Description
Thai Sweet Chili Chicken Wings are crispy, juicy wings coated in a sticky, sweet-spicy glaze. Versatile and flavor-packed, they can be made in the air fryer for a lighter version or deep-fried for maximum crunch. Perfect for game day, parties, or a satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
- Chicken wings, patted dry
- Soy sauce
- Brown sugar
- Rice vinegar
- Neutral oil
- Potato starch or cornstarch
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Baking powder
- Garlic cloves, minced
- Sweet chili sauce
- Sesame oil
- Water
- Optional: Sesame seeds and cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and neutral oil to create the marinade.
- Add chicken wings to the marinade, massage to coat, and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or overnight.
- In a bag, mix potato starch or cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, and baking powder.
- Shake excess marinade off the wings (reserve marinade), toss wings in the dry mix, and let rest for 5–10 minutes.
- Air Fryer Method: Preheat air fryer to 360°F. Spray rack and wings with oil. Cook for 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway. Meanwhile, simmer reserved marinade, garlic, sweet chili sauce, sesame oil, and water until thickened. Increase air fryer to 390°F, cook another 5 minutes until golden and internal temp reaches 165°F.
- Stovetop Method: Heat oil in a pot. Fry wings in batches for 5–7 minutes. Drain and rest for 10–15 minutes. Simmer sauce as above. Re-fry wings for 2–3 minutes until golden and crisp.
- Toss cooked wings with the thickened sauce until well coated.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped cilantro if desired. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Marinate overnight for deeper flavor.
- Let wings sit after dredging to help coating stick.
- Double-fry or increase air fryer heat at the end for extra crispiness.
- Customize spice level with chili flakes, sriracha, or hot sauce.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheat in air fryer or oven.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Fryer/Stovetop
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4–5 wings
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
