These Honey BBQ Wings are sweet, sticky, and easy to make in the air fryer, with crisp edges and a glossy honey barbecue sauce in every bite.

Honey BBQ Wings on a plate

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Holly’s Recipe Highlights

  • Flavor: Sweet, smoky, and sticky with tangy barbecue sauce and a glossy honey glaze.
  • Why Make It: A short ingredient list and the air fryer make these wings easy to prep, easier to clean up, and full of sticky caramelized flavor without deep frying.
  • Recommended Tools: Air fryer, large bowl, tongs, and a small bowl for mixing the sauce.
  • Serving Suggestions: Serve with ranch or blue cheese for dipping and a side of crunchy celery or slaw to balance the sweet, sticky sauce.
ingredients to make Honey BBQ Wings with labels

Ingredient Notes

  • Wings: For best results, use split chicken wings, or cut whole wings at the joints so they cook more evenly.
  • Sauce: Honey gives the sauce its sticky, glossy finish, while the barbecue sauce adds most of the smoky, sweet, or tangy flavor. Use a barbecue sauce you already love, since each one changes the final taste a little.
  • Variations:
    • Use a smoky barbecue sauce for a deeper, grill-style flavor.
    • Add sriracha or swap the honey with hot honey for spicy Honey BBQ Wings.
    • For larger batches, try this oven version to feed a crowd.
adding bbq sauce and honey together to make sauce for Honey BBQ Wings
adding honey bbq sauce to wings to make Honey BBQ Wings
Honey BBQ Wings in the air fryer

How to Make Honey BBQ Wings

  1. Preheat the air fryer. Season the wings and cook in a single layer until crisp.
  2. Mix the honey and barbecue sauce (full recipe below).
  3. Toss the wings in the sauce, return them to the air fryer, and cook until sticky and caramelized.

Let them rest for a few minutes before serving since the sauce will be very hot.

Best Wing Tips

  • For Crispy Wings: Pat the wings very dry before seasoning so they crisp instead of steam.
  • Perfect Sauce: Sauce the wings near the end so the honey does not scorch too early.
  • Crispier Oven Wings: Use the baking powder and chill them uncovered before baking.
  • To Re-Crisp: Add all finished batches together for 2 to 3 minutes before serving so they hit the table hot at the same time.
  • Use Parchment: Line the baking pan or air fryer with parchment paper after saucing for easy cleanup.
    • Never preheat the air fryer with loose parchment inside since it can blow around and burn (the wings will hold it in place).
crispy Honey BBQ Wings cooked in the air fryer

Save Every Sticky Bite

Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, and in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Thaw in the refrigerator. Reheat in the air fryer at 375°F to 400°F for a few minutes to warm the skin and make it sticky again. The oven also works well on a parchment-lined pan.

Chicken Wing Favorites

Did you enjoy this Honey BBQ Wings Recipe? Leave a comment and rating below.

image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text
close up of honey bbq wings
5 from 23 votes
Author Holly Nilsson

Honey BBQ Wings

Author Holly Nilsson
Servings 4
These honey BBQ wings are air-fried until crisp, then coated in a sticky sweet-smoky glaze. They are fast, easy, and made for sharing.
Save Rate Print
Servings 4
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
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Equipment

Ingredients  

  • 2 pounds chicken wings
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup honey
  • ¼ cup barbecue sauce

Instructions 

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
  • Toss the chicken wings with olive oil, salt, and pepper. And place in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook for 15 minutes.
  • While the wings are cooking, mix the honey and the bbq sauce in a small bowl.
  • After 15 minutes, remove the wings from the air fryer and toss them with the sauce.
  • I recommend lining the air fryer basket with parchment paper when adding the sauced wings. Place the wings back in the air fryer basket and cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Let rest a few minutes before serving (the sauce will be very hot right after cooking).

Notes

For Oven Baked Wings
  1. Toss the wings with 1 tablespoon flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder and seasonings. Refrigerate 30 minutes (or up to 4 hours) uncovered.
  2. Toss the wings with olive oil and place on rack that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Cook in a 425°F oven for 20 minutes, flip and bake an additional 15 minutes. 
  3. Toss with sauce and broil for a few minutes to crisp.
  • Optional additions to the BBQ sauce: garlic, sriracha, fresh ginger, or hot pepper flakes
  • If using an air fryer, cook in a single layer and do not overcrowd the air fryer.
  • Cook in batches if needed. All batches can be reheated in the air fryer at 400°F for 2 to 3 minutes before serving.
  • Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and in the freezer for 2 months. 
5 from 23 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 398 | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 274mg | Potassium: 244mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 220IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Air Fryer, Appetizer, Chicken
Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

plate of air fryer Honey BBQ Wings with a title
air fryer Honey BBQ Wings in the fryer and plated with a title
Honey BBQ Wings in the fryer with writing
sweet and sticky Honey BBQ Wings with writing

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About the author

Holly Nilsson is the creator of Spend With Pennies, where she creates easy, comforting recipes made for real life. She is also the author of “Everyday Comfort,” which promises to inspire even more hearty, home-cooked meals.
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5 from 23 votes (21 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. I’ve been trying to decide whether I want an air fryer or not. All the reviews keep mentioning frozen pizza and chicken tenders, things I don’t tend to eat. Now, looking at your recipes, I think that I’ve made up my mind about getting one. Now to pick which one….

    Reply

  3. A very easy recipe and so tasty. I adjusted the time because my wings were on the small size. I really enjoyed this and will make again! Thanks, Holly!5 stars

    Reply

  4. We love your recipes…BUT,,,you harp on this air fryer thing. We don’t have one..we’re in Europe and here they’ve never heard of it. How can we do your recipes WITHOUT that thing?

    Reply

    1. While I do love my air fryer, the instructions for cooking without an air fryer are included in the notes of the recipe. Enjoy!

      Reply

  5. If you want crispier wings when baking or air frying, toss them with some baking powder, NOT baking soda, before baking them, about 1 TBSP per pound of wings, and let them air dry, uncovered, on a baking rack in the fridge overnight. Cook them unsauced, then toss them with sauce for the last few minutes if you want.

    Reply