Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

These Honey Glazed Chicken Wings are marinated in a sweet orange juice marinade and grilled to perfection, giving them a smoky depth of flavor. Tossed in a honey almond sauce, they get a subtle crunch from minced almonds, creating a texture that beautifully complements the sticky sweetness. While these wings can be baked or air-fried, grilling truly brings out their best, making them irresistible.

📝 Ingredients

• 3 pounds chicken wings (or drumettes), tips removed
• 1 tablespoon of kosher salt
• Pepper to taste
• zest of 1 whole orange
• 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice (from about 1 orange)
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon of coarse salt for grilling (if you are sensitive to salt, feel free to use less)
• 1/2 cup cilantro leaves
• 1/2 cup almonds
• zest of 1 whole orange
• 2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 1 tablespoons rice vinegar
• Red pepper flakes (to taste)
• pinch of salt

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Grilling Instructions ---
2. 2Season the wings with the salt and pepper, and set them aside.
3. 3Mix the olive oil, garlic, orange juice and zest.
4. 4Add the wings to a ziplock bag and pour the marinade in. Give them a shake in the bag to make sure the marinade coats the wings nicely.
5. 5Let the wings marinate on the counter for 30 minutes.
6. 6While the chicken is marinating, make the sauce.
7. 7Add the cilantro, and almonds to a blender or food processor and pulse a few times (just enough to crack the almonds, and roughly chop the cilantro). When they’re nicely minced, add the orange zest, orange juice, olive oil, salt, honey, rice vinegar, red pepper flakes and pulse just enough to mix all the ingredients.
8. 8Transfer to a container, and let it sit room temperature until you’re ready to use it.
9. 9When the chicken is done marinating, heat up the grill to 350F
10. 10Remove the wings from the marinade after 30 minutes, place them into a bowl, and pat them dry with a paper towel.
11. 11Season them with the coarse barbecue salt then mix them well to combine.
12. 12Arrange the wings on the grill and grill until the wings are start to get crispy - about 10-15 minutes, depending on your grill.
13. 13Start over indirect heat, so they cook gently, then move the wings around over flame so they can get a nice color.
14. 14Flip the wings to let them finish cooking on the other side - another 10 minutes, roughly.
15. 15When the wings are cooked and crispy, remove them from the grill and place them in a large bowl while still hot.
16. 16Pour as much of the sauce over the wings as you’d like and toss to coat.
17. 17--- Air Frying Instructions ---
18. 18Season the wings with salt and pepper and set them aside.
19. 19Make the marinade. Mix the olive oil, garlic, orange juice and zest. Add the wings to a ziplock bag and pour the marinade in. Give them a shake in the bag to make sure the marinade coats the wings nicely.
20. 20Let them marinate on the counter for 30 minutes.
21. 21While the wings are marinating, make the sauce. Add the cilantro, and almonds to a blender or food processor and pulse a few times (just enough to crack the almonds, and roughly chop the cilantro). When they’re nicely minced, add the orange zest, orange juice, olive oil, salt, honey, rice vinegar, red pepper flakes and pulse just enough to mix all the ingredients.
22. 22Transfer the sauce to a container, and let it sit room temperature until you’re ready to use it.
23. 23Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/200°C.
24. 24Remove the wings from the marinade after 30 minutes, place them into a bowl, and pat them dry with a paper towel.
25. 25Season them with the coarse barbecue salt then mix them well to combine.
26. 26Arrange the wings on the air fryer basket, leaving some space in between them so air circulates and they get crispy. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to do this in batches.
27. 27Air fry them about 20 minutes, giving them a shake halfway.
28. 28When the wings are cooked and crispy, remove them from the air fryer and place them in a large bowl while still hot.
29. 29Pour as much of the sauce over the wings as you’d like and toss to coat.
30. 30--- Oven Instructions ---
31. 31Season the wings with salt and pepper and set them aside.
32. 32Make the marinade. Mix the olive oil, garlic, orange juice and zest. Add the wings to a ziplock bag and pour the marinade in. Give them a shake in the bag to make sure the marinade coats the wings nicely.
33. 33Let them marinate on the counter for 30 minutes.
34. 34In the meantime, position the oven rack in the center of the oven, then preheat the oven to 450°F/230°C.
35. 35Then, line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil, or parchment paper, then place a cooling rack on top.
36. 36Make the sauce. Add the cilantro, and almonds to a blender or food processor and pulse a few times (just enough to crack the almonds, and roughly chop the cilantro). When they’re nicely minced, add the orange zest, orange juice, olive oil, salt, honey, rice vinegar, red pepper flakes and pulse just enough to mix all the ingredients.
37. 37Transfer the sauce to a container, and let it sit room temperature until you’re ready to use it.
38. 38Remove the wings from the marinade after 30 minutes, place them into a bowl, and pat them dry with a paper towel.
39. 39Season them with the coarse barbecue salt then mix them well to combine.
40. 40Arrange the wings on the wire cooling rack, leaving some space in between them so air circulates and helps them become crispy.
41. 41Bake the 30-45 minutes, flipping them halfway through.
42. 42When the wings are cooked and crispy, remove them from the oven and place them in a large bowl while still hot.
43. 43Pour as much of the sauce over the wings as you’d like and toss to coat.