Hot wings are a great contemporary snack, first course, or even a main entrée. If you’ve ever gone to a restaurant that served spicy hot wings that were “finger-lickin’ good,” you probably wondered how to make the wings yourself. The trick is to find a great recipe that makes your taste buds burst with flavor.
Hot wings are also economical and easier on your budget than chicken breasts. In fact, if you look carefully at the grocery store, you can sometimes find chicken wings with a generous amount of breast meat. Buying breast quarters and cutting off the wings yourself is more cost-effective than purchasing wings by themselves.
When considering how to make chicken wings for your next meal, there’s a wide range of cooking methods and flavors to explore, including baking, deep frying, pan frying, barbecuing, broiling, braising, rotisserie, and broasting. Sauces and glazes can significantly enhance the flavor of the chicken, giving each recipe a distinct twist.
Here are two versions of hot wings that you and your guests will definitely ask for the recipes:
ZIPPY & ZESTY GRILLED HOT WINGS
- 3 to 4 pounds chicken wings
- Large bottle of zesty Italian salad dressing
- 1 lemon
- Salt and ground black pepper
Rinse the chicken wings and pat them dry with a paper towel. Place them in a large mixing bowl.
Squeeze the juice from half of the lemon into a small bowl and mix with the Italian dressing. Ensure the lemon juice blends well with the salad dressing and pour it over the chicken wings. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator for about two hours.
Preheat the grill to medium-high. Place the chicken directly over the fire. Pour the marinade into a small container and use it to baste the wings every five minutes for the first 15 minutes. Discard the sauce after this time.
Continue grilling, turning frequently, until the wings are nicely browned and crispy, about 20 minutes.
Remove the wings from the grill and place them on a large serving platter. Garnish with sprigs of parsley and fresh lemon wedges.
This dish pairs wonderfully with a vegetable platter and baked or fried sweet potatoes.
HONEYED ASIAN SESAME HOT WINGS
Serves 8. Total cooking time: 45 minutes.
2 lbs chicken wings
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
3 teaspoons extra cornstarch
1 tablespoon chicken broth (may use canned)
3 tablespoons sesame oil
3 tablespoons honey
4 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Rinse the chicken wings and pat them dry. Dust with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, seasoned with salt and pepper. Blend the extra cornstarch with chicken broth until smooth.
Heat oil in a large skillet until very hot. Add the chicken wings and cook until golden brown and crispy, turning as needed. Cover the skillet with a lid and cook for another 10 minutes.
Remove the chicken wings from the skillet and place them on a platter. Stir the blended cornstarch into the remaining oil in the skillet, cooking until slightly thickened. Stir in honey and heat again, mixing well.
Remove from heat and pour the sauce over the chicken wings. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top. Garnish with sprigs of mint and orange slices.
Serve with steamed brown rice, jasmine rice, or rice pilaf, and a big mixed green salad with candied walnuts or pecans.
