Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
Sweet Chili Chicken Wings are a little sweet, a little spicy. Baked chicken wings are tossed in a delectable, sticky sweet chili sauce.
Chicken wings. They are always a hit. Whether they are sauced, or dry. Fried or baked, chances are they will be a favorite no matter them who you serve them too.
When it comes to wing sauce, classic chicken wings are sauced with a buffalo style sauce. It’s a little tangy and spicy. This Sweet Chili Chicken recipe has the heat you expect from wings but also a touch of sweetness thanks to Sweet Thai Chili Sauce.
What is Sweet Thai Chili Sauce?
It is a sauce that is commonly made with chiles, rice vinegar, garlic, fish sauce and honey (or other sweetener). You’ll often find it served alongside coconut shrimp, wontons and spring rolls.
You can make your own or you can easily find it in most US supermarkets. I find it in the Asian food aisle at my local grocery store.
What ingredients do you need to make sweet chili chicken?
CHICKEN WINGS: I prefer to use “party wings”. Those are wings that are already cut at the joint and trimmed. If you want to buy whole wings and cut them yourself, this video is handy showing you how to break down chicken wings.
CANOLA/PEANUT OIL
SOY SAUCE: Adds saltiness and the classic umami flavor.
GARLIC: Use the fresh stuff and mince it fine.
FRESH GINGER: It adds to the sweetness of the dish.
CHILI OIL: This is optional but adds a bit more heat to the wings.
FISH SAUCE: Like soy sauce, fish sauce adds a savory umami flavor to dishes.
RICE VINEGAR: You should be able to find this in the section with all of the other vinegars at the grocery store. It is made with fermented rice and has a mild, slightly sweet flavor.
SWEET THAI CHILI SAUCE
SRIRACHA: For added heat! I use 1 teaspoon when I want to serve it to people who are sensitive to heat. A tablespoon if I really want to spice things up!
Step by Step Photos and Instructions:
Step #1: Combine oil, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, garlic, ginger, chili oil, fish sauce and rice vinegar in a bowl. Pour over chicken wings. Toss to coat. Cover and marinate for about an hour.
DES’ TIP: If you need to cut the time short, they will still be good! I wouldn’t marinate it longer than 4 hours.
Step #2: Place chicken wings in a single layer on top of a cooling rack that is on top of a baking sheet. This will allow the air to circulate around the chicken as it cooks. Bake the chicken at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, turn and bake for another 20 minutes.
Step #3: Whisk together sweet Thai chili sauce, soy sauce and sriracha together in a bowl. Pour in a saucepan and cook just until warmed.
Step #4: Pour sauce over wings and toss to coat. Sprinkle with green onions as garnish.
Can you make sweet chili chicken in the air fryer?
YES! You can totally make these in the air fryer. Marinate the chicken as directed. Then cook in an air fryer at 390 degrees for 30 minutes. You’ll want to shake the basket halfway through. Once cooked, toss in sweet chili sauce and enjoy!
You could also grill the chicken and then coat it in the chili sauce!
Do you have to use chicken wings?
You can certainly make this with other cuts of chicken. You’ll want to use the same amount, about 3 pounds of whatever cut. Keep in mind that the cooking time will vary depending on the size and cut you choose.
If you loved these Sweet Chili Chicken Wings, you’ve got to check out my other chicken wing recipes.
Note: This recipe was originally posted in 2010. It was updated with new photos, a slightly modified recipe and nutrition facts in 2021.
Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons canola oil
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons soy sauce divided
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon chili oil
- 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
- 3 pounds party chicken wings
- 1/4 cup sweet Thai chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon Sriracha
- green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Combine oil, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, garlic, ginger, chili oil, fish sauce and rice vinegar in a bowl. Pour over chicken wings. Toss to coat. Cover and marinate for about an hour.
- Place chicken wings in a single layer on top of a cooling rack that is on top of a baking sheet. This will allow the air to circulate around the chicken as it cooks. Bake the chicken at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, turn and bake for another 20 minutes.
- Whisk together sweet Thai chili sauce, soy sauce and sriracha together in a bowl. Pour in a saucepan and cook just until warmed.
- Pour sauce over wings and toss to coat. Sprinkle with green onions as garnish.
Notes
Nutrition
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Tracy
April 17, 2023 at 10:12 amCould I use Boysenberry honey in place of the Sweet Thai Chili Sauce? Or would it be better to add a quarter cup of the honey to the original receipe?
Deseree
April 17, 2023 at 10:03 pmFor this recipe, I’d use the regular honey in place of the sweet chili sauce because I am not sure how the boysenberry would mesh with the other Asian flavors in the recipe. Hope this helps!
Linda
May 6, 2022 at 2:43 pmWould Spicy chili sauce work?
Deseree
May 6, 2022 at 10:15 pmHi Linda! What kind of spicy chili sauce? The reason that the sweet chili sauce works is because it’s that thicker (honey consistency) sauce. I think that a spicy chili sauce would taste good but you might not get that same glaze from it.
Paul Ylee
October 8, 2021 at 8:11 amOno, Broke Da Mouth !!
Substituted Chinese Sweet Chilli Sauce!! No Sriracha!!
1.5 lb. Chicken Wings !!
Will Being Using The Sauce Coating (Sweet Chilli & Soy) With Many Favorites/ Baked Salmon !!
Deseree
October 12, 2021 at 6:50 pmGlad you enjoyed this! And I am intrigued by the idea of using it on salmon!
Bobbi | Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
March 9, 2021 at 9:04 amOhhhh I have 2 packages of wings in the freezer so I will be making these ASAP!!
Kaci
October 28, 2020 at 11:54 amLooking forward to making these for an upcoming party! FYI your print button doesn’t work and just takes you back to the top of the page
Deseree
October 28, 2020 at 9:37 pmWell shoot! Thank you for telling me! I will look into ti!
adam
January 30, 2014 at 10:01 amno fish sauce? not thai
Melinda
October 14, 2010 at 5:14 pmMade these with leftover drumsticks and loved them!!!! Reduced the rest of the marinade and the sauce over heat with a little cornstarch slurry to thicken it, and served it with rice and corn. Needed to cook it longer but no problem there – glazed the drumsticks and then baked on each side for 5 minutes so that the glaze caramelized on the chicken and got sticky, sweet and hot. I’m so glad I found this on Google! That picture is totally gorgeous!
Crissy Brase
September 15, 2010 at 9:50 amThese wings are amazing… My husband tends to like his wings super crunchy so next time I will probably chill with sauce and re apply after. But all in all – flavor was amazing. Your recipes are great!
Wendy Smith
March 12, 2010 at 3:32 pmHi firstly thanks for this recipe, its great that something this great can be so simple, I showed my son this recipe and we followed it, we used a BBQ grill oven instead, however it turned into a disaster as my son touched the hot chicken bare hands and burnt his fingers! ooops. so i thought id let everyone know not do the same lol and make sure that you get proper BBQ equipment, i just bought a tool set from this site i hope that we can do it again more succesfully next time
thanks again!
Tupper Cooks
February 27, 2010 at 8:10 amNice wings- just so happens I’m making wings tonight to watch Syracuse-Villanova-Thanks for the recipe, perfect timing!
Memoria
February 25, 2010 at 10:14 amWow. That photo. ALL of your (or your husband’s) photos look great, but this one…I don’t know….this one just might be the best or in the top 5 I’ve seen on your blog. It’s so bright and clear! The chicken wings are calling out to me haha. I’m bookmarking this recipe.
Sook @ My Fabulous Recipes
February 25, 2010 at 8:24 amOh those wings look beautiful! I love the name, Sweet Thai Chili! All my favorite stuff. I love Thai food. I love sweet flavors. I love chili! So I must try this recipe. :)