Sweet & Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings! Easy air fryer recipe for beginners!
If you’re looking for an easy, crowd-pleasing recipe that uses basic pantry ingredients, these Sweet & Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings are it. They’re crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and coated in a sticky honey garlic sauce that hits that perfect sweet-savory-spicy balance.
Best part?
They’re made in the air fryer, so no deep frying, no mess, and no stress. This recipe is beginner-friendly, relatively healthy, and perfect as a high-protein snack, a shared plate for family gatherings, or a party favourite that disappears fast.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔ Easy air fryer recipe – perfect for beginners
✔ Uses simple pantry ingredients
✔ Minimal oil, no deep frying
✔ High-protein snack or appetizer
✔ Great for parties, potlucks, or family sharing plates
INGREDIENTS
Chicken wings - 1kg
Garlic - 3 cloves
Pepper - 1/2 tbsp
Salt - 1 tbsp or to taste
Paprika - 1 tbsp
Oil - 1 tbsp
SAUCE
Water - 1/3 cup
Honey - 4 tbsp or to taste
Vinegar - 1/2 tbsp
Chilli Sauce - 4 tbsp or to taste
Soy Sauce - 2 tbsp
Garlic - 4 cloves
Chilli flakes - 1 tbsp or to taste
Oil - 3 tbsp
**Optional/ Fresh chillis to sprinkle on top
COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
PREPARING THE INGREDIENTS
Mince 7 cloves of garlic (3 cloves) for marinating the chicken and another 4 for the sauce.
PREPARING THE CHICKEN WINGS
Firstly, clean and pat dry 1 kg of chicken wings. Then place them in a large mixing bowl. Add the minced garlic (3 cloves), salt (1 tbsp), pepper (1/2 tbsp), paprika (1 tbsp) and cooking oil (1 tbsp). Mix well and set the chicken aside for 10-15 minutes.
Next, lightly spray the air fryer rack with cooking oil. Arrange the wings in a single layer and spray a little more oil on top. Air fry at 180°C for 10 minutes, then flip the wings and cook for another 10 minutes until golden and cooked through. Adjust the cooking time depending on the size of your wings. I’m cooking them in two batches because my air fryer is a bit small.
PREPARING THE SAUCE
While the chicken is cooking, let’s make the sauce. In a small bowl, mix together 1/3 cup of water, 4 tablespoons of honey, 4 tablespoons of chilli sauce, 1/2 tablespoon of vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. It is important that the taste is adjusted to your liking by balancing these ingredients. Stir well and set aside.
Heat 3 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pan and sauté the minced garlic (4 cloves) for 1–2 minutes until fragrant. Add 1 tablespoon of chilli flakes and stir for just a few seconds to avoid burning. Pour in the sauce mixture and stir gently over low-medium heat. Let it simmer until the sauce thickens into a glossy, syrupy texture.
Once the sauce is ready, add in the chicken wings and give them a quick toss to coat evenly. That’s it — easy, delicious sweet and spicy chicken wings that anyone can make! 😋🍗
I hope you enjoy this recipe! For step-by-step instructions, be sure to check out the full video on YouTube - Sweet & Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings! Easy airfryer recipe for beginners!
