Chinese Chicken Wings

2024-06-27 /Posted byYoga Pit / 46

Sticky, Peppery and Delicious – It’s Way Better Than Takeout.

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If you’re seeking a tangy, savory finger food, look no further! This old family recipe brings the warmth and ease of Chinese takeout, but tastes and feels better because it’s homemade.

This recipe is simple, sweet, and easy to make. The meat falls off the bone, and the flavor stays as finger-licking delicious from the first bite to the last. This is a great dish for parties and picnics, or a quiet night in with your loved ones. There’s no occasion where this dish won’t fit in!

Are Chinese Chicken Wings Healthy?

As always, I’d recommend getting chicken from a local butcher if possible, or at least an organic brand at the grocery store. With high-quality lean meat, this recipe is high in protein and lowish in fat; especially since it uses an oven instead of a fryer. Your wings will get perfectly crispy without the excess fats. Additionally, this recipe is gluten-free and has much less sodium than most Chinese takeout.

The great thing about the marinade is that it can be used with anything, so if you’re serving vegetarians, you can use the same sauce on these Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings. Simply double the ingredients used to make the marinade so there’s plenty to go around.

Best Ways to Amplify the Flavor

With such a simple, easy recipe, the more preparation you put into seasoning the chicken, the more tantalizing its taste will be. To supercharge your wings with spice and sweetness, I’d recommend coating the wings with salt and pepper and leaving them to sit overnight in the fridge. Two hours prior to cooking, soak them in the marinade. (You could also soak them in the marinade overnight, if you really want to pack a punch).

INGREDIENTS

2 lbs chicken wings, tips removed, drumettes and flats separated
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or dry sherry
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 inch piece ginger, grated
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon five-spice powder
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
Sesame seeds for garnish
Green onions, thinly sliced for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Marinate

Combine sauces and spices; coat wings.

Prep

Chill wings, then prepare for baking.

Bake

Oven-bake wings until crispy; garnish.

Devour!

FAQs & Tips

How to Make Ahead and Store

Leftovers can be stored in a refrigerator-safe container for up to 5 days. In the freezer, they can last up to 2 months. Before reheating, make sure to let them thaw for a few hours, and bake them in the oven at 350°F for 20 minutes. Feel free to add extra sauce if they could use a little more “juice.”

Tip 1 – Get that satisfying crunch

One of the best ways to ensure your wings are crispy outside and tender inside is to put them under the broiler for a couple minutes at the end of cooking.

Additionally, you can coat the raw wings in baking soda; this jumpstarts the browning process and makes them crispier faster. I’d recommend using a couple tablespoons of avocado oil, as this is a healthy fat that can increase crispiness and depth of flavor.

tip 2 – Repurpose Your Leftovers

In the unlikely event of having a lot of leftovers, experiment by stripping the meat from the bone and adding it to new dishes like fried rice or sweet potato noodles. The flavor profile of this sauce is so classic that it goes well in practically any Asian dish, and can be kicked up a notch with Chinese five spice or garlic scapes. Have fun with it and see where the flavor rainbow takes you!

Serving Suggestions

Although these wings are fire on their own, they also make mouthwatering companions to sides like Cauliflower Fried Rice or Crispy Air Fryer Egg Rolls. Both options make a colorful, satisfying addition to these Chinese Chicken Wings.

If you enjoyed this dish, maybe try out some other Chinese-inspired entrees, such as this Paleo Cashew Chicken Stir Fry or some Chinese Five-Spice Chicken Thighs.