These Spicy and Sweet Baked Chipotle Chicken Wings are perfect for entertaining a crowd! They’re sweet. They’re spicy. They’re finger-licking good!
Do you love chipotle peppers as much as I do? Try my Easy Honey Chipotle Grilled Shrimp and Easy Chipotle Steak Bites.
Chipotle Chicken Wings Recipe
These Chipotle Chicken Wings are spicy, sweet, and CRISPY without deep-frying, which is a big plus. Everybody is happy. Big flavor and texture without the guilt.
I’m telling you! These oven-baked Chipotle Chicken Wings are just as sticky, and just as addictive as the deep-fried version.
The hot chipotle sauce bakes right into the meat, infusing it completely. The addition of Coca-Cola to the sauce creates a sweet, caramel flavor, perfectly offset by the spiciness of the chipotle chili peppers in adobo.
Yeap, finger-licking delicious!! Perfect for game day.
What do you need to make chipotle chicken wings?
- 4 lbs chicken wings (thawed)
- Seasoning: I used cumin, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and baking powder.
- Glaze/Sauce: for the chipotle glaze/sauce you will need Coca Cola, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, brown sugar, sou sauce and a cornstarch slurry.
How to make crispy chicken wings without frying
I have two secrets to make crispy chicken wings without frying:
- Bake the chicken wings over a cooling rack to ensure that the hot air is circulating and crisping up all the sides.
- Add a little bit of baking powder to the seasoning mixture, which will help to absorb moisture to the surface of the skin.
How to make Chipotle chicken wings
- Pat wings dry with paper towels;
- Place chicken wings and seasonings in a large Ziploc bag and shake to coat it evenly.
- Place seasoned chicken over the wired rack and spray with oil.
- Bake for 30 minutes, turning once, or until cooked through and golden brown and crispy.
- Meanwhile, make the chipotle glaze: Place all the sauce ingredients in a medium saucepan, over medium heat; mix to combine. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until reduced by half, about 15 minutes. Stir in cornstarch slur, and cook until thickened. Set aside.
- When the chicken is done, baste both sides of the chicken generously with the wing sauce and bake for 10 -15 minutes.
- Garnish with cilantro, if using, and lime wedges. Serve hot.
How do you reheat chicken wings?
Preheat oven to 400º F/ 200º C. Spread wings out on a tray, skin side up, and bake for 5 to 8 minutes or until becomes crisp again.
Can you make this recipe in the air flyer?
Yes, you can! However, my preferred cooking method is to bake in the oven because you can make all chicken wings at once. In the air fryer, you have to work in batches.
Looking for more Chipotle Pepper Recipes?
- Easy Honey Chipotle Grilled Shrimp
- Easy Chipotle Steak Bites
- Chipotle Glazed Ham
- Chipotle Turkey Breast
- BEST Citrus-Chipotle Turkey Marinade
- Easy Sausage and Veggies Foil Packets with Grilled Chipotle Mangoes
Chipotle Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 4 lb (1.8 kg) chicken wings, thawed
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves to garnish (optional)
- Lime wedges to serve (optional)
Chipotle Glaze:
- 7.5 oz (221 ml) Coca Cola zero (one small can)
- 4 chipotle peppers in abodo sauce, puréed (see notes)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 teaspoon cold water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400º F (200º C). Line a baking sheet with foil. Place a wired rack on top and spray it with oil.
- Pat dry the chicken wings with a paper towel.
- Place cumin, salt, paprika, black pepper, and baking powder in a gallon-sized bag. Shake the bag to combine. Add chicken and shake again to coat it evenly with the seasoning.
- Place seasoned chicken over the wired rack and spray with oil.
- Bake for 35 -40 minutes, turning once, or until cooked through and golden brown and crispy.
- In the meantime, make the chipotle sauce: Place a medium saucepan, over medium heat, add the Coca-Cola, chipotle, onion, garlic, brown sugar, and soy sauce; mix to combine. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer until reduced by half, about 15 minutes. Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
- When the chicken is cooked. Baste both sides of the chicken generously with the wing sauce and bake for 10 -15 minutes.
- Garnish with cilantro, if using, and lime wedges. Serve hot.
Air Fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400º F (200º C).
- Cook for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy, browned, and cooked through. You will need to do this in batches since the chicken wings must be arranged in a single layer for evenly cooked.
- When all the batches are done, coat with the sauce and return all the chicken to the air fryer and cook for 1 -2 minutes to heat through.
- Easy Honey Chipotle Grilled Shrimp
- Easy Chipotle Steak Bites
- Chipotle Glazed Ham
- Chipotle Turkey Breast
- BEST Citrus-Chipotle Turkey Marinade
- Easy Sausage and Veggies Foil Packets with Grilled Chipotle Mangoes
Nutrition
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- Mini Food Processor
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- Cooling Rack
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- Pastry Brush
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- Medium Sauce Pan
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Originally posted November 2015, photos replaced in July 2019 and post content edited to add more helpful information.
