings and baked at 375, turned them over baked another 15 min. Dipped wings in sauce return to oven 5 min more. Turned out great! Thanks for the recipe!
Rikki Drake
If traveling what’s the best way to keep them warm till eaten can you use a crockpot on warm will it ruin them
Elizabeth
Hi Rikki, I've never put them in a crockpot so I can't speak to the results. I would place them in a covered baking dish or large foil tray.
Layla
What do i do if i dont have a cooling rack 😳 do i just bake them again on a tray?
Elizabeth
Hi Layla, if you have more than one tray I would change it out so that they are not sitting in the rendered juices. Then you brush them prepared sauce and continue with the recipe. That should work ok. Good luck, I hope you enjoy them!
Deane Ford
Hi Elizabeth I'm just finishing up my sticky wings now an so far they look great can't wait to taste them . Thank You,
Elizabeth
Hi Deane,
I hope you enjoy them!
Barbara
10stars my family really enjoyed this sauce this is my family go to sauce when ever we need sauce thank you for sharing
Sharnel Govender
Thank you for the recipe, the wings came out amazing. Definitely would keep making these delicious wings again and again 😋❤️
Bonnie
The wings were absolutely amazing but with my oven I had to settle on 400
But my husband and I enjoyed them very much. Thank you for the recipe. God bless.
Elizabeth
Hi Bonnie,
I'm happy to hear that you both enjoyed them. It's my pleasure, thank you!
JOAN
The wings were delicious
Elizabeth
Happy to hear it!
Brenda
We Loved this recipe! I baked the wings in the oven as the recipe calls for. I did add 10-minutes bc the wings I used with Huge! I did add a bit more spices to the “rub.” We used the delicious bbq sauce recipe provided, but without Ketchup (bc I forgot to add it). Super YUMMY! Thanks so much for posting and sharing! 😋
Elizabeth
Hi Brenda,
Thank you for your kind comment. Good tip about cooking larger wings longer. So happy you enjoyed them!
Gloria
Hi Elizabeth.
Thank you for being kind enough to share your authentic recipe with us.
Have always flopped when it comes to making wings,but must admit this time around I nailed it. Feeling proud of myself and thankful for the simple,easy and tasty recipe. Even my picky husband asked for 2nds. Thank you.
Elizabeth
Hi Gloria,
Thank you, I'm so happy that you all enjoyed them!
Graham Gledhill
Do exactly as recipe says and these are absolutely delicious. I did a chicken wing roulette with three wings marinaded in cayenne pepper.
What a hoot
Margaret Connell
The cayenne pepper on three roulette does sound pretty funny! I think I might borrow (steal?) your idea for Superbowl Sunday this weekend 🏈🔥😉
Debbie
This is great recipe. I made it for my family and everyone loved them. I will definitely be making these again.
Elizabeth
Thank you, really glad you enjoyed it!
Lisa
Which bbq sauce you use for this recipe?
I wanna the sauce to taste like it should lol
Elizabeth
Hi Lisa, Use a plain barbecue sauce (not honey, spicy, etc.). Any brand you prefer, I usually buy what's on sale. Hope that helps, good luck!
Donald
Fixed these they were great
Heather Jones
looks great but what are the measurements in grammes? Thank you
Elizabeth
Sorry, don't have those available. Perhaps you can find a conversion table online.
Gladys
I am writing regarding your Asian Sticky wings. I am no a big fan of soy sauce. Can the recipe be cooked w/o the soy sauce. If so what would I use in its place
Elizabeth
Hi Gladys, this recipe uses a sweet barbecue sauce, there is no soy sauce. If you mean Worcestershire sauce, then yes you can leave it out. Thanks for stopping by.
Spike Miligan
Hi Elizabeth, I've been using your sauce as a recipe for the kids during BBQ season and it's been a massive hit.
My technique is to BBQ the wings at 400 Fahrenheit over direct medium heat, with the lid closed, until browned on both sides, 10 to 15 minutes, turning once or twice.
Meanwhile I have a pan of Elizabeth's delicious sauce on the go. When its ready, I transfer to a large bowl and give everything a good mix.
Then another 15 minutes in the grill on an indirect heat. The kids absolutely love it (I make a spicier batch for the adults).
Thanks so much, I have printed this recipe out and filed it away, I will be using it for many years to come
Elizabeth
Hi,
I love grilled wings, that sounds amazing! Thanks for stopping by.
Audrey
I made these delicious wings as a part of a Sunday dinner with a salad and fried rice and they were delicious. The sauce was amazing. Will definitely be making them again
Elizabeth
Hi Audrey,
Thank you, I'm so happy that you enjoyed them!
Michelle Turner
Let me tell you! I was searching for wing recipes and came across this! Tried it out and OH MY GOODNESS!! These little wings are A-MA-ZING!! Little time consuming and messy but oh SO worth it! My family devoured them! Rather than basting the wings, I just dumped them into the bbq sauce in the saucepot....twice! They were juicy, sticky, sweet and just down right delicious! This may become a weekly meal for us!!! YYYYYUUUUUMMMMM!!!!!!!
Elizabeth
Hi Michelle. Thank you so much, I’m really glad you and your family enjoyed them!