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If your idea of a party involves sticky fingers, big bold flavors, and that sweet and tangy sauce that makes you go back for more, welcome to your new go to. These Thai Chicken Wings bring together sweet chili sauce, lime juice, fish sauce and fragrant lemongrass so you get that proper Thai kick at home without feeling like you need a passport. Perfect for game night, dinner, or just because you can.
These wings are baked to crispy glory then bathed in a glossy, sticky sauce that clings to every crevice. Yes there will be licking of fingers and probably lots of compliments.
Why People Love These Thai Chicken Wings
Here is why this Thai Chicken Wings recipe really works and stands out from the rest:
- Bold Sweet and Savory Sauce: The combo of Thai sweet chili sauce with lime juice, fish sauce and rice vinegar hits all the right notes of sweet, salty and tangy without one flavor overpowering the other.
- Glossy and Sticky Magic: Half of the sauce simmers while the wings bake, so you get glaze that thickens beautifully and sticks so good to the skin.
- Crisp Without a Fryer: Oven baked then broiled right at the end means crisp edges and juicy centers — no mess of deep frying.
- Dual Purpose Sauce: Use it as a marinade, a finishing glaze, and a dip. That kind of sauce efficiency is the kitchen equivalent of magic.
What Goes Into These Thai Chicken Wings
This Thai Chicken Wings recipe keeps things simple yet full of bold, authentic flavor. The glaze is packed with sweet, tangy, salty, and spicy notes, creating the signature taste you expect from Thai Style Chicken Wings.
- Chicken Wings: Three pounds of wings, with tips removed and separated into drumettes and flats, create the perfect base for these Sticky Thai Chicken Wings.
- Thai Sweet Chili Sauce: Adds sweetness, gentle heat, and that glossy finish that makes the wings irresistible.
- Fish Sauce: Brings depth and savory richness, balancing the sweetness in the glaze.
- Lemongrass: Fresh and citrusy, it brightens the sauce and enhances the authentic Thai flavor.
Note: Please see recipe card at the bottom for a full list of ingredients with measurements.
Fun Add Ins and Brilliant Substitutions
- Fresh ginger: Add 1 teaspoon grated ginger to the glaze for extra brightness.
- Lime zest: Sprinkle some on the finished wings for an extra citrus zing.
- Chopped roasted peanuts: For crunch and Thai flair, sprinkle on top when serving.
- Honey or maple syrup: If you want a different kind of sweetness, swap in place of the coconut/brown sugar.
- Chili crisp or Sriracha: For lovers of heat, stir in 1 to 2 teaspoons into the glaze before baking.
How To Make Sticky Thai Chicken Wings
- Prep and Preheat: Preheat the oven to 400°F 200°C. Lightly spray a large baking tray with cooking oil and set it aside.
- Make the Glaze: Whisk glaze ingredients in a bowl or jug until combined. Pour half into a small saucepan and reserve for later.
- Season and First Bake: Trim any excess skin from the wings and season with sea salt. Place on the tray, toss with the remaining glaze, arrange in a single layer, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Thicken the Reserved Glaze: While the wings bake, bring the reserved glaze to a gentle simmer over low to medium heat. Cook until it bubbles and slightly thickens, about 5 minutes.
- Flip, Baste, and Broil: Turn each wing over and bake for another 10 minutes. Switch the oven to broil or grill on medium high, baste with half of the thickened glaze, and cook until edges are crisp and glossy, about 5 minutes.
- Finish and Serve: Baste again with the remaining glaze for shiny, Sticky Thai Chicken Wings. Garnish with cilantro, green onions, and chili flakes, add a pinch of salt if needed, and serve with any extra glaze for dipping.
These Sticky Thai Chicken Wings are bold and flavorful, so they shine alongside dishes that balance or complement their sweet, tangy glaze. Pair them with Warm Chicken and Pumpkin Lentil Stew for a cozy, hearty addition. Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice adds a fresh, zesty kick while keeping the meal light. For something indulgent, Cheesy Bacon Smashed Potatoes offer a rich, creamy contrast that pairs perfectly with the sticky glaze.
Smart Tips For Even Better Thai Chicken Wings
- Pat wings dry with paper towels before glazing so the sauce sticks better and the skin gets crispier.
- If you want the crispiest wings possible, use a wire rack placed on a baking tray so hot air circulates underneath.
- Keep a close eye during broiling the wings can go from perfectly caramelised to burnt faster than you think.
- Let the sauce cook down low and slow so it thickens just right without burning.
Recipe FAQ’s
Pat the wings dry before seasoning, and bake them on a wire rack so hot air circulates evenly. A quick broil at the end helps achieve golden, crispy edges.
They’re mildly spicy thanks to Thai sweet chili sauce. For more heat, add extra chili flakes or a spoonful of sriracha to the glaze.
Avoid overbaking and baste the wings with glaze during the last few minutes of cooking to lock in moisture and flavor.
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Sticky Thai Chicken Wings
Ingredients
- 3 pounds chicken wings or nibbles, tip removed, drumettes and flats separated
- 1/2 – 1 tablespoon sea salt flakes adjust to your taste
Glaze:
- 3/4 cup Thai sweet chili sauce
- 4 tablespoons coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons rice wine vinegar or white vinegar
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 tablespoon lemongrass minced
- 1 tablespoon garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil or peanut oil
To serve:
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 2 green onions thinly sliced to serve
- 1 pinch red chilli flakes
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray a large baking tray with cooking oil spray; set aside.
- To prepare the glaze, combine all of the glaze ingredients in a small bowl or jug; whisk until combined. Pour half of the sauce into a small saucepan and reserve for later.
- Trim any excess skin off of the wing edges. Season with salt to taste. Place the wings on the prepared baking tray; pour the sauce over the wings and toss to coat evenly. Arrange the wings in a single layer and bake for 10-15 minutes.
- While the wings are in the oven, bring the remaining glaze to a simmer on low-medium heat, until the sauce bubbles up and begins to thicken (it should take about 5 minutes).
- Once the chicken wings are cooked on the one side, rotate each piece and bake again for an extra 10 minutes. Change oven settings to grill (or broil) on a medium-high heat setting; baste wings with half of the ready-made glaze and allow to crisp up for a further 5 minutes. They will look golden and shiny from the glaze.
- Once the wings are golden, remove them from the oven and baste again with glaze. Garnish with the cilantro, onion slices, chilli flakes and sprinkle with salt (if needed). Serve with any remaining glaze for dipping!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Wow, this was incredible! Sticky and flavorful. Because of a time constraint I ended up marinading g the wings for about an hour before cooking them. With ten minutes left I moved them to a wire rack to crisp them up and reduced down the extra marinade into a glaze. Fantastic! Will make them again and again.
Just had this for dinner and had to comment straightaway! These were amazing, so easy to cook and taste delicious and made for the perfect Friday night dinner. I had these with roasted courgette chips. Thanks for the recipe!
I had never seen Chicken Ribs before so I had to give them a try and went looking for recipes for something nice to do with them. These were already breaded, but that didn’t discourage me since I’ve made really nice buffalo wings that were breaded. Your recipe enticed me, and then I saw the recipe with this same sauce but with chicken thighs and using the leftover sauce over stir fried noodles and veggies. So I combined the two – following instructions for the chicken wings and then made the stir fried veggies and noodles. What a fantastic and easy recipe and the photo finish was excellent too. I’ll share it on Instagram soon and give you a mention. I’d love for you to see how pretty this turned out. I really had to get inventive because I was missing some key ingredients but a bottle of Pad Thai sauce, some Frank’s Hot sauce, honey, rice wine vinegar and lime juice helped it turn out quite amazing. Thank you so much for sharing both recipes.
Thank you for this lovely recipe for the Sticky Thai Wings and the fried rice. Very easy recipe and we enjoy it. Cant wait to try the next recipe. thanks one in a million. I rate this 10 out of 10!
Can you deep fry wings instead of oven.
I have thai chili paste. Will that work?
Yes, perfect.
Sheer awesomeness to the extreme-ness! Actually made this with whole chicken wings instead of the wingettes and complimented the dish with a Lo Mein and yellow rice mix. Every bite was delightful. The sauce is a killer. Fan fav of this recipe. Thanks for sharing.
With a Lo Mein? YUUUM! I can just imagine the taste. What a fabulous idea! Thank you for sharing!
OMG. My husband is a bbq eater only, but I’m always attempting recipes to try and get him to try something other than bbq sauce. Normally, it doesn’t work out but with this recipe….he went nuttso. I made some sticky rice and a nice salad to go with, and was the hero tonight. He actually told me to stop trying other recipes (LOL typical him to find something he likes and turn his back on old favs) and stick to this one, but to just try and heat it up a bit – talking cayenne/spice. So yeah, I’m going to do that. I found fresh wings at walmart on sale for just $4 for 16 wings and bought a ton of them for the freezer. Will be making this on the weekend, but just adding some heat! Thanks so much for this recipe! It’s a winner!!!
My husband loves wings and I have many different kinds many, many times and he said these are his all time favorite. I had to make them twice in one week! Thank you, thank you!
haha! You are a great wife! That is so nice of you! Thanks for following along with me! I am so glad that he loves them so much!
Absolutely delicious! I have a new favorite recipe for chicken wings. Thanks so much ?
You’re welcome Emma! I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your feedback X
Absolutely delicious!! Modified it a tad by adding a bit less sweet chilli so i could add some fresh chilli and added some coriander paste and ginger. Best marinade i have had by far.