The Best Honey Garlic Wings | Heath Riles BBQ

March 23, 2022

Get your plate ready; it’s wing night! These sweet and spicy wings are seasoned with my Honey Chipotle Rub and smothered in a decadent sauce. My Honey Garlic Wings will be your new favorite appetizer for game day, boy's night, and  just because.

This wing recipe stands out from the pack due to some savvy grillwork. Many hot wings are taken off the grill, sauced, and served. Putting the wings back on the grill to let the sauce caramelize makes all the difference. Don’t just take my word for it. Try this recipe for yourself. You won’t be sorry!

My Honey Garlic Wings are a fun change of pace from the usual buffalo-style fare. The honey sauce is spicy with a hint of garlic on the back end. You won’t believe how easy it is to grill wings using my foolproof method. You’ll never go back to using your oven. 

The Ingredients

With a few simple ingredients, you’ll be able to make the tastiest wings in the BBQ circuit. You won’t use the entire bottle of Honey Chipotle Rub, so save the remainder for another delicious recipe. Here’s what you need to add to your shopping cart. 

• Honey Chipotle Rub. My Honey Chipotle Rub is a balanced blend of sweetness, smoke, and spice. I love using this rub for chicken wings because it gives the skin a beautiful golden color. This rub is fantastic on ribs as well. 
• Chicken wings. This recipe makes 10 whole chicken wings. I try to choose larger wings that have more bite to them. Wings tend to shrink a little on the grill, so the bigger, the better.  
• Mike’s Hot Honey. This honey is the best stuff on the market. It’s sweet with just the right amount of spice. This is a critical ingredient in my honey garlic sauce, taking it to a new level. 
• Ginger. Fresh ginger gives these wings a little zing. Ginger pairs well with hot honey and brings out the garlic flavor. I finely dice my ginger, so every bite has the perfect amount.
• Cornstarch. Homemade sauces need a thickener since they don’t have built-in preservatives. Cornstarch creates an excellent slurry that’s not too thick. Plus, the cornstarch helps the chicken skin get extra crispy. 
• Garlic. Garlic powder has its place, but nothing beats the real deal. When placed on the grill, the garlic permeates the meat, making it flavorful from the inside out. 
• Soy sauce. This ingredient brings out the flavor of any meat, making it a popular addition to homemade sauces. I left out additional salt since the soy sauce has enough. You’ll love the exotic twist it gives your BBQ. 

The Grill Setup

The Process for Making Honey Garlic Wings

You can find in-depth instructions for this recipe in the video and recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here’s a brief overview of how I pulled this recipe together. 

The Results

The char on my Honey Garlic Wings gave them the perfect texture. Putting the wings back on the grill created a sticky, caramelized sauce. The wings were juicy and satisfyingly crisp. 

Serving Suggestions for Honey Garlic Wings

Here are my favorite sides that go great with a plate of wings. If you’re feeling adventurous, make them all for one fantastic spread. 

Storing Honey Garlic Wings

If you have any leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for 3-4 days. 

Equipment and Tools

Goldens’ Cast Iron , Royal Oak Charcoal, cooking tray, glass bowl, instant-read meat thermometer, insulated gloves for handling meat  

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